SGA Resolution supports faculty efforts to democratize the UVM Board
Passed on February 14, 2023. Full text is available here.
Senate bill introduced to democratize the UVM Board
https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2024/S.116
S. 116, introduced by Senators Perchlik (Washington County), Hardy (Addison County), Chittenden and Vyhovsky (Chittenden County)
House bill to democratize the UVM Board
https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2024/H.446
H. 446, sponsored by Representatives Cina of Burlington, Anthony of Barre City, Bluemle of Burlington, Cordes of Lincoln, Headrick of Burlington, Howard of Rutland City, Logan of Burlington, McCann of Montpelier, McGill of Bridport, Mulvaney-Stanak of Burlington, Small of Winooski, Stebbins of Burlington, Surprenant of Barnard, Templeman of Brownington, and Troiano of Stannard
Senate Education Committee hears testimony on our bill to add faculty, staff and students to the Board of Trustees
A recording of the hearing on February 16, 2022 is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dz7gWVZZv0
Importance of Democratizing UVM’s Board
Last year, the UVM Administration announced and began implementing cuts to staff, faculty, pay, programming and whole departments, majors and minors. Those decisions without input from faculty or staff and were not justified financially. That is why today we’re asking you to write to your representatives and ask them to support the democratization of UVM’s Board of Trustees. Together with the Vermont State Colleges, we are supporting a bill to add faculty and staff to the Board of Trustees.
This administration’s unilateral decision-making flies in the face of UVM and Vermont values, which stress democracy, openness, and collaboration. The result has been destructive to our community, and this turmoil affects our ability to provide a superior education for our students.
Faculty and staff have been shut out, ignored, and marginalized by this administration. We have all been working hard this year to change the way UVM makes decisions. We need our voices to be heard.
The UVM Administration has misled the state and the public for too long. They said they aren’t cutting faculty, but they are. They told the legislature they would preserve jobs with the Covid relief funds, but they didn’t. They have told the public that enrollment is down, but it's not. They have announced to the public that there’s a massive structural deficit, but they have sufficient reserves that they are choosing not to use. It is time the state heard the truth.
It is up to us to tell the state legislature, which bears the responsibility of UVM’s charter, that we need a voice in governance of our university because without it, UVM’s reputation is being seriously damaged, along with Vermont’s name.
Faculty and staff at UVM and the Vermont State Colleges are working with legislators on a bill that amends the state charter for UVM to require faculty and staff to have seats on the board of trustees to hold the university accountable to us. Please write to our state leaders today and tell them we need a chance to tell our stories. We need faculty and staff input in the decision-making of our university and colleges.
In solidarity,
The United Academics State and Higher Ed Issues Committee