Press "Enter" to skip to content

SPQUO: Senate prepares for new era of shared governance, we hope

Last updated on 08/21/2014

President Gottfredson’s relationship with the Senate was bad. He pointedly ignored Senate resolutions on athletics, set up a variety of “administrative advisory groups” to bypass Senate committees such as the IAC, and started pointless fights over academic freedom, legal services, and delegation of authority. The Senate had a resolution for a vote of no confidence in Gottfredson scheduled for October, and it’s difficult to see how it could have failed.

Fortunately Chuck Lillis saved us from that, and in the process gave most of us a lot of faith in the Board. (Although everyone seems to think they could have negotiated a tougher deal than Sharon Rudnick’s $940K giveaway.)

Now it’s up to Interim President Coltrane and Senate President Rob Kyr to try and rebuild some trust between the administration and the faculty and Senate. The message below is Kyr holding out the olive branch. Let’s hope Coltrane responds quickly by undoing Gottfredson’s mistakes. We need some quick, clear demonstrations that things are going to change.

To: University of Oregon Community; University Senate & Senate Executive Committee

From: Robert Kyr, University Senate President

Re: A Time of Change & Opportunity 

In light of the very recent changes in Johnson Hall, I am writing to give you an update about the Senate’s obligations and plans for the coming academic year.

First, I want to acknowledge and thank our new Board of Trustees and Chuck Lillis, Chair, for their superb leadership in decisively appointing Scott Coltrane as Interim President in a way that signals the strength and stability of our institution. The Senate has enjoyed a productive working relationship with Professor Coltrane during his tenure as Provost, and earlier, as Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. We very much look forward to our collaboration with him as Interim President, and with newly appointed Acting Provost Frances Bronet.

During the coming academic year, the Senate will focus on several important initiatives for the future of our university:

+ Task Force to Address Sexual Violence and Survivor Support

The Task Force will present its recommendations to the university community at the October 22nd Senate meeting. The work of this committee is crucial for our ongoing efforts to address sexual violence in our community through meaningful and sustainable action.

LINK: Senate Motion US13/14-52 (establishing Task Force)

LINK: Task Force Website 

+ Review of the Academic Plan and University Priorities 

Also at our October 22nd Senate meeting, we will begin a review of the university’s Academic Plan including a discussion of university priorities as part of a yearlong campus-wide process.

LINK: Academic Plan 

+ Changes in the Student Conduct Code

At our first Senate meeting of the year (October 8, 2014), we will consider major legislation proposing significant changes to the Student Conduct Code.

LINK: Senate Motion US13/14-53 

+ Open Meetings and Confidentiality

Beginning on September 15, all Senate committee meetings will be open meetings as specified by the Oregon Public Meetings Law and Senate legislation. We will also consider issues of confidentiality as related to committees with specific needs in this regard (and as specified in Senate legislation).

LINK: Senate Motion US13/14-19 

+ The Realignment of University Policies

In 2014-2015, we will begin a multi-year process, during which as many as 50-70 revised policies (mostly OAR’s, that is, “Oregon Administrative Rules”) will be sent to the Senate for consideration and approval. The policies are currently being reviewed and will be revised, as necessary, to reflect our new system of governance at both the university (UO Board of Trustees) and statewide levels (Chief Education Officer, HECC, OEIB).

+ Reform of the System of University Service

During the fall quarter of 2014, we will complete the reform of our system of university committee service, including the consideration of three pieces of returning legislation (see the links immediately below) dealing with revisions and changes in the charges and membership of five committees.

LINK: Senate Motion US13/14-41 

LINK: Senate Motion US13/14-42 

LINK: Senate Motion US13/14-43 

Given the legislative agenda above, the upcoming academic year promises to be one of the most productive and rewarding in the history of the Senate. It presents all of us with important opportunities to work together to achieve major structural and systemic changes in our university.

During this process of transformation, your service is both needed and valued more than ever. I look forward to our work together during this time of great possibilities and hope.

All the best,
Rob
Robert Kyr
Philip H. Knight Professor of Music
President, University Senate

Be First to Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *