Presidential visit
University of Oregon chief swings through Ontario Thursday
By Larry Meyer
Argus Observer
LarryM@argusobserver.com
Friday, September 4, 2009 11:59 AM PDT
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| Dr. Richard Lariviere (second from right), president of the University of Oregon, walks with Michael Redding (from left), U of O vice president of university relations, Randy Griffin, Treasure Valley Community College acting president, and Abby Lee, TVCC public information officer, on the quad at TVCC after a private meeting with Griffin. |
ONTARIO — University of Oregon President Richard Lariviere used the Ducks' football game at the Boise State University as an opportunity to make a stop in Ontario to meet with education and community leaders to discuss how the Eugene institution can continue to raise funds even as state support appears to have reached it peak.
Lariviere said he is still getting settled in, having only taken over the reins at the university July 1. He came from the University of Kansas, where he was provost and executive vice president, and the University of Texas, where he worked for 24 years as a professor and dean of the College of Liberal Arts.
“It’s great place,” Lariviere said the University of Oregon. “It’s one of America’s great universities.”
Commenting that Oregon is one of the most beautiful states, Lariviere said, “We were excited when this opportunity presented itself.”
Lariviere said it was obvious there are many local connections to the U of O.
“I was pleased with the passion Duck supporters give to the university,” he said.
Although still getting his feet on the ground, Lariviere said one of the immediate challenges is to obtain additional funding, but with less reliance on the state, and building a different relationship with the state, both financially and through governance.
“We can’t expect the state will contribute more money than it is right now,’’ he said.
In the state budget, the $5 billion provided for K through 12 schools is to cover about six line items, while the approximate $800 million budget for higher education is spread over more than 6,000 line items, Lariviere said he has been told, using that scenario as an example of how cumbersome the process is.
What the new relationship will be and where funding will come from is the subject of conversations the new president is having around the state with political leaders, other college officials and others. In Ontario he met with Randy Griffin, acting president of Treasure Valley Community College.
“U of O is a statewide institution,” Lariviere said. “We have an obligation to the whole state.”
Commenting on TVCC’s role, he said, “What people are doing here is extremely important for the state and U of O.” Raised in the Midwest, Lariviere said he spent time abroad doing research in London, Paris and considerable time in India. He is a specialist in Sanskrit the classical language of India.
