Fwd: Faculty Senate special meeting WEDNESDAY, 5/27, 3:00

[Carolyn Quam]

Hi SPHR students,

As PSU students, you are probably aware that the student body is represented by your student government, ASPSU, which holds regular meetings that are open to the PSU community. Similarly, we faculty are also represented by a governing body called the Faculty Senate, which meets at least once a month. Today, the Faculty Senate is holding a "special" (i.e., emergency) meeting from 3-5 PM in Cramer room 53 (in the basement) to discuss President Cudd's "Provisional Plan." This Provisional Plan, which Cudd announced recently, includes layoffs of 52 faculty, including faculty with tenure (which is supposed to provide job security). These tenured faculty include a linguist (Dr. Steve Thorne) an AAC researcher (Dr. Sam Sennott) and an early interventionist (Dr. Hollie Hix-Small). The entire faculty of University Studies has also received notices of layoff. 

As a Faculty Senator representing the CLAS Social Science division,  I wanted to let you all know that the university community is welcome at meetings of Faculty Senate, and this includes students. Here is a description of the purpose of this meeting today at 3 PM:

"The purpose of this meeting is to discuss Faculty Senate's response to the President's Provisional Plan under Article 22 of the CBA. According to Article 22, the President must consider Faculty Senate's response to the Provisional Plan. Steering Committee intends that the discussion at the meeting on the 27th will form the basis of a Resolution on the Sense of the Faculty Senate Regarding the Article 22 Provisional Plan, to be introduced at the June 1st regular meeting.

As a Senator, I have been asked to collect concerns, questions, suggestions, etc., and be prepared to contribute to the discussion. If you have any concerns, questions, suggestions, thoughts, etc. that you would like to share, please let me know by responding to this email. If you're able to attend today, you're welcome to walk over to the meeting with me. I will leave the SPHR suite from my office (room 430C) at 2:45 PM.

Faculty Senate meetings follow Robert's Rules of Order, sort of like a legislative meeting. There are portions of the meeting that are designated for discussion from the "floor" when a microphone is passed around. One of the rules is that anyone attending who is not a member of Senate needs to be recognized by a senator in order to speak. If you wish to speak, just raise your hand and wait for someone with a microphone to recognize you before you speak. Then, give your name, student status, and affiliation ("[last name], student, SPHR") before sharing your question or comment. 

Another way you can stay engaged as the university administration embarks on these drastic cuts is to submit a comment on Cudd's Provisional Plan to share how it may impact your student experience. To submit comments by Friday June 12th, navigate to the Article 22 google site. Scroll down to find the link to submit a comment.

Hope to see some of you this afternoon!

Dr. Quam

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Carolyn Quam, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Speech & Hearing Sciences

Affiliate Faculty, Department of Psychology

Faculty Senator, CLAS Social Sciences

Portland State University

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Note that due to existing short staffing, and more expected from nearly 100 NTTF colleagues getting notice of layoffs, I will respond as soon as I am able. Email Governor Kotek about increasing funding for PSU. Edit this template letter to describe the impact of the previous decade of cuts to PSU and encourage your colleagues and students to do the same. 

Pronouns: She/her

Portland State is located on the traditional and ancestral homelands of the Multnomah, Kathlamet, Clackamas, Tumwater, Watlala bands of the Chinook, the Tualatin Kalapuya, and many other indigenous nations of the Columbia River (hayásh-tsəqʷ in the Chinook language). We acknowledge the ancestors of this place and understand that we are here because of the sacrifices forced upon them. By recognizing these communities, we honor their legacy, their lives, and their descendants.  

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Richard Beyler <r.be...@pdx.edu>
Date: Wed, May 20, 2026 