June 11, 1998 Contact Maureen Shine (541) 346-3145 EUGENE--The university is nearly halfway to its goal of creating a total of 15 endowed Knight Chairs, thanks to generous matching donations from UO alumni, supporters and faculty. "It's wonderful that so many UO alumni and friends have stepped up to the plate so quickly to meet Phil Knight's visionary challenge," UO President Dave Frohnmayer said in announcing the achievement. "These new endowed chairs will help us keep current faculty members from leaving for higher-paying positions and recruit new professors we otherwise wouldn't be able to attract." In 1996, Knight donated $25 million to The Oregon Campaign, the UO's $200 million capital campaign which exceeded its goal and stands at $217 million raised. Knight's gift dedicated $15 million to the creation of endowed chairs across campus and challenged the campus to find a matching donor for each chair. The remaining $10 million is helping to finance construction of a new law school building to be named the William W. Knight Law Center after Phil Knight's father, a 1932 UO law school graduate. Recent gifts qualified the UO College of Arts and Sciences to receive four Knight Chairs, and the Knight Library and the School of Journalism and Communication each to receive one. George Shipman holds the Knight Chair for University Librarian. Earlier, a Knight Chair was designated to the position of the dean of the School of Law, held by Rennard Strickland, which brings the current total of Knight Chairs to seven. The gifts that released Knight Chairs and the endowed chairs they create include: Judaic Studies: A donation from the Harold and Arlene Schnitzer CARE Foundation to help establish a Judaic Studies Program at the UO. A new major in Judaic Studies is planned to begin fall term 1999. Arts and Sciences: A donation from James and Shirley Rippey for a rotating endowed chair or professorships which will recognize faculty members who are equally distinguished in research and lower-division teaching. Oregon Humanities Center: A gift from the estate of UO alumnus Vern Stolen, Class of `52, to endow the directorship of the Oregon Humanities Center. Environmental Economics: A gift from UO Professor Emeritus of Economics Ray Mikesell for a chair in environmental economics. Public Relations: An anonymous gift to the School of Journalism and Communication to create a chair in public relations. Library: A gift to the library from the Nissho Iwai American Corp. to support the designation of the University Librarian position as a Knight Chair. The Knight Chairs matching these gifts will be allocated to designated departments, programs or areas by Provost John Moseley in consultation with the deans. Considering both the Knight Chairs and matching chairs, the UO expects to fill at least 10 new endowed positions over the next year. "When these are filled and the remaining Knight Chairs are matched, this will result in almost a quarter of our full professorships being augmented by endowment support," says Moseley. "I believe every major academic program in the university will directly benefit from this transforming increase in support for our leading faculty." To qualify for a Knight Chair, UO schools, colleges or departments must raise a minimum of $1.2 million in matching funds. The match releases a Knight Chair and creates an endowed chair in the areas receiving the donation--thereby doubling the benefit of the Knight endowment. The Knight Chair endowment, plus the matching contributions, are expected to eventually support at least 30 new endowed chairs. When funds are raised to create an endowed chair, the principal is invested with a portion of the annual earnings, usually around 4 percent, spent each year to supplement a chairholder's salary and provide funds for hiring graduate assistants or interns and for travel, research or teaching supplies. This allows the endowment to grow and eventually create additional chairs. The Knight Chairs are being allocated to UO schools, colleges and programs under a formula developed by Provost Moseley and approved by President Frohnmayer. The formula is roughly based on faculty size and the number of students served. Phil Knight also proposed to endow a position to be occupied by the president of the university, which was approved by the state chancellor of higher education and the Oregon University System board. This chair will not be established until all of the 15 Knight chairs are released. -30- #O-4077/Local,OrDailies,Special