Affirming ASUO's Resolution to Reform University Appeals Board

Section I

1.1  WHEREAS the University of Oregon’s Mission Statement states: “The University of Oregon is a comprehensive public research university committed to exceptional teaching, discovery, and service. We work at a human scale to generate big ideas. As a community of scholars, we help individuals question critically, think logically, reason effectively, communicate clearly, act creatively, and live ethically.”; and 

1.2  WHEREAS shared governance and student representation are core values of the university, and students are guaranteed participatory roles in governance and policy on their education, health, finance, and wellbeing; and 

1.3  WHEREAS the University of Oregon’s commitment to these principles of shared governance and education includes the protection of student organizing, advocacy, and collective expression under their First Amendment rights, through any student code of conduct process; and 

1.4  WHEREAS the University of Oregon states the reason for the Student Conduct Code as “community standards and procedures necessary to maintain and protect an environment conducive to learning and in keeping with the educational objectives of the University of Oregon; and 

1.5  WHEREAS the University Appeals Board (UAB) is an appeals body within the University of Oregon student conduct program; and 

1.6  WHEREAS the UAB is responsible for reviewing substantive and/or procedural appeals from decision issues following an administrative conference, consistent with the Student Conduct Code;

1.7  WHEREAS the University Appeals Board (UAB) provides opportunities for student leadership, shared understanding, and a shared commitment to excellence at the University of Oregon;

1.8  WHEREAS the three members are selected from the current UAB pool of faculty, professional staff, and students when cases are appealed; and

1.9  WHEREAS in conversations with students, ASUO recognizes the increase in student code of conduct charges and, therefore, cases for the UAB; and 

1.10  WHEREAS students deserve to be informed in a timely manner if they are being investigated by the Student Code of Conduct process; and 

1.11  WHEREAS the University of Oregon has demonstrated a capacity to expand the number of students on the University Appeals Board cases; and 

1.12  WHEREAS the ASUO recognizes its role in expanding the pool of UAB students and has worked to appoint students to accommodate this reform.

Section II

2.1 THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the University of Oregon Senate formally endorses the proposals outlined in The ASUO Resolution to Reform the University Appeals Board. By urging the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards to take actions that include:

• Urge the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards to include at least 3 student representatives, alongside the minimum 1 faculty and 1 additional seat for either a faculty, administrative staff, or student, for a minimum total of 5 members for each university appeal; and 

• Requiring the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards to inform incoming ASUO administrations of their shared responsibility to select students for the UAB within two weeks of taking office; and

2.2 THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we, the University of Oregon Senate, believe that shared governance includes involving students and faculty in the decisions that impact them most. We believe a student majority in issues of conduct is necessary to safeguard due process, protect student rights, and preserve the legitimacy of student conduct governance at the University of Oregon.