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UO Matters

Contest for best “why I would like to work remotely during a pandemic” request

5/6/2020 update:

The latest email from HR is here. It gives the faculty a 6 day extension on the demand for requests for remote teaching. I clicked on the Remote Work Request Form link in the email. I was surprised to learn that there’s a university policy requiring all employees to demonstrate honesty in communication & conduct. I guess there’s an exemption for JH administrators.

In any case I’ve got a fifth of Laphroaig for whoever submits the best reason in the comments for wanting to work remotely. In keeping with UO policy, all entries must start with “Honestly, ”

5/5/2020: HR gives faculty til Friday to get BMI up to 40 & request opt-out from in-person teaching

Faculty Union voting opens on contract ext / wage freeze

5/6/2020 update: 

If you’re a card-carrying member you should have received an email from UAUO with a link to an electronic ballot at 1:30 today.

Imagine that – the members of an organized faculty labor cartel voting on the terms of their contract with Johnson Hall’s hiring cartel. It must make our Board of Trustees’ already cold blood run even colder. I voted Yes, and yes of course I tried but you can only vote once. Voting closes Friday at 4. at 5PM. (extended by an hour because it started a little late.)

If you’re in the bargaining unit but not a member you can join here, although I imagine it’s too late to have a vote this time. If you’re not sure if you’re in the bargaining unit email [email protected].

5/5/2020 update: Faculty Union to send wage freeze agreement to members for vote this Wed

UO Fall Term Planning–Concerns about the Safety of In-Person and On-Campus Instruction

A letter to campus from one of our our Italian correspondents. Page down for her op-ed in today’s Oregonian: From: Melissa Graboyes <[email protected]> Subject: UO Fall Term Planning–Concerns about the Safety of In-Person and On-Campus Instruction Date: May 6, 2020 at 6:54:09 AM PDT To: Andre Le Duc <[email protected]> Cc:…

Senate’s Academic Council updates rules for teaching w/ closed campus

ACADEMIC COUNCIL: UPDATED ACADEMIC CONTINUITY EXPECTATIONS The Academic Council met 4-22-20 to discuss academic continuity planning for the duration of the COVID-19 disruption. The Academic Continuity Plan approved by the Academic Council on March 4, 2020 (https://senate.uoregon.edu/2020/03/05/academic-continuity-plan-for-the-coronavirus-health-emergency/) remains in effect until the academic disruption is declared over by the Academic…

Another carefully scripted town hall to promote illusion of shared governance

From Around the 0, of course: University of Oregon students, faculty members and staff are invited to attend a virtual town hall meeting at 12:30 p.m. Thursday, May 7, to discuss planning for in-person, on campus instruction for fall term. President Michael H. Schill announced the intent for fall term, including…

Updated with coaches’ gift to Uncle Phil: Rob Mullens lays off janitors, groundskeepers to pay greedy Duck coaches

4/30/2020 update: A few hours after this post, the Duck’s strategic communicators responded: In light of the ongoing challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic, all University of Oregon head coaches have voluntarily agreed to take a 10 percent salary reduction for the 2020-21 academic year … Additionally, all UO head…

Ducks light up The Phildo in green to mark the spot where they buried that $2M in academic funds

I’m no physician, but I hear this can be treated with penicillin: Thanks to an alert reader for forwarding the link to the reddit discussion. UO’s website claims “Funding: Fully funded by gifts from Penny and Phil Knight and more than 50 other donors”. That is not entirely true: On…