Student Life

Life in Oregon

Living in Oregon is one of the benefits of attending the University of Oregon. Residents take pride in their state and in preserving their beautiful natural environment. The mild climate of western Oregon brings moderate winters and pleasant summers. It rains about forty inches a year -- the same as in Milan, New York, Philadelphia, Rio de Janeiro or Vancouver.

From Eugene, it is only a short drive east to the Cascade Mountains or west to the Pacific Ocean. The mountains offer opportunities for cross-country and downhill skiing in the winter and camping, fishing, hiking in the summer. Many lakes and rivers support sailing, water skiing, and white-water rafting.

Eugene, a mid-sized city home to more than 156,000 people (350,000, including adjacent Springfield), has a big-city culture and a relaxed, small-town feel. Flanked by fir-covered mountains, Eugene’s diverse cultural flavor is typified by an outdoor market, bicycle paths, and jogging trails complemented by resident professional symphony and ballet companies, annual music festivals featuring Bach and American composers, and an active artistic community.

The Campus

The University itself is an arboretum of more than 2,000 varieties of trees. The ages and architectural styles of campus buildings vary from the Victorian turret of historic Deady Hall, opened in 1876, to the Lillis Business Complex, completed in 2003 and recognized by the U.S. Green Building Council as the most environmentally friendly business school facility in the country.

The two-million-volume University of Oregon Libraries, a member of the Association of Research Libraries, is an important research facility for scholars throughout the Northwest. The Many Nations Longhouse, more than 20 years in the planning, opened in January 2005. The design of the Longhouse expresses the cultural values of Oregon's native communities and references the historic form of some native dwellings. The Longhouse, the latest milestone of the UO's Native American Initiative, represents the University's deepening commitment to the study and survival of Native American culture and languages, while fostering a core of programs that make the UO a major center for American Indian education and research.

Things to Do On Campus

• Check out the three-court gymnasium complex, suspended running track, open-air and covered tennis courts, swimming pools, a strength and conditioning room, and rock-climbing wall at the Student Recreation Center, open to every currently registered student.
• Visit the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art,  one of only five in Oregon accredited by the American Association of Museums. Discover European, Korean, Chinese, and Japanese art exhibits that are enhanced by a full complement of inviting programs for people of all ages.  
• Visit the Museum of Natural and Cultural History. Home of “Oregon’s oldest running shoes” and a renowned fossil collection, the museum recently unveiled new exhibits taking visitors through 15,000 years of Northwest cultural history and 100 million years of geologic history.
• Choose from a variety of arts and crafts workshops at the Craft Center.
• Join others in kayaking, rafting, skiing, camping, and/or rent a variety of low-cost outings through the Outdoor Program.
• Attend events put on by our School of Music and Dance and the University Theatre.

Get Involved

• Make connections with graduate students outside your program:
  • Alliance of Graduate Students for Diversity
  • UO Women in Graduate Sciences
  • Graduate School Student Advisory Board
  • Rehearsals for Life
  • Other Student Groups
   
• Get active in your department’s student advisory council
• Join an event listserv: Oregon Humanitiies Center, Teaching Effectiveness Program, UO Families
• Check out a Center on the Study of Women in Society Research Interest Group
• Participate in the annual interdisciplinary Graduate Student Research Forum
• Find out what's going at the UO Women's Center, Men's Center, and the Holden Leadership Center
• Look into research and learning opportunities at one of the many research centers on campus.

Selected Resources for Students

Diversity at the University of Oregon

There are many resources on our campus that advocate for the diversity of cultures and backgrounds, stimulate the diversity of ideas, and support inclusive excellence on our campus: