November 1, 1999
Enrollment figures released by UO Admissions after the fourth week of classes show significant increases in the number of Oregon students on campus this year--and in their test scores.
More than 300 more Oregon students are enrolled at the UO this year than last year, according to the latest figures. That's an increase of 277 resident undergraduate students for a total of 9,481, up from 9,204 in 1998, and of 28 resident graduate students for a total of 994, up from 966.
At the same time, Admissions officials note that freshmen coming to the UO boasted higher average grade-point averages, climbing from 3.35 GPAs in 1998-99 to 3.40 GPAs in 1999-2000. They also earned higher average SAT verbal scores, which rose from 553.9 to 559.4, and higher average SAT mathematics scores (from 549.3 to 553.8).
"The higher quality of our freshmen this year can be attributed to a number of factors," says Associate Vice President Jim Buch, Student Academic Affairs. "Our new Dean's Scholarship program for high-achieving students is part of it. And it certainly underscores the status we're achieving nationally as a 'Best Buy' in higher education."
The University of Oregon remains the state's largest university, with a total of 16,716 students, down slightly from last year's total of 16,780. The lower total is due primarily to attrition among out-of-state students.
President Dave Frohnmayer, who was stricken by a sudden heart arrhythmia on Oct. 22 during a National Institutes of Health advisory panel meeting and was rushed in critical condition to a nearby hospital in Bethesda, Md., is no longer in the intensive care unit there and continues to make steady improvement.
At N&V deadline on Nov. 1, Frohnmayer successfully underwent minor surgery to implant a cardio-defibrillator in his chest that is expected to enable the president to return to a full range of activities. Latest reports from the hospital are that the procedure "went well and Dave Frohnmayer continues to improve."
Timing of the president's return to Oregon is uncertain, but he could be back in Eugene by the time this N&V issue arrives in campus mailboxes.
According to established UO administrative policy, in the president's absence, Provost John Moseley is assuming the duties of president. In consultation with members of the President's Small Executive Staff, he is making decisions "in keeping with the policies and practices we have established during the years we have worked together," Moseley said in an Oct. 25 memo to deans and directors.
On Oct. 27, Frohnmayer said he holds "the entire university administrative team" in very high regard. "I am grateful to them for their steady leadership … in my absence. Naturally, they have my full confidence and support."
Gov. John Kitzhaber joined Oregonians around the state in sending get-well wishes to Frohnmayer. The latest information on the president's condition will continue to be distributed on campus in e-mailed updates and through the Oregon Daily Emerald web site at <www.dailyemerald.com/>.
In a statement issued Friday afternoon (Oct. 29), Dave and Lynn Frohnmayer summed up the president's circumstances and expressed their family's appreciation:
"Dave underwent a series of tests in an effort to learn the possible cause of his collapse last week. We are greatly relieved that his condition is treatable and we look forward to resuming a full and active life following a period of recovery and recuperation.
"Last week, Dave experienced a sudden onset of ventricular fibrillation, an acute arrhythmia that causes the heart to stop pumping blood. Episodes of ventricular fibrillation are often fatal. Unless the heart's normal rhythm is restored quickly, death follows within minutes. We are so grateful that Dave had the good fortune to have this event occur in a meeting of highly skilled physicians and in close proximity to one of the finest cardiac care facilities in the world. The prompt attention of those on the scene was, literally, life saving.
"The doctors tell us that tests show definitively that Dave did not suffer a heart attack. His heart is strong. There is no evidence of any blockage of the arteries and there is no sign of any permanent damage to the heart muscle. Unfortunately, as is often true in cases of arrhythmia, doctors have been unable to identify a cause for this sudden and frightening event. Fortunately, however, there is a safe and generally effective treatment that should ensure that a sustained episode of ventricular fibrillation does not occur again.
"On Monday, doctors will implant a small device called a cardio-defibrillator. The defibrillator monitors the heart's rhythm and will deliver an electric shock to the heart if a serious arrhythmia occurs. This will restore the heart to its normal rhythm. After Dave recovers from the surgical procedure, he will be able to return to a full range of life activities, secure in the knowledge that if a serious arrhythmia occurs in the future, he will immediately receive the necessary treatment.
"We are touched beyond measure by the tremendous outpouring of support, prayers and good wishes that we have received in the past week. Our spirits are buoyed by the knowledge that friends, family, colleagues and even strangers have been moved to express their prayers for our well-being in countless ways. We will forever be thankful that we have been so blessed."
Bruce Blonigen, Economics, is taking his colleagues to an emergency shelter for homeless families.
