OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
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A recording of the meeting is available here.
Senators Present:
Senators Absent:
Ex-Officio members present: Haggerty, Dahl (remote), Du Pont, Dugger, Goergen-Doll, Hamblin, Hansen, Mathew, Mogylevska, Spitz, Valls
Non-Voting members present: Beachley, Palmer
Staff: Caitlin Calascibetta, Susie Sprinson
Guests:
In-person attendees: Virginia Balbi, Steph Bernell, Jackson Brenner-Smith, Nya Buckner, Kaci Buhl, Marissa Chappell, EJ Davis, Symon Davis, Dan Faltesek, Jenny Engels, Chris Ervin, Kip Franich, Susan Gardner, Alix Gitelman, Carla Ho’a, Ashley Holmes, McKenzie Huber, Jen Humphreys, Jeff Kenney, Deborah John, Urszula Iwaniec, Kameron Kadooka, Megan MacDonald, Tina Mills, Todd Palmer, Linda Richards, Morgan Shahan, Blaine Shoulfield, Linse Sullivan, Desiree Tullos, Scott Vignos, Kaelen Weiss, Kathryn Yetter
Remote attendees: Achala KC, Alex Martino, Alisha Brucker, Amanda Granrud, Amanda Polley, Amanda Ronay, Amanda Watts, Amanda Wright, Amber E Zambrano, Amy Baker, Amy Frasieur, Andrea Zigler, Angelika Buchanan, Anna Elizabeth Dvorak, Anna Guasco, Anne Gillies, Anne Givans, Anne Sinkey, Annie Ingersoll, Annie Tarter, Aron Homberg, Ashleigh Anderson, Ashley Knudsen, Asia A Thogmartin, Audrey Rasmussen, Barbara Brody, Becca Wagner, Becki Gann, Becky Munn, Beka Lloyd, Bella Bose, Benny Garcia, Beth Thompson, Bill Braunworth, Bill Hankel, Blythe Kneedler, Bobbi Jo Williams, Brad Young, Brandon Trelstad, Brianna Brennan, Brooke Harrington, Caiden Marcus-Brist, Camilla Sartori, Cara Key, Carlea White, Carolyn Rothwell, Carolyn M Warfield, Carson Dunlap, Caryn Stoess, Catarina Pestana, Cecily Vauna Bishop, Charles Hays, Charlie Beckers, Chelsea Stockton, Cheney Chrisman, Cherie Hudson, Chifundo Lemani, Chris Brakke, Chris Branam, Christina Batten, Christina Diaz-Toledo, Christina McKnight, Christine M Escher, Christine Mouzong, Christopher Hughbanks, Christy R Valencia, Cinamon Moffett, Claudia Hamilton, Colin Bowyer, Colin Hesse, Corinne Benz, Curtis Black, Cynthia Middlebrooks, Damien E Pitts, Dana Sanchez, Danielle Skinner, David Armstrong, David Craig, David Irvin, Davide Lazzati, Debbie DuTell, Debbie Kuehn, Debbie Sayer, Debbie Sutor, Debra Perry-Guetti, Denisse Maciel, Devon Quick, Diana Castillo, Dorothy Loftin, Drew Morgan, Eduardo Rodriguez, Elizabeth Root, Elizabeth Thomas, Elsa Frey, Elvira Alvarez, Emily Blume, Emily Bowling, Emily Dunn, Emily Farrell, Emma Peterson, Eric Beeler, Erica Johnson, Erika E Carrillo, Gabrielle Ulate, Gabs James, Gina Cavanaugh, Gina Rogers, Glencora Borradaile, Gloria Crisp, Grace Atebe, Hailey Light, Haley Winters, Hannah Royball, Heather Arbuckle, Heather Stoven, Hilary McMillan, Holly K Ober, Ian S Kellems, Ian Scofield, Ian Wilborn, Irene Rolston, Jackie Bangs, Jackie Thorsness, Jan Lewis, Jan Medlock, Jane M Waite, Janet Nishihara, Jaron Rosenau, Jason Ideker, Jeff Sherman, Jeffrey Hare, Jen Olarra, Jenna Riccolo, Jennifer Alexander, Jennifer Cartwright Murphy, Jennifer Jewett, Jennifer L Cohen, Jennine Livengood, Jess Sicilia, Jessica Beck, Jessica Sawyer, Joe Wolf, Joel Felix, Joel Zapata, Johana Hernandez, John Steven Selker, Jordon Zardinejad, Joseph Orosco, Joyce Senior, Julie C Pett-Ridge, Julie Jacobs, Kadie Powell, Kali Furman, Karen Johnston, Karren Cholewinski, Kate Moses, Katelyn Ambrose, Katherine Ahern, Katherine McAlvage, Kathie Stutzman, Kathryn Goetting, Katie Fast, Katie Shaw, Kaydee Erdmann, Keahi Kathryn McFadden, Kelci Free, Kellie Walker, Kelly Biedenweg, Kelly