Nominations for PSU-AAUP Executive Council is now open! Is this the year you will step forward to run for the Executive Council? We hope to hear from you! Our union's strength depends on members stepping up to leadership to:
- support the bargaining team with contract action;
- support the efforts of classified staff, part-time faculty, and students in advocating for high quality, affordable higher education;
- voice the concerns of PSU faculty -- including non-tenure track faculty and academic professionals, as well as tenure-track faculty -- to members of the PSU Administration, the Oregon Legislature, the press, and the community; and
- have a good time doing it!
Nominations can be submitted via email at nominations@psuaaup.net
We’ll be electing nine (9) people to serve from May 1, 2023 to April 30, 2025 (or April 30, 2024):
- Vice President for Academic Freedom and Grievances (Two-year position ending April 30, 2025)
- Vice President for Legislative and Political Action (Two-year position ending April 30, 2025)
- Vice President for Communications and Public Relations (One-year position ending April 30, 2024)
- Treasurer (Two-year position ending April 30, 2025)
- Secretary (Two-year position ending April 30, 2025))
- Councilors At Large (Four Positions – three with two-year terms ending April 30, 2025; one with a one-year term ending April 30, 2024). The top three individuals receiving the most votes will be elected two-year terms.
You can nominate yourself or nominate a colleague who is willing to serve. It’s important to have a good mix of academic professionals, fixed-term faculty, research faculty, and tenure-related faculty.
The nomination period opens March 7th and closes on March 22nd at 5pm. To nominate someone (including yourself), please email the nomination to nominations@psuaaup.net.
We expect the vote to begin on April 10th and close on April 19th at 5pm. All nominees will be contacted to confirm their acceptance of their nomination and offered an opportunity to submit a 150-word statement of candidacy.
Should you have any questions about the Association or the open positions, you can contact any of the current Executive Council members, or the Elections Committee. We look forward to hearing from you!
Tina Burdsall, Kathryn Wuschke, and David Kinsella
PSU-AAUP 2023 Nominating Committee
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More Detailed Descriptions of Executive Council Positions
Vice President for Academic Freedom and Grievances (release time position)
The Vice President for Academic Freedom and Grievances is one of the eight officer positions on the Executive Council. This VP works closely with the Association Executive Directors and is eligible for release time to facilitate the performance of grievance officer duties for the Association. The VP acts as the chief dispute resolution officer for the Association; they meet with members about work issues, represent members in grievance meetings, and participate in other kinds of meetings with management.
Vice President for Legislative and Political Action (partial release time position)
The VP-Leg is one of the eight officer positions on the Executive Council. The position is provided one course release per year when the Oregon Legislature is in session. The VP-Leg shall be responsible for the promotion of the Chapter’s mission and objectives through legislative and political action. This VP makes recommendations to the Executive Council on positions for legislation and initiatives, endorsements on legislation, initiatives, and candidates, and ensures that the Executive Council’s adopted positions and endorsements are communicated, as necessary. The VP testifies at public hearings and is available as a key resource to government bodies regarding higher education and faculty issues.
Vice President for Communications and Public Relations (release time position)
The VP-Com shall be responsible for the promotion of the Chapter’s missions and objectives through communications for the Chapter, to include regular communications to the Chapter membership, communications during negotiations, external communications, and public relations, and is the designated media contact for the Chapter, with the President. This VP ensures that all Association communications are consistent with the Association’s governing documents and strategic objectives. The VP recommends the appointment of the Strategic Communications Committee to the Executive Council and presides over the activities of the committee.
Secretary
The Secretary is one of the eight officer positions on the Executive Council. The Secretary takes minutes at meetings and records decisions taken by the Council. It is not normally a release time position.
Treasurer
The Treasurer, in collaboration with the President and staff, develops the yearly budget for approval by the Executive Council, advises the staff on day-to-day bookkeeping matters, and arranges for a yearly audit. It is not normally a release time position.
Councilors At Large (4 positions open)
Councilors At Large are not officers of the Association and these are not normally release time positions. Their participation is generally limited to Executive Council deliberation and decision-making, and reading and responding to emails from leadership and members. Most Councilors At Large, however, assume other duties on behalf of the Executive Council such as leading caucus meetings or representing PSU-AAUP in forums off campus. Councilors are invited to participate in all organizing and contract action.
New councilors will be expected to attend a 2-hour new councilor orientation in April before their terms begin. The Executive Council generally meets weekly during the academic year and less frequently during the summer, and holds a full-day planning retreat at the end of spring term, the beginning of fall term, or both.