Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease a 9 x 13 inch baking pan.
Combine cake mix and oats in a mixing bowl. Stir in melted butter, using your fingers to distribute it evenly; mixture will be crumbly. Sprinkle half of the mixture (3 cups) in the bottom of the baking pan, pressing firmly to form the bottom layer.
In a small bowl, combine preserves with water and stir until smooth. Spoon jam over the mixture and spread evenly. Cover with remaining oat mixture. Pat firmly to make top even.
Bake 20 minutes, until the top is just turning golden. Cool completely before cutting into bars.
Recipe submitted by Joyce on 9/25/00