Dear Raider family,
Happy Friday, everyone. First, I want to thank ASSOU, Staff Assembly and Faculty Senate. They have moved quickly to ensure that your voices are heard as we work collaboratively toward long-term financial and operational stability. Those groups have already chosen their representatives – or are very close to choosing them – and I met with a number of them this morning. Their input will help to inform this important work as they coordinate with Deloitte’s higher education team, state leaders and Oregon’s Higher Education Coordinating Commission.
Key members of the Deloitte team will be on campus next week, as interviews and focus group sessions begin. Those initial discussions will help shape the work that follows. Please reach out to your shared governance representatives in the Faculty Senate, Staff Assembly or ASSOU to ensure your voices are heard.
Deloitte has also shared that next week their team will continue to do data analysis, explore shared services opportunities, analyze our campus space utilization data and begin a deeper dive into regional and state workforce data trends. We will keep you updated on all of their progress.
I also want to announce our new Path to Fiscal Sustainability webpage, which can be viewed here. The site is under construction and will evolve iteratively based on your feedback. Please know that it will soon include the documents we’ve shared with Deloitte as well as a summary of our financial picture; Deloitte’s scope of work; our working framework with HECC and the governor’s office; and of high importance to members of our campus community, an “always-on” feedback form that will be monitored regularly for the observations, thoughts and ideas that you submit directly to the Deloitte team.
The new webpage will include a high-level timeline and key milestones, along with links to all campus messages regarding the financial crisis – including this email. The site will be regularly updated as we assist Deloitte in working toward their plan recommendations by April 30.
Finally, I have an important reminder to all members of our campus community. Immediately after our cash-flow situation became fully apparent, we implemented measures to reduce spending and conserve resources wherever possible. Those measures – including travel and hiring freezes, and limits on services and supplies spending – remain in place. Unfortunately, there are some offices and programs that have continued to spend as if the crisis were not real, and in a select few cases, even more than normal. I firmly believe in SOU’s future, and in order to realize that future, we must change the present mindset and culture – and we must all be part of the solution. These measures call for all employees, especially supervisors, to more rigorously review spending. Please take this guidance seriously.
I thank you each for your patience and participation in this extremely difficult yet important process, and above all, I thank you for your heartfelt dedication to this institution we all love. Good luck with Finals Week next week, and I’ll touch base again soon. Thanks again, everyone.
Very respectfully,
