Messages from the President

President Baileys Video Update for November 2025 Learn More

President Bailey�셲 Video Update for November 2025

November 3, 2025 – 쮸떴눈첵 President Rick Bailey talks about Veterans Day, this year�셲 Campus Theme lectures and the university�셲 vision in November�셲 video for students, employees and community members. He urges support for 쮸떴눈첵�셲 Veterans Resource Center �� especially with Veterans Day coming on Nov. 11. �쏮ilitary families have a home here at 쮸떴눈첵,�� the president says. He explains 쮸떴눈첵�셲 Campus Theme �� a year-long series of lectures that will focus this year on the pursuit of happiness. �쏧 think everyone who�셲 watching this knows we could use a little more happiness in our lives,�� he says. He then address the vision for 쮸떴눈첵�셲 future, acknowledging that the university is best known recently for its efforts to become more resilient. He adds that the campus must also be recognized for the love and respect that is shown to all, and the fact that every student and employee can find acceptance and cohorts of others with similar interests.

President Baileys Video Update for October 2025 Learn More

President Bailey�셲 Video Update for October 2025

October 9, 2025 – The October video message from 쮸떴눈첵 President Rick Bailey comes directly from the climbing wall at the 쮸떴눈첵 Student Recreation Center, and he starts by pointing out the symbolism of the location. �쏻e need to climb,�� he says. �쏻e need to chart a better future.�� Part of that is a new enrollment plan designed to improve both recruitment and retention of students. Another part is the university�셲 new financial management plan, which will help build a stronger and more resilient 쮸떴눈첵 �� a university more capable of withstanding future challenges. �쏷hose are �� footholds and handholds on this wall,�� President Bailey says. He also offers a shout-out to all who had a part in the alumni events during 쮸떴눈첵�셲 homecoming weekend, and for the recent recognition of a deserving student-athlete. And he talks about discourse, and the need for civility and respect. �쏧t�셲 not about how much we agree on things,�� he says. �쏻e need to not just tolerate but celebrate our differences.��

쮸떴눈첵 President Rick Baileys September 2025 Update Learn More

Watch: 쮸떴눈첵 President Rick Bailey’s September 2025 Update

September 19, 2025 – 쮸떴눈첵 President Rick Bailey addresses three topics in his September video for students, employees and community members. First, he describes the university�셲 Resiliency Plan as a response to �쐇ncredibly challenging times�� that call for �쐀old and innovative ideas,�� and says the plan will result in a �쐌ore focused, responsive and resilient�� university. He then takes time to congratulate and celebrate 쮸떴눈첵�셲 Digital Cinema Program, which has been included for the second consecutive year in MovieMaker Magazine�셲 list of the top 30 film schools in the U.S. And he invites everyone to join him in savoring the opening of fall term. �쏶eeing that energy on campus is really nourishing, and a reminder of why we do what we do.��

쮸떴눈첵 President Rick Baileys August 2025 Update Learn More

Watch: 쮸떴눈첵 President Rick Bailey’s August 2025 Update

August 5, 2025 – Dr. Rick Bailey, president of 쮸떴눈첵, explains that the university’s declaration of financial exigency may sound alarming, but it’s actually a proactive and collaborative step taken in partnership with the faculty union. He emphasizes that 쮸떴눈첵 is not closing, not declaring bankruptcy, and remains fully operational. Instead, this decision is part of a broader, strategic transformation to safeguard the university�셲 future and protect students. By embracing this process openly and constructively, 쮸떴눈첵 is working to ensure long-term stability, resilience, and continued service to its community.

쮸떴눈첵 Listen Raider Up with President Rick Podcast

Listen: Raider Up with President Rick, Episode 16

June 6, 2025 – 쮸떴눈첵 President Rick Bailey touches on new topics each month in the �쏳aider Up�� podcast, moderated by Marketing and Communications student employee Susie Dale, a UK exchange student studying English at 쮸떴눈첵. This month’s topics are a look back from the end of the academic year at what has been learned and accomplished, and a look ahead to what may be in store for students in the fall �� from progress on sustainability and older student housing, to more fantastic academics and student support.

