We depend on the efforts of volunteers to:
- support the bargaining team with contract action,
- support the efforts of classified staff, part-time faculty and students in advocating for themselves & high quality, affordable higher education,
- voice the concerns of PSU faculty - including non-tenure track faculty and academic professionals, as well as tenure-track faculty – to members of the PSU Administration, the Oregon Legislature, the press and the community, and
- have a good time doing it!
We’ll be electing seven (7) people to serve from May 1, 2021 to April 30, 2023 as:
- Vice President for Academic Freedom and Grievances
- Vice President for Legislative and Political Action
- Secretary
- Treasurer
- Councilor At Large (3 positions)
You can nominate yourself, or speak to a friend that you want to nominate and nominate them. It’s important to have a good mix of APs, fixed-term faculty, research faculty and tenure-related faculty.
We expect the vote to begin on or about March 1st. Please send your nominations to the nominating committee by February 5.
The nomination should include a candidate statement (submitted either by the candidate or a supporting member) of no more than 150 words. Also be sure to list all previous AAUP service for the ballot header. The ballot will be constructed pursuant to Association Policy 09- Ballot Protocols.
To submit a nomination, send an email to Nominating Committee members Megan Horst, Erica Geller, and Peter Kramer via email. You must be a regular member of the PSU-AAUP to nominate someone or be nominated. We will confirm everyone’s membership status and that each nominee is willing to participate.
Should you have any questions about the Association or the open positions, you can contact any of the current executive council members, or Executive Director Phil Lesch.
We look forward to hearing from you!
Megan Horst, Erica Geller, and Peter Kramer
PSU-AAUP 2021 Nominating Committee
******************************************************************************
More Detailed Descriptions of Executive Council Positions
Office of Vice President for Academic Freedom and Grievances (release time position)
The Vice President for Academic Freedom and Grievances is one of the eight officer positions on the Executive Council. This VP works closely with the Association Executive Director and is normally provided 1/3 release time to facilitate the performance of grievance officer duties for the Association. The Vice president for Academic Freedom and Grievances acts as the chief dispute resolution officer for the Association; they meet with members about work issues, and represent members in grievance meetings and participates in other kinds of meetings with management.
Office of Vice President for Legislative and Political Action (VP-LEG) (partial release time position)
The VP-LEG is one of the eight officer positions on the Executive Council. The position is provided a one course release per year when the Oregon Legislature is in session. The VP-LEG shall be responsible for the promotion of the chapter’s mission and objectives through legislative and political action. The Vice President shall recommend the appointment of the Legislative and Political Action Committee to the Executive Council and shall preside over the activities of the committee. The Vice President shall represent the chapter on legislative and political action with our affiliates and ensure our agreements with affiliates about legislative and political action are upheld. The Vice President shall make recommendations to the Executive Council on Association policies and strategies for legislative and political action, candidate endorsement, and government policy regarding higher education and faculty. The Vice President shall make recommendations to the Executive Council on positions for legislation and initiatives, endorsements on legislation, initiatives, and candidates, and shall ensure that the Executive Councils adopted positions and endorsements are communicated, as necessary. The Vice President shall organize lobbying efforts for chapter membership in concert with coalition partners and other organizations to support legislation and initiatives and candidates. The Vice President shall negotiate with government leaders about pending legislation as necessary based on Association positions and endorsements. The Vice President shall testify at public hearings and be available as a key resource to government bodies regarding higher education and faculty issues. The VP-COM works closely and presides over the PSU-AAUP legislative and political action committee, and works closely with the other AAUP chapters in Oregon as a member of the AAUP-Oregon legislative committee.
Secretary
The Secretary is one of the eight officer positions on the Executive Council and takes minutes at meetings. It is not normally a release time position.
Treasurer
The Treasurer is one of the eight officer positions on the Executive Council and is responsible for the financial health of the Association. It is not normally a release time position and requires slightly more time than the attendance at Executive Council meetings: The Treasurer reviews the financial reports monthly, confers with the Executive Director on a regular basis by phone or an occasional meeting on financial matters, and participates on the Finance Committee.
Councilors At Large (3 positions open)
Councilors At Large are not officers of the Association and these are not normally release time positions. Their participation is generally limited to attending meetings, reading and responding to emails, and participating in Executive Council decisions at Executive Council meetings and via email. Most Councilors At Large, however, assume others duties on behalf of the Executive Council such as leading caucus meetings, or representing PSU-AAUP in forums off campus.
New councilors will be expected to attend a 2-hour new councilor orientation on zoom with the Executive Director and continuing executive councilors in April 2021. The Executive Council meets every Thursday during the term, from noon to 1:30 during the academic year. The Executive Council normally meets for a full day planning retreat at the end of spring term, the beginning of fall term, or both. Those retreats have not yet been scheduled.
All Executive Council positions are invited to participate in all organizing and contract action.
Is this the year you will step forward to run for the Executive Council? We hope to hear from you!