Tracy Bars, Architecture and Allied Arts, arranged for a FOOD for Lane County speaker to tell her school's faculty how that agency fights hunger by distributing food to more than 60 other agencies who help people in need. That was on Oct. 28. AAA Dean Robert Melnick gave another kind of nourishment--a Euphoria chocolate truffle--to every AAA employee who turned in a pledge to the State of Oregon Charitable Fund Drive by Oct. 29.
Helen Garrett, Admissions, and Karen Duncan, Registrar's Office, with the enthusiastic blessing of their department heads, Martha Pitts and Herb Chereck, put a representative of FOOD for Lane County on the agenda of their joint staff meeting.
Paula Ciesielski, University Health Center, and Robin Holmes, Counseling Center, didn't have just one speaker at their noon potluck. Their colleagues got a chance to hear representatives from the Relief Nursery and many other programs supported by donations to CFD.
Blonigen, Bars, Garrett, Duncan, Ciesielski and Holmes are all CFD coordinators for their units. Pitts chairs this year's campus drive. Their activities are among many showing UO employees how CFD programs work to make Oregon a better place.
The University of Oregon has participated in CFD for many years, but this is the first time employees have had as many opportunities to hear as many speakers or take as many tours as are happening this year. Deborah Lares, a PPPM graduate student who is doing an internship as CFD representative for all state agencies in Lane County, is the arranger and facilitator for these events.
To arrange for speakers from CFD programs or to tour CFD agencies, call Lares, 741-6000, ext. 134, or UO CFD coordinator Nancie Fadeley, Provost's Office, 6-3013.
Open enrollment in the newly designed PEBB insurance program ends Nov. 5. All higher education employees currently enrolled in any of the SEBB or BUBB plans must select anew their medical and dental coverages or risk losing insurance (or medical opt-out) on Dec. 31. Read benefits and enrollment guides carefully because every PEBB insurance plan has changed for 2000. Among key features are worldwide medical coverage, added at the request of higher education faculty, and PEBB-paid subsidies to ensure that full-time employees enrolling their families in any of the HMO plans pay nothing out-of-pocket for medical and dental premiums in 2000. To ensure that coverage is in effect at the beginning of the new year, return completed enrollment forms to Human Resources, 463 Oregon Hall, as soon as possible but no later than 5 p.m. Nov. 5. For information, visit http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~humanres/OE00.htm or call 6-3085.
UO employees and their family members are eligible to join U-Lane-O Credit Union. Since 1956, the university's credit union has been a full-service financial institution that takes special care to provide its members with "Anytime, Anywhere, Anyway Access." Beginning Nov. 1, U-Lane-O's "Countdown to 2000" promotion offers new and existing members special low loan rates for a limited time. For information, visit www.ulanecu.org, stop by any of the seven U-Lane-O branches or call 687-2347.
The new UO Scholarship and Award Guide is now on the web, as the featured item on the revised Financial Aid web site. Created this fall by Donor Relations as a new resource for students, counselors, parents and others, the guide provides detailed information about the vast number of university, departmental and external scholarships available to UO students. To consult the guide, visit financialaid.uoregon.edu. Send feedback and other comments to finaid@darkwing.uoregon.edu.
The Fall 1999 Child-Sitting Directory, listing UO students available to provide occasional and part-time child care for UO faculty, staff and student parents, is off the presses. Compiled by Work and Family Services, the guide is available in campus offices or call Human Resources, 6-3159.
The copyright clearance deadline for Winter course packets is Friday, Nov. 5. Send bibliographic tables of contents to Kati Kronholm, Copyright Clearance, or e-mail her at katik@oregon.uoregon.edu.
In July, Tom Matney became director of Knight Library Media Services (formerly Instructional Media Center). He previously directed the Educational Technology and New Media centers at Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston, Idaho. Matney earned a master of education degree in instructional technology from Utah State University in 1981. A Media Services open house to introduce some of the changes Matney and his staff are implementing to help meet the evolving needs of faculty and students is planned for early February.
Albert Leong, Russian and East European Studies, published, in Russian, "Plennye Muzy: Magadan Kak Kul'turnaia Stolitsa Kolymy (Captive Muses: Magadan as the Cultural Capital of Kolyma)" in the anthology Magadan: Gody, Sobytiia, Liudi (Magadan: Years, Events and People) [Magadan, 1999].
A memorial service for Wallace "Mack" Ruff, Landscape Architecture emeritus, who was killed Oct. 8 at his home in Papua New Guinea, is set for 1-4 p.m. Nov. 6 at Gerlinger Alumni Lounge.
Robert Ping, Facilities Services, died on Oct. 16 of emphysema. Originally from Iowa, Ping moved to Eugene in 1954. He worked at the UO for 10 years after 15 years for Giustina Bros. Send memorial contributions to Hospice of Sacred Heart.