McElroy, Kelsey Elam-Geuting, Kendra Buford, Keri Simonet, Kerry Kincanon, Kevin Doughety, Kevin Jones, Khrystal Condon, Kim Hogeland, Kim McQueen, Kirsten Grorud-Colvert, Kole Garry, Kristin Victoria Rifai, Laurel Kincl, Laurie M Bridges, Leanne Giordono, LeeAnn Baker, Leela Magdaleno, Leslie Drey, Lety Cavazos, Lex McQuillan, Lily Ranjbar, Lindsay Wills, Linse Sullivan, Lisa Templeton, Lisbeth Goddik, Lise Hull, Liz Kelly, Lizz Koch, Lori L Hodgert, Lorien Reynolds, Lucas Friedrichsen, Lynn Gonzalez, Lynn Greenough, M Margaret Dolcini, Maile Moore-Gillespie, Manoj Shukla, Marceline Bamba, Marcia Lynn Dickson, Marilyn Thompson, Mark Williams, Marleigh Perez, Mary Ellen Dello Stritto, Mary Gardner, Mary Joslin, Mary Thompson, Matthew B Djubasak, Mealoha McFadden, Megan C Lawrence, Megan Pratt, Meghan Heineman, Meghan Lockwood, Meghan Naxer, Meghna Babbar-Sebens, Melanie Hampton, Melanie McCabe, Melinda Gonzalez, Melissa Matteo, Michael P Dunn, Michelle Klampe, Micki Reaman, Misty De Lei, Misty Edgecomb, Misty Unrau, Mo Childers, Molly Kile, Molly Rosbach, Monica Kulp, Morgan Raleigh, Morgan Stewart, Nadia Jaramillo, Nadia Singh, Nancy Staton Barbour, Natalia Fernández, Natasha Lavelle, Nate Schroeder, Nathan Petitti, Nick Deeds, Nick North, Nicole A Thompson, Nicole Hindes, Nicole Wolf, Oliver Day, Olivia Bogdan, Paul Broccolo, Pete Petryszak, Philip J Williams, Philipp Kneis, Polly Harrell, Prasad Tadepalli, Rachel Kenney, Rachael Weber, Rabeb Zghal Khammar, Rebecca A Mathern, Rebecca Sue Symons, Rebecca Schaffeld, Rebekah Pike, Richenda Hawkins, Richard A Settersten, Robert Figueroa, Robbin L Sim, Romeo Lopez Gonzalez, Roni Sue, Rosalie B McVeigh-Walker, Ruth Sterner, Sandi Phibbs, Sara L Oddou, Sara M Hoyt, Sara Daly, Sara Hamilton, Saskia R Fletcher, Scott Geddes, Sean Nealon, Shannon Caplan, Shannon Murray, Sharon Van Dusen, Stacy Semevolos, Staci Simonich, Stephanie M LeQuier, Stephanie Baugh, Stephanie Harvey, Stephanie Ichien, Steve Lundeberg, Steve Wuhs, Suzanne Segerstrom, Teresa L Preddy, Teresa Hall, Tarren Meyers, Tenisha L Tevis, Thomas Booth, Tim Rager, Tricia Olson, Trisha Applebee, Tracy Monie, Tasha Biesinger, Tze-Yiu Yong, Veronica Irvin, Vincent Nguyen, Vaughn Walton, Vrushali Bokil, Willie J Morgan, Zach Elliott Kronser, Zach Walter
Welcome and Remarks from Faculty Senate President
Andrew called the meeting to order. He welcomed senators, proxies, and visitors, and reviewed the agenda for the meeting. Andrew provided an overview of the procedural guidelines for the meeting, reminding guests that comments and questions from senators would be prioritized during discussion.
Background Information on Sunsetting of Search Advocate and Social Justice Education Initiative Programs
Jennifer Engels presented background information on the sunsetting of the Search Advocate (SA) and Social Justice Education Initiative (SJEI) programs. In addition to the sunsetting of the SA and SJEI programs, Jennifer provided examples of other programs that the petitioners believe have been re-organized or eliminated with insufficient input, per the Institutional Policy and Procedures for Program Reorganization or Elimination: the Office of Faculty Affairs, the Graduate School, and Family and Community Health – (Extension). Jennifer provided an overview of the Institutional Policy and Procedures for Program Reorganization or Elimination. Jennifer noted that various OSU programs have been eliminated or reorganized with minimal faculty consultation, limited OSU-wide communication and, in some cases, during periods when faculty are off contract.
