Section I

1.1  WHEREAS the Senate wishes to restore trust and confidence in shared governance at the University of Oregon, a feature of higher education that the Association of American Universities has deemed crucial “to support the university’s autonomy, enabling the institution to fulfill its education, research, and service missions”;

1.2  WHEREAS On Dec. 7, 2011, the statutory faculty voted unanimously to approve the University of Oregon Constitution, once again affirming the customary practice of shared governance as legally grounded in the University of Oregon Charter and subsequent amendments to it [now contained in Oregon Revised Statutes § 352.146, reaffirmed in Oregon Laws 2013, Chapter 768, § 18];

1.3 WHEREAS, the draft “Policy on University Policies” that was previously under consideration by the Board of Trustees was developed within the University Administration for the Board over several months, without consulting the faculty, the Senate President, the Senate Executive Committee, or the University Senate;

1.4 WHEREAS the draft Board of Trustees’ “Policy on University Policies” would have had the effect of superseding existing policies, including the University Constitution and the currently operating University Policies 01.00.01 and 01.00.02;

Section II

2.1 BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the University Senate conveys appreciation to the university community, the Senate President, and the Senate Executive Committee for their vigilance in recognizing and acting decisively in asking President Coltrane to advocate to the Board of Trustees for the full preservation and integrity of the University Constitution and the process of shared governance;

2.2 AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the University Senate commends President Coltrane for his decision to present the concerns of the university community, the Senate President, and the Senate Executive Committee to the Board of Trustees to postpone a vote on “The Policy on University Policies,” and to fully engage in a process of consultation with the University Senate in the fashion legitimated by Section 7 of the University of Oregon Constitution and as outlined in the current Policy on Policies;  

2.3 AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the University Senate commits to collaborating with the University President and the Board of Trustees to fully participate in an orderly and efficient review (and reworking as necessary) of all policies related to the academic mission of the University; 

2.4 AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the University Senate once again wholeheartedly reaffirms the University Charter, the University of Oregon Constitution, and the Policy on Policies [01.00.01 and 01.00.02], subject to any revision of the Policy on Policies through a collaborative process that honors shared governance.