There is less interaction between students and their faculty in the 90s, leading to less connection with the UO once they have graduated. Measure 5 cuts, eliminating programs and departments, has disillusioned some alumni and donors. Alumni do not feel a physical kinship with campus after they graduate. Alumni and donors outside of Oregon base their perception to a great extent on what they read and hear. Similarly, the local image is at least partially linked with athletic pride.
Higher education is perceived as too slow to respond to business needs.
The contributions of a research university to good education and the generation of new knowledge are not understood or communicated by the media. The expertise of UO faculty go unrecognized by the regional and national media. The media does not recognize the range of non-traditional students and the opportunities for them. General perceptions held by the media outside Eugene concerning the UO are less negative than indifferent. The scramble for scarce resources masks the diversity of our offerings leading to a public perception of limited diversity and breadth of offerings to the students and public, as well as masking the University's need to not only maintain but encourage diversity.