The University of Oregon is looking for volunteers from all ranks and classifications to fill positions on both appointed and elected committees and the University Senate. This week AroundtheO is running profiles of several of the employees who graciously volunteer their time to serve on the University Senate or a committee on campus.
For more information on how to serve the university by volunteering for a position, please see Employees needed for positions as part of the university’s shared governance. The deadline to submit your Committee Service Preferences Survey is Friday, April 25, at noon.
Q: Why did you choose to join a committee or run for an elected position at UO?
A: I chose to run for the Graduate Council partly because university service is a professional responsibility, partly because I care about the direction of graduate education at the University of Oregon, and partly because I wanted a better overview of how graduate education functions here.
Q: In what ways do you feel your involvement on a committee or in the University Senate has made a difference at the UO?
A: I'm not really sure, except that I have been able to think and problem-solve with other committed, capable scholars and administrators on graduate issues.
Q: Why should employees on campus choose to get involved in shared governance?
A: Faculty members should get involved in shared governance because we are the university, and should be directing its educational imperatives.
Q: What advice would you give to someone who is considering joining a committee or running for an elected position as part of shared governance?
A: I would say to think about what issues most interest or concern you at the university and focus your energy there, building up knowledge and experience in that area over time - as opposed to a scattershot approach of doing different sorts of service across one's time at the university.