CAS Economist and Team Find Impact of CAHOOTS in Eugene
A groundbreaking crisis de-escalation program that started in Eugene to help people with mental health or substance abuse issues saves cities money and reduces arrests, a University of Oregon-led study has found.
Jonathan Davis, a College of Arts and Sciences economics associate professor, is part of a research team that found that each call that CAHOOTS (Crisis Assistance Helping Out On The Streets) responds to saves the cities of Eugene and Springfield 35 cents.
When CAHOOTS responds to a call, it sends mental health workers and medics to support people experiencing mental health crises, drug overdoses and similar issues. Researchers also found that the probability that a 911 call would result in an arrest fell by 76 percent in the new areas CAHOOTS was serving. Most of those calls were related to mental health issues or a detoxification hold due to alcohol or drug use.
"We find that CAHOOTS is a cost-saving program, using what we think are pretty conservative assumptions," said Jonathan Davis, an associate professor of economics in the UO’s College of Arts and Sciences who led the study. "By replacing some police responses, they're actually saving the city money."
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Gifts to the College of Arts and Sciences can help our students make the most of their college careers. To do this, CAS needs your support. Your contributions help us ensure that teaching, research, advising, mentoring, and support services are fully available to every student. Thank you!
What’s Happening in CAS?
The College of Arts and Sciences is proud to announce that the class of 2025 is nearly 3,000 strong: 2,611 undergraduates, 208 master's students, and 117 PhD students. Hear from three CAS students about their proudest accomplishments as an undergraduate student, what their post-college aspirations are, and advice for incoming first-year students.
Plus, hear from Portland real estate developer, philanthropist and UO alumnus Jordan Schnitzer about why he and his family were inspired to give CAS a $25 million gift to the Schnitzer School of Global Studies and Languages.
Also in the June issue of CAS Connection: Find out what Batman's Joker tells us about madness over the past several decades, how the Prison Education Program is transformative for students, why volcanic ash secured by a CAS researcher is highly sought after by researchers from around the world—and more.
Undergraduate Studies
Wherever your academic goals eventually take you at the UO, all Ducks begin their journey with foundational courses in CAS. More than 60 percent of students go on to pursue a major in a CAS department or program. With more than 50 departments and programs, there’s an intellectual home for almost any interest, talent, or career aspiration.
Graduate Studies
The College of Arts and Sciences offers more than 30 master's programs and more than 20 doctoral programs across a diverse range of disciplines. Both as contributors to research teams and through their own scholarship and teaching, our CAS graduate students are indispensable to the vitality of the UO academic mission.
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We provide our students with a variety of resources to help you thrive inside and outside the classroom. Through Tykeson Advising, we provide comprehensive academic and career advising from the start of your journey at the University of Oregon. Learn about career preparation and get assistance in selecting the very best classes. Connect with labs, libraries, IT and tutoring. Find your community on campus.
World-Class Faculty
The College of Arts and Sciences faculty members are a driving force of the high-output, high-impact research activity that has earned the UO membership in the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU). Our world-class faculty members are inspiring teachers.
Among them are five members of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, four members of the National Academy of Sciences. They are committed to helping students discover their academic passion. Every day, they work to expand students’ intellectual horizons, preparing them for life after college with real-world knowledge and skills.
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In the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), we are committed to excellence in research and teaching, student success, and diversity, equity, and belonging.
A liberal arts education—one that offers a breadth of intellectual approaches and perspectives and depth in a major discipline—is the foundation to a purposeful life as a life-long learner, engaged citizen, and leader. The skills you will learn here—from written and verbal communication to analytical and quantitative reasoning, to compassion and understanding—are those that employers seek and will open the door to a wealth of opportunities.
You will find more than 50 majors and a multitude of minors within CAS, and seemingly endless opportunities for personal exploration and discovery. Whether you are an incoming first-year student, a grad student or a transfer student, you can map an exciting future and be part of a fun, warm, engaged liberal arts community here. Come join us. And go Ducks!
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Happening at CAS
4:00–6:00 p.m.
The University of Oregon Department of Cinema Studies invites UO alumni and faculty in the Los Angeles area to a summer social.
Cinema Studies is pleased to host a summer social for UO Cinema Studies alumni and faculty in the Los Angeles area! Join us for an informal gathering, conversation, and refreshments while connecting with CINE alumni and faculty in the Los Angeles area. This is a great opportunity for alumni involved in all aspects of film, TV, and media to help build a stronger UO cinema community in Los Angeles.
Tables in the back patio will be reserved.
For more information and to RSVP, please visit the Cinema Studies website.
Hosted by Associate Professors Masami Kawai and Daniel Gómez Steinhart, Cinema Studies
11:00 a.m.–1:30 p.m.
Kick off the year right at the Graduate Student Welcome Lunch and Resource Fair! Come hang out with fellow new and returning grad students, explore the resource fair, and (best of all) enjoy some seriously delicious FREE food. You don’t want to miss it!
At the fair get connected with:
- UO Health Services
- Housing
- Student Funding
- Identity support groups
- Career Services
- Graduate student resources and more!
9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Are you interested in exploring or finding a position in industry?
The Graduate Student & Postdoc Industry Recruitment Event (GSPIRE) is the perfect opportunity for individuals with advanced degrees and training to connect with various industries and organizations. The GSPIRE will take place virtually on October 23. We invite you to join us and connect with top employers and organizations seeking bright minds like yours.
All individuals, from first-year graduate students to postdocs and alumni, are welcome to participate in GSPIRE fairs. Whether you are considering a career in academia or industry, this event will provide valuable networking opportunities and the chance to explore and secure internships or professional employment in the industry. Sign up coming soon!
Graduating soon?
Individuals who are due to graduate in Dec 2025 or May/August/Dec 2026 are strongly encouraged to submit a resume (not a C.V.). It's valuable to submit a resume even if you are unable to attend the career fair, as all industry partners will receive all resumes submitted. Submitting a resume is not mandatory for event registration, but it is recommended for individuals pursuing a career in industry, as it allows industry partners to track your progress over the next few years.
The deadline for resume submissions is Monday, September 8 at 9:00pm Pacific Time. It is advised to submit resumes early to account for any potential technical difficulties. Adding a resume on Handshake is also recommended, as it is a useful platform for job searching and applications at your level.
5:00 p.m.
What is Research? (2026) will explore various natures, purposes, and roles of research across disciplines, fields, and areas. The event will consider frameworks of systematic and creative inquiry, including methods, designs, analyses, discoveries, collaborations, dissemination, ethics, integrity, diversity, media/technologies, and information environments.
This year delves into research in its many forms, including searching, critically investigating, and re-examining existing knowledge, as well as emerging functions and procedures in machine intelligence and computation. It will highlight pluralities of research pathways, examining time-honored approaches and new ways of knowing, precedents, issues, and futures. It considers challenges and possibilities that researchers face in today’s rapidly changing world, and ways to promote ethical, inclusive, and impactful research.
The event celebrates the thirtieth anniversary of the Communication and Media Studies Doctoral Program in the School of Journalism and Communication at the University of Oregon.