IFS
Remarks to the OUS Board
Portland,
Oregon
Bill
Danley, President, Interinstitutional Faculty Senate
President
Lussier, Chancellor Jarvis, Board Members, University Presidents and Officers,
Students, and Guests;
This is a historic time in Oregon’s Higher Education community. Oregon’s higher education faculty applauds Governor Kulongoski’s initiative to address the very serious issues facing Higher Education, and we look forward with optimism to former Governor Neil Goldschmidt’s leadership. Never before have we been so challenged, so watched, and never has so much been expected of us and of our leaders. The faculty of our institutions pledge our support, our active participation, and our good will to the drive to make higher education part of the solution in Oregon.
Change is always part of progress, but sometimes it comes at a great price. For me, the changes that are about to take place in an effort to rejuvenate and redirect the Board are personal and direct. In politics and public policy, much must be done based on expectations and hopes as much as on cold facts and history. Being a naïve observer of the political scene and an observer rather than a participant in the legislative process, I often wonder with no small amount of awe as the work of a great state goes on. I know little of the realities of what makes change happen on the large scale.
I do know a few little things, however, things that matter to me if not to others. For that reason, I would like to depart from my usual remarks calling for more state support of our faculty, higher salaries, more stable retirement packages, better health care, and more opportunities for research and travel.
I know for sure that this Board supports the faculty and the system. I want to say thank you now to Director Phyllis Wustenberg, whose great humor and dead-on practical approach to problems has guided this Board. I want to thank Director Don VanLuvanee for his powerful “Yes, but…” comments which have made us back up and re-think our actions more than once. I want to thank Director Kerry Barnett, whose concise analyses and insightful grasp of difficult issues has given us many new directions. I want to thank Vice-President Leslie Lehmann for her many reminders to remember the human side of the decisions made by the Board. I want to thank President Jim Lussier for his openness, his willingness to listen, and for his tireless fight for Higher Education in Oregon. And I liked his jokes. Really.
I have worked with the Interinstitutional Faculty Senate through three Chancellors, several Governors, many Board members, and I guess I’ve outlived some of my peers. Never in my career have I known a more dedicated, hard-working, and open Board. Never have faculty had more access to Board activities and never have we been listened to with more attention and caring. I welcome change, and in fact I have fought for it for many years. I know that many exciting and progressive things are about to happen in Oregon. But as I said before, change often comes at a high price, and the changes coming to our OUS Board will come at a high price indeed. We are losing one of the most dedicated, the most open, the most tireless Boards in our history. Director Lorenzen, Directors Pelliod and Burns, and whoever else finds themselves in these seats in front of me have big jobs, and big shoes to fill. Good luck to all of you, and best wishes from one admirer.
Director Geri Richmond, who has served two terms on the Board position permitted to be filled by a faculty member, has represented us better than I can say. She set the standard high for any future Board members who are OUS faculty members. In the past few weeks, we have been busy identifying suitable faculty to nominate to the Governor for the soon-to-be vacated seat she holds. Thank you, Geri, for a superb job. We hope our nominees live up to your example.
This meeting of the Board also marks another change, smaller in effect but important in its own way to me. My tenure as President of the Interinstitutional Faculty Senate expires at the end of December; so barring any emergency meetings in December, this will be my last appearance before the Board. I will be very capably replaced by my friend and colleague Dr. Peter Gilkey, a mathematician and faculty leader at the University of Oregon. Peter is consummately orderly in his affairs, impeccably timely in his duties, he understands computers, email, web design and administration, and he always does what he says he will do. Never again will Marsha or Chancellor Jarvis have to struggle to open an awkwardly formatted email attachment from IFS.
As a part of my last meeting with you, may I also thank Chancellor Jarvis and his staff for their support and encouragement. Vice Chancellors Shirley Clark, Tom Anderes, Marv Wigle, and Diane Vines; Board Secretary Dr. Virginia Thompson, Attorneys Ben Rawlins and Wendy Robinson (who shared the little tables at the back with me), Alayne Switzer and her very competent replacement Marsha Stuart, and to all the rest – thanks for everything, and best of luck to you all as you carry on this important and much appreciated work for the Oregon University System.