Senate approves policy on policies, gets search update

The University Senate passed a revised policy on university policies at its Feb. 11 meeting that lays the groundwork for future policy review and creation. The move is considered an important step as the UO embarks on the review of hundreds of policies inherited by the state and former state board system. 

The university administration, Senate leadership and UO Board of Trustees representatives agreed to the policy language after working on the draft since December. The board will consider the policy at its March meeting.

“We have come thousands of miles,” said John Bonine, professor of law. “There is a lesson in there that we can work together.”

The chair of the Presidential Search Committee, UO trustee Connie Ballmer, and a representative of Parker Executive Search also talked about the search for a new president. Parker is helping recruit candidates.

Ballmer says the most important job the board has is hiring a president, and the best way to attract the best candidates is to have a confidential search. 

Laurie Wilder, president of Parker Executive Search, said, “I truly believe that you need someone in this presidency who wants to be here at the University of Oregon, not just be a president.”

The search firm and Ballmer held a forum earlier in the day as well to answer questions about the search process.

Also at the Senate meeting, Andrew Marcus, interim dean of College of Arts and Sciences, spoke about budgeting and addressed concerns about cuts to the number of graduate teaching instructors at the college. He said that over the last five years CAS has increased the number of GTFs by 26 percent, but this year had to make a small reduction of 2.5 percent, because of a drop in the number of expected undergraduate student credit hours.

Interim President Scott Coltrane also spoke, inviting the senators to two campus forums. The first opportunity will focus on strategic planning and will be held at noon Feb. 17 in the EMU ballroom. A campus conversation and progress report about addressing sexual violence will also be held on March 2 at 4 p.m. at the Ford Alumni Center’s Guistina Ballroom.

By Jennifer Winters, Public Affairs Communications