You're invited: Convocation is September 21!

September 6, 2018

Dear Colleagues,

As you likely know, Convocation—the first traditional event of each academic year—is coming up on Friday, September 21, from 11:00 a.m. – noon in the Matthew Knight Arena. I hope you and your department’s faculty and staff can join in on the festivities.

I recognize this is a busy time as we all prepare for the majority of classes to start on September 24, and you may have department or other relevant meetings throughout the week and even on the day of Convocation. If you happen to have something scheduled that overlaps with the event, I urge you to consider rescheduling it to allow everyone the opportunity to participate.

Convocation is the start of the academic journey for new students but it is also a time for current faculty and staff to join a full-scale welcome to new peers and to celebrate excellence in teaching and research. Event highlights include:

  • A keynote address by distinguished alumna Renée James, former president of Intel, current CEO of Ampere Computing, and member of the UO Foundation Board of Trustees;
  • A student keynote by Alex Mentzel, a German Literature and Culture & Theatre Arts double major from the Clark Honors College, who will share experiences from his time as a student at UO, and in Germany, to encourage the lifeblood of our institution—our incoming students—to pursue growth, health, and prosperity as they begin their academic journey;
  • Recognition of award-winning faculty and staff, including winners of campus-wide awards such as the Ersted and Herman awards for distinguished teaching;
  • Introduction of new faculty, including tenure-track faculty and career non-tenure-track faculty; and,
  • The official welcoming of new students to the campus community, including the Class of 2022 and transfer students from across the state, the nation, and the world.

More information about the ceremony is available at https://convocation.uoregon.edu/content/uo-convocation

This is a time to celebrate our shared sense of purpose around exceptional teaching, discovery, and service.

Thank you for all that you do!

 

Best Regards,

 

Jayanth Banavar
Provost and Senior Vice President