Politics
Community Support
Contact Us
Meet the Chair of the Politics Committee
Bonnie Mann
Chair of the Politics Committee
Bonnie Mann is a Professor of Philosophy whose research is in feminist philosophy and modern and contemporary continental philosophy. This work is concerned with how gendered power is lived socially and politically: in the body, in language, in the imaginary life of communities, and in the capitalist nation-state. Their work in feminist philosophy draws on phenomenology, poststructuralism and feminist materialism, as a viable account of gendered experience and gendered power must address multiple structures of human existence.
Email Bonnie
Join the Politics Committee
The politics committee is an active and vibrant group which has been one key organizing group in recent successful efforts to roll back administrator’s plans to cut programs and tenure related faculty. We value a collective approach to our work and forging strong relationships among our members. We also all see building the strength of our union as one way to support one another and resist the authoritarian push that we are living through now, one way to recognize and organize against the things that brought us here.
Legislative Engagement
- Help us form strong relationships with our legislators on the local, state and national levels. Be involved in efforts to strengthen material support for higher education, accountability for our administrators and board of trustees, and effective resistance to efforts to gut higher education.
Broader Political Engagement
- Work with us to make our union a center of power against authoritarian attacks on higher education and on our communities. Think with us about how to promote the re-democratization of institutions of higher education (starting with our own) as a counter-weight to the CEO model of university governance, and the forces of de-democratization that threaten academic freedom. Join our efforts to launch the Oregon Compact for Higher Education.
To join the Politics listserv: Contact Kristy Hammond: kristy@uauoregon.org
To join the Politics Committee, propose a social engagement group, or anything else related to the PC, also contact: bmann@uauoregon.org
Subcommittee on International & Immigration Issues
- Our first designated subcommittee formed on 10/20/2025 with an initial organizing meeting. The subcommittee works to organize a response to the brutality and lawlessness that are directed at members of our community because of perceived race or immigration status or country of origin, including our students and faculty. Initial efforts are focused on university wide faculty and student education/organizing in relation to accessing and building protections for those who are targeted.
Social Engagement (in conjunction with the Membership Committee of UA)
- In the United States, we too often turn to our unions only in times of trouble or conflict, but a vibrant union is also a source of social connection and joy for its members. Do you have something you love to do that you would be willing to share with other union members who are interested? Build community around shared interests, from white water rafting, to knitting, beer brewing, hiking, climbing, cycling, wine tasting, cooking or birdwatching, by stepping up to coordinate a United Academic group around the thing you love to do. The more connected and joyous our community, the healthier and stronger our union!
Current Work and Issues
Financial Transparency
At a UO Senate meeting held on 8/19/25, in order to justify efforts in August 2025 to fire tenure-related faculty and shutter multiple academic programs, UO President Karl Scholz cited this UO Policy:
- UO Policy I.01.01 (“Retention and Delegation of Authority), article 1.7.1: “The Board has the authority to establish, eliminate, control, or substantially reorganize academic programs and units of operation. Any significant change in the University’s academic programs as defined by the Higher Education Coordinating Commission must be approved by the Board prior to submission to the Commission.”
This policy, however, is not the entire story regarding the creation and administration of academic programs in Oregon’s public universities. Oregon law unequivocally asserts that the University of Oregon is a public institution of higher education devoted to the common good of Oregonians:
- ORS 352.039.1 (“Goals and mission of public universities”) states that the University of Oregon, along with all of the state’s public universities, “is created to carry out public missions and services in keeping with principles of public accountability and fundamental public policy.”
- ORS 350.009 (“Fundamental goals of public higher education”) states that public higher education is necessary for “1) creating an educated citizenry to support responsible roles in a democratic society and provide a globally competitive workforce…2) ensuring a high-quality learning environment that allows students to succeed; 3) creating original knowledge and advancing innovation; and 4) contributing positively to the economic, civic and cultural life of communities in all regions of Oregon.”
The UO Board of Trustees, to fulfill the spirit of this public mission, is called upon to ensure public accountability and transparency:
- ORS 352.025 (“Legislative findings”) states that university governing boards shall “provide transparency, public accountability, and support for the university”; “lead to greater access and affordability for Oregon residents and do not disadvantage Oregon students relative to out-of-state students”; and “act in the best interests of both the university and the State of Oregon as a whole.”
Oregon law, UO policies, the UO Constitution, and the collective bargaining agreement with United Academics all recognize the governance role of the university president and the professors:
- ORS 352.146 (“Faculty; status; powers”) states that, while they are subject to other laws as well as the actions of the governing board, “the president and professors constitute the faculty and as such have the immediate government and discipline of a public university…the Faculty may…prescribe the course of study to be pursued and the textbooks to be used.”