Jennifer shared that the SA and SJEI programs provide foundational programming for every school and college at OSU, noting that over 1,700 employees have completed the SA Foundation series and over 2,000 employees have completed SJEI. Jennifer explained that there is support from a number of groups for these programs to continue.
Faculty Senate (FS) President Andrew Valls invited questions and comments from senators regarding the presentation. A senator noted that portions of Motion 1 are vague and open to interpretation. A senator asked how OSU can efficiently make decisions if this level of inclusion is required for decision-making. Another senator commented that the motions seem to be a request for increased communication, but the language used in the motions is more confrontational than necessary. Additionally, they expressed concern that the meeting invitation for the FS meeting was sent while faculty were off contract. A guest asked about re-instating the cancelled programs from Jennifer’s presentation, and another guest noted that they interpret the Institutional Policy and Procedures for Program Reorganization or Elimination as referring to academic programs, not other general programs at OSU. A senator noted that the policy includes criteria for defining a program, and the SA and SJEI programs qualify as programs by that policy. A senator expressed concern that a problematic precedent is being set if programs have been changed without the required input.
A senator expressed concern for the individuals who will be impacted by program re-organizations, and President Valls explained that the scope of the meeting is focused on the programs, not individual employees. Senators noted that a reorganization or elimination of these programs could have a negative effect on native students, staff, and faculty. A senator commented that the SJEI program is the only program that helps educate faculty and staff on honoring tribal treaties, and it is important that trainings on these topics continue to be intentionally provided to the OSU community.
Motions
Motion 1 was introduced by Gail Langellotto and seconded:
Whereas a series of recent administrative decisions - including but not limited to:
the proposed sunsetting of the Search Advocate program and Social Justice Education Initiative (July, 2025);
restructuring of the Family and Community Health Extension Program and termination of tenured faculty (August, 2025)
- have been made with minimal or no faculty consultation, limited OSU-wide communication; and in some cases, during periods when many faculty are off contract; and whereas OSU’s stated commitment to inclusive excellence, transparency, and shared governance necessitates that decisions with significant academic, cultural, or equity-related impacts be made in meaningful collaboration with the FS and other representative groups;
and whereas the OSU FS is a legislatively-mandated strategic partner (Faculty Senate Bylaws, Article 2, Section 2) in decision-making on behalf of the OSU community, including students and faculty;
and whereas the OSU ‘Institutional Policy and Procedures for Program Reorganization or Elimination’ states that ‘reorganization and elimination of programs will be determined through SG’;
and whereas the OSU FS is concerned that this series of administrative decisions demonstrates an increased frequency of reduced community consultation;
Be it moved: Faculty Senate shall be formally consulted with sufficient prior notice, during the academic year, before any decision is made by OSU administration to sunset, restructure, or
significantly alter programs that support institutional goals and OSU’s foundational values.
Senator Marit Bovbjerg from Health motioned to amend the last paragraph of Motion 1, so it reads as follows:
Be it moved: Faculty Senate shall be formally consulted with sufficient prior notice, during the academic year, before any decision is made by OSU administration to sunset, restructure, or significantly alter programs.
The motion was seconded.
Senator James Taplin from Business raised a concern that the ending the motion with just ‘programs’ is vague. Senator Amanda Armington, Health, proposed a different motion to amend:
Be it moved: Faculty Senate shall be formally consulted with sufficient prior notice, during the academic year, before any decision is made by OSU administration to sunset, restructure, or significantly alter programs as defined by the Institutional Policy and Procedures for Program Reorganization or Elimination.
Senator Marit Bovbjerg and her second withdrew their motion in favor of Amanda Armington’s motion to amend. Amanda Armington’s motion to amend was seconded.
The motion passed with 84 votes in favor, 26 votes in opposition and 6 abstentions.
President Andrew Valls asked if anyone had any comments or questions regarding the Motion 1, as amended.
A senator asked one of the petitioners about the practical impacts of this motion. Gail Langellato explained that while the FS is not in a position to dictate how the administration runs the university, it’s important to reaffirm that the FS believes these processes and procedures are important and should be followed. Senators voiced support for using these motions as a method for communication with the administration. A proxy asked if there are consequences if these policies are not followed, and Gail explained that there are no specific consequences, but there may be a loss of trust between faculty, staff, students, and the administration.