쮸떴눈첵 President Rick Baileys June 2025 Update Learn More

Watch: 쮸떴눈첵 President Rick Bailey�셲 June 2025 Update

June 3, 2025 – We�셱e in the run-up to our �쐄avorite day of the year,�� and President Rick Bailey has a new video message �� from Raider Stadium, the venue for 쮸떴눈첵�셲 June 14 Commencement �� to help keep our campus and community informed. has two topics for this month�셲 video message to campus and the community. As for that favorite day, President Bailey says �쐗e all witness the transformative power of education�� during our annual graduation ceremonies. He also congratulates the 쮸떴눈첵 women�셲 softball team for winning its fourth NAIA national championship in six years �� and doing to in historic fashion, by losing the first game of the tournament and then rallying to take seven in a row to win the title. �쏽ou have made us all incredibly proud,�� he says. The president also lays out his plans for the summer, including choosing a partner to build and operate the �쐎lder adult living project�� on the former Cascade Complex site, working on the university�셲 �쑣傭뭅ッ� Thrive�� strategic plan and supporting efforts to ensure 쮸떴눈첵�셲 long term fiscal sustainability. He points out that Oregon has slipped to 46th nationally in state support for public universities, and says �쐗e�셶e got to do everything we can to make sure our state understands�� the universal benefits of higher ed.

Listen: Raider Up with President Rick, Episode 15

May 16, 2025 – 쮸떴눈첵 President Rick Bailey touches on new topics each month in the �쏳aider Up�� podcast, moderated by Marketing and Communications student employee Susie Dale, a UK exchange student studying English at 쮸떴눈첵. This month�셲 discussion centers on Artificial Intelligence �� which President Bailey says should be leveraged to open more opportunities for students to learn and achieve. “Let�셲 embrace it,” he says. “Let�셲 find ways to use it ethically and responsibly.”

쮸떴눈첵 President Rick Bailey�셲 May 2025 Update Learn More

Watch: 쮸떴눈첵 President Rick Bailey�셲 May 2025 Update

May 8, 2025 – President Bailey discusses 쮸떴눈첵’s new strategic planning process – 쮸떴눈첵 Thrive – in this month’s video message to campus and the community. He describes a strategic plan as “really just a fancy way of saying this is the vision of how we are going to get from where we are now as a university to where we want the university to be a few years from now.” The process starts with understanding the context and environment surrounding the university, determining what the future should look like, and then answering the question, “how do we get from Point A to Point B?” He said the 쮸떴눈첵 Thrive plan needs to be approachable and useable, rather than “some convoluted plan that sits on a shelf and nobody uses.” The planning process is underway, with a campus survey, meetings with stakeholder groups, an open house and more. He hopes that the end product will help 쮸떴눈첵 move from what he calls “a defensive posture” to being able to “build the university that everyone deserves.”

Listen: Raider Up with President Rick, Episode 14

April 22, 2025 – 쮸떴눈첵 President Rick Bailey touches on new topics each month in the “Raider Up” podcast, moderated by Marketing and Communications student employee Susie Dale, a UK exchange student studying English at 쮸떴눈첵. This month’s topics include preparations for the “쮸떴눈첵 Thrive” strategic plan – the guiding document that President Bailey says will “create a pathway between where we are now and where we want to be as an institution.” There are also updates on senior living, the University Business District, solar power and more.

Watch 쮸떴눈첵 President Rick Bailey's April 2025 Update Watch and Read

Watch: 쮸떴눈첵 President Rick Bailey�셲 April 2025 Update

April 14, 2025 – President Bailey discusses 쮸떴눈첵’s new strategic planning process – 쮸떴눈첵 Thrive – in this month’s video message to campus and the community. He describes a strategic plan as “really just a fancy way of saying this is the vision of how we are going to get from where we are now as a university to where we want the university to be a few years from now.” The process starts with understanding the context and environment surrounding the university, determining what the future should look like, and then answering the question, “how do we get from Point A to Point B?” He said the 쮸떴눈첵 Thrive plan needs to be approachable and useable, rather than “some convoluted plan that sits on a shelf and nobody uses.” The planning process is underway, with a campus survey, meetings with stakeholder groups, an open house and more. He hopes that the end product will help 쮸떴눈첵 move from what he calls “a defensive posture” to being able to “build the university that everyone deserves.”

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