Appointments
& Vacancies
Trustees—members of the UO’s governing board—are public officials who hold a fiduciary responsibility for the university. Fiduciary responsibility is often thought of as financial management, but it is much more than that. It is about overall management, oversight, and sustainability of the institution. Trustees are not compensated for their work on the board.
If you have questions about the Board of Trustees, responsibilities, meeting schedules, serving on the board, or general commitments, please do not hesitate to contact the Office of the Secretary at 541-346-3166 or at trustees@uoregon.edu.
Board Appointments
Appointing members of the University of Oregon’s governing board, trustees, is the role of the governor of the state of Oregon. The governor makes a nomination, which must then be confirmed by the Oregon State Senate. It sounds a little daunting, but it is really quite simple!
Appointment Types
Board leadership will submit recommendations to the governor for the at-large positions. Recommendations are based on a holistic view of the board, its priorities, and the skills, experiences and perspectives that will contribute to a well-rounded, effective and collegial body.
However, board leadership does not make recommendations regarding the faculty, student or staff trustee positions. Individual organizations on campus, such as the ASUO or the University Senate, may submit recommendations to the governor’s office for certain positions. Any processes associated with these are run by those organizations and not facilitated by the board’s office.
Starting in 2024, the UO Board of Trustees welcomes one graduate student trustee and one additional undergraduate student trustee to serve the University and student body as fiduciary decision-makers, and gain valuable leadership, finance, advocacy, and management experience. Each academic year, the ASUO President will review applications, conduct interviews, and nominate top finalists to the Oregon Governor for review and selection.
Appointment Process
The process is managed by the governor’s office, but it will likely include the following key steps. The board’s office will work to keep applicants and nominees updated as best as possible along the way.
- The governor’s office typically interviews all applicants.
- The governor will submit a nomination to the State Senate by late April (approximate).
- The appropriate senate committee will hold a hearing regarding pending appointments; this could be in mid-May, but the schedule and details are set and managed by that committee.
- Assuming the senate committee endorses the appointment, the full senate would then vote on confirmation.
Appointment Terms
At-large positions have four-year terms and the campus-based positions (student, faculty, and staff) have two-year terms. All trustees may serve up to two full consecutive terms. If a trustee is appointed to fill a seat after the term has started, then that first appointment is considered a partial term, not a full term (i.e., filling out the rest of another term).
You can see individual trustee terms on the Meet the Trustees page. The Governor’s Executive Appointments website also maintains annual lists of anticipated terms expirations.
Board Vacancies
No positions are currently vacant. If you have any questions about serving on the Board or the appointment process, please contact the Board's office. If you have questions about the campus nomination process, please contact the ASUO President. For questions on other board positions, please contact the Board's office.
Applications
If you wish to apply, an application must be submitted to the governor’s office. You will need to include your resume, a short personal biography, and answers to supplemental questions. Visit the Boards & Commissions website for the most up-to-date details on the application process and links to the electronic application. If you have any questions about how to apply, contact the Governor’s executive appointments staff or you can always contact the Board's office as well.