Masha Mogylevsky, ASOSU President, expressed concern with the ASOSU student employee terminations that occurred over the last year. Kalen Weiss, Vice President for Solidarity of the Coalition of Graduate Employees, noted that they expressed similar concerns with the administration during contract negotiations. Both students shared their support for shared governance.
Roy Haggerty, Provost and Executive Vice President, was invited to the podium to address the senators and guests, where he thanked everyone for coming and acknowledged the many challenges of this unprecedented time and the stress it has brought on faculty, staff and students. Provost Haggerty shared his concerns that the proposed motions pose a risk to shared governance. He explained that the SA program is being professionally incorporated into University Human Resources (UHR) as only 36% of OSU searches have utilized a search advocate. Provost Haggerty cited the AAUP, noting that the terminology in the policy regarding the elimination and reorganization of programs is in reference to academic programs. He urged senators to reconsider the motion, explaining that it would broaden the scope of shared governance to an impossibly broad interpretation, which would make running the university incredibly difficult.
Senator Brandi Douglas from Student Affairs made a motion to call the question. The motion was seconded and passed with 76 votes in favor, 19 votes in opposition and 10 abstentions.
Motion 1 on the floor, as amended:
Whereas a series of recent administrative decisions - including but not limited to:
the proposed sunsetting of the Search Advocate program and Social Justice Education Initiative (July, 2025);
restructuring of the Family and Community Health Extension Program and termination of tenured faculty (August, 2025)
- have been made with minimal or no faculty consultation, limited OSU-wide communication; and in some cases, during periods when many faculty are off contract;
and whereas OSU’s stated commitment to inclusive excellence, transparency, and SG necessitates that decisions with significant academic, cultural, or equity-related impacts be made in meaningful collaboration with the Faculty Senate and other representative groups;
and whereas the OSU Faculty Senate is a legislatively-mandated strategic partner (Faculty Senate Bylaws, Article 2, Section 2) in decision-making on behalf of the OSU community, including students and faculty;
and whereas the OSU ‘Institutional Policy and Procedures for Program Reorganization or Elimination’ states that ‘reorganization and elimination of programs will be determined through SG’;
and whereas the OSU Faculty Senate is concerned that this series of administrative decisions demonstrates an increased frequency of reduced community consultation;
Be it moved: Faculty Senate shall be formally consulted with sufficient prior notice, during the academic year, before any decision is made by OSU administration to sunset, restructure, or significantly alter programs as defined by the Institutional Policy and Procedures for Program Reorganization or Elimination.
The motion passed with 65 votes in favor, 40 votes in opposition and 4 abstentions.
Motion 2 was introduced by Nick Fleury from Associated Faculty and seconded by Stephanie Ramos.
Whereas community support for the SA and SJEI programs has been widespread, with hundreds of OSU faculty, staff, and students submitting written statements and attending forums in response to recent administrative decisions that were made without consultation;
and whereas a community consultation process was not conducted regarding the proposed termination of these programs;
and whereas the OSU Faculty Senate requests the opportunity to engage the community in robust discussion of the value and continuation of the SA and SJEI programs to the whole OSU community;
Be it moved: Faculty Senate requests that the Provost’s Office actively work to retract the programs’ proposed cancellations, which are set to go into effect on October 16, providing time to robustly and transparently engage the OSU community in a formal consultative process re the Search Advocate Program and Social Justice Education Initiative.
Nick Fleury provided rationale for the motion, explaining that the new SA-related offerings provided by HR are of inferior quality to what the SA program has provided in the past. He noted that SJEI supports OSU’s pursuit of inclusive excellence, encourages the inclusion of multiple viewpoints, and voiced concern that there is no other type of program at OSU that serves in the same capacity.
Two senators from Engineering noted that they felt limited by the SA program during hiring processes, while another senator from Engineering disagreed, noting that many faculty in engineering were open to conversation about these programs and their fate. A senator reflected that it can be challenging to find a search advocate, and expressed concern that the program does not have the necessary support to be successful. A senator from Associated Faculty stated that the SA and SJEI programs are important from an enrollment standpoint, noting that OSU’s values are part of what attract potential students. They also noted that the SA program may seem to have lower participation because staff struggle to balance SA work with other tasks. A senator noted that the SA and SJEI programs support inclusive excellence outside of classroom settings. A guest shared support for the use of the SA program within OSU’s Extension and Engagement Division.
Motion 2 passed with 64 votes in favor, 39 votes in opposition, and 6 abstentions.
Closing Discussion
There was no further discussion.
Adjournment
With no further discussion or business before the FS, Andrew adjourned the meeting.
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