- UO Policy 1.01.01 (“Retention and Delegation of Authority”) states that, “The President and the professors constitute the faculty…Shared governance, as a principle in American higher education, is embedded in longstanding practices, and reflects the regard for all stakeholders in the academic endeavors of the University.
- UO Constitution 1.3 states that, “Sole faculty governance authority at the University of Oregon resides in the Statutory Faculty. This authority extends to all academic matters as commonly understood in higher education. The Statutory Faculty may delegate its authority but must retain oversight responsibility.”
- CBA Article 3: “Oregon state law and the University of Oregon’s original Charter, as well as long-established practice, recognize the vital role of shared governance among the University’s governing board, President, and faculty, as a guarantee of the freedom to teach and engage in research, creative activity, and scholarship upon which excellence in higher education depends.
Oregon law endows state elected officials with oversight power over the UO Board of Trustees. For instance, all voting members of the UO Board of Trustees are appointed by the Governor, who also has the power to “remove any appointed member of the governing board at any time for cause, after notice and public hearing” (ORS 352.076). Members of the Oregon Legislature also have an important role, since the law calls on them to conduct oversight to ensure that the board is fulfilling its mission:
- ORS 352.025.2c: “The Legislative Assembly has a responsibility to monitor the success of governing boards at fulfilling their missions, their compacts and the principles stated in this section.
Shared Governance
Statements on shared governance
- “What is the role of the faculty in shared governance?
The role of the faculty is to have primary responsibility for such fundamental areas as curriculum, subject matter and methods of instruction, research, faculty status, and aspects of student life which relate to the educational process. The responsibility for faculty status includes appointments, reappointments, decisions not to reappoint, promotions, the granting of tenure, and dismissal. The faculty should also have a role in decision-making outside of their immediate areas of primary responsibility, including long-term planning, budgeting, and the selection, evaluation and retention of administrators.”
UCVWA statement on shared governance as critical to democracy:
- “Twenty-first century public colleges and universities fulfill key roles in their local, regional, and national communities—not only as providers of education, but as employers, drivers of policy and disseminators of scientific and political thought. They educate a broader, more diverse student body than ever before. They are major employers with widespread regional economic impact. Within universities, faculty and staff represent the educational and economic needs of whole communities, serving as the best advocates for students, workers, and families. For these reasons, the question of shared governance in public higher education is a central question of democracy: universities support the work of community-engaged research, education, and economic growth.
Shared governance in public institutions of higher education must be grounded in the ability of our constituents to exercise meaningful democratic control over decision-making that affects work at the department, school, and university levels. This democratic process is exercised through a variety of worker organizations: unions for all workers, faculty and staff senates, and democratically-run committees.”
Examples of shared governance language/arrangements
R1: University of Pittsburgh shared governance structure:
- More interesting are their senate by-laws https://www.univsenate.pitt.edu/bylaws-university-senate. For example, they don’t just mention consultation but specify what that means:
- “Consultation shall be characterized by
(1) a reasonable time for the Senate or its constituent bodies (or its officers, if there are unavoidable time constraints) to consider an issue or a proposal, and
(2) a serious attempt to reach consensus on issues or to set up a mechanism for resolving differences if a consensus cannot be reached. The University administrators shall inform the Senate and/or its officers as soon as reasonable of any actions thereafter taken on matters brought for consultation…”
Community college: Merritt College (public community college in Oakland, CA)
From handbook see pp. 5-6; see chart p. 12
- “Participatory governance at Merritt College is a collaborative decision-making process that includes representation from all constituents (students, classified professionals, faculty, and administrators) and recommends practices and/or procedures (exclusive of collective bargaining issues) to the President, who is the Chief Executive Officer of the College.
The participatory governance process is based upon the mutual belief and tradition that the development of college practices, and procedures, are bettered when built upon campus-wide involvement of students, faculty, classified professionals, and administrators.
This belief is founded on the premise that, while each group has unique responsibilities and authority, many issues – because of their effect on the operation of the College as a whole – are not exclusive. Through the active engagement and participation of all constituency groups on campus, there is strong commitment to the successful implementation procedural decisions resulting from college-wide recommendations.”
Regional university: UTSA
interesting flow chart https://provost.utsa.edu/shared-governance/; perhaps not an ideal model but useful to see visualizations; looks like faculty are mostly advisory to pres + provost who are the ultimate decision makers. It’s less clear here what happens if there is disagreement.
Financial Transparency & Shared Governance
- The Advisory Committee on Socially Responsible Investing (ACSRI), operating under the Board of Regents, evaluates proposals for divestments and advises the Board on what to do regarding these. Divestments are rare, and the ACSRI more often engages in “shareholder activism” and socially responsible investment. It is comprised by two faculty, two students, two members closely affiliated with the University, and two external members.
- Public Interest Investment Advisory Committee (PIIAC): Its goal is to support and advise the BoT on making socially responsible investments. The committee analyses, researches, advises, and engages with various stakeholders like community organizations, government agencies, and the private sector. It not only takes suggestions from the community, but engages in active research of policies, investment trends, and practices by other institutions.
- “The mission of the Advisory Committee is to (a) represent a wide spectrum of the community (trustees, faculty, and students); (b) be knowledgeable about relevant, socially responsible investing issues in order to be able to engage in informed, thoughtful, and collegial consideration and discussion; (c) provide continuity and institutional memory on relevant policy issues; (d) advise the Board of Trustees on socially responsible investment policy issues by proposing written policies for the Board’s consideration; and (e) coordinate and facilitate communication on relevant policy issues.” Members include faculty, students, and alumni.
- The Advisory Committee on University Resources Management (ACURM) advises the President, recommending changes or continuities. “In accordance with its charge, ACURM is responsible for considering issues related to social responsibility with respect to: The Brown endowment, Business practices and policies, Labor issues, including fair labor standards, in the manufacture of products licensed by the University and bearing the University’s name and/or logo, Gift acceptance and naming policies. Other matters related to the investment and expenditure of University financial resources.” Membership is comprised by three of each (faculty, students, alumni, staff).
- The President announced the reestablishment of the Advisory Committee on Investment Responsibility (ACIR), originally established in 2016. “Recognizing that some investments raise environmental, social, and corporate governance concerns, the Advisory Committee on Investment Responsibility (ACIR) was established in November 2016 by the President and the Vice President and Chief Investment Officer, with the endorsement of the Investment Committee.” Committee is two representatives of each segment of the university.
Gift fees
- Model for financial reform of Foundation funds — UC Berkeley has a non-research gift fee of 7.5%, with 5% going to the Chancellor (discretionary funds and deferred maintenance) and 2.5% going to institutional departments (direct operational capacity).
Other resources and notes
AAUP 2022 report on the decline of shared governance during/post covid
- See key findings, including general points for sustaining shared governance, and also these suggestions for faculty:
- “When faculty members opt to participate in a makeshift governance process, they should do so under the same conditions that govern their participation in the standing governance structure: they should be elected by the faculty rather than appointed by the administration, and they should be free to discuss the body’s work with their colleagues and report regularly to them.
- Faculty members, especially those serving in their institution’s faculty senate or similar representative body, should be exceptionally vigilant about changes to handbooks that may change the character of academic employment at their institutions irrevocably.
- Faculty should steadfastly oppose the inclusion of force majeure clauses in collective bargaining agreements, faculty contracts and letters of appointment, and faculty handbooks.
- Faculty should be centrally involved in deliberations about exigency; they should also object to any attempt to introduce new categories of financial crisis that would circumvent AAUP-supported standards on financial exigency.”
HECC & Governance
The Higher Education Coordinating Committee oversees public higher education in Oregon. Learn what they do.
PERS
The Public Education Retirement System is an evergreen legislative topic. Read what’s happening now.
Political Action Fund
- Funding member outreach to lawmakers to educate them on important issues that affect our union and communities
- Helping to elect and re-elect lawmakers who support us
- Mobilizing and empowering members to build a strong voice for workers and education in Oregon
- Organizing community actions with allies to demand full funding for schools, community colleges, and universities, and fighting back against public policy that harms working Oregonians
- Passing pro-worker and pro-education legislation to protect our jobs and raise workplace standards
- Fighting anti-union legislation and ballot measures
- PAF is entirely funded by voluntary contributions and is guided by a member-based, democratic process.
- In Oregon, you can receive a tax credit up to $50 for a single filer and $100 for a joint filer on your Oregon State Taxes.
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Social Justice Allies
Allies on Campus
SEIU
72,000 people. 500 different job descriptions. In every corner of the state, we care for Oregon.
GTFF
The labor union representing over 1,500 Graduate Teaching Fellows and Research Assistants at the University of Oregon.
UOSW
The labor union of student workers on the UO campus fighting for higher wages, better working conditions and an equal voice in the workplace.
Our National & State Affiliates
When you're a member of United Academics you are also a member of the American Federation of Teachers and the American Association of University Professors. Both come with membership benefits, but perhaps the best benefit is knowing that you are part of a union family literally millions strong!
American Federation of Teachers
AFT represents 1.6 million members across the United States.
AFT-Oregon
AFT-Oregon is the state affiliate of AFT. AFT-OR represents more than 12,000 workers statewide.
The American Association of University Professors
The AAUP was founded in 1918 to defend academic freedom.
AAUP-Oregon
AAUP-Oregon has members at UO, OSU, PSU, EOU, OIT, Marylhurst, and Linfield.
American Federation of Labor – Congress of Industrial Organizations
The AFL-CIO is the umbrella organization for 56 national and international unions.
Oregon AFL-CIO
The state affiliate of the AFL-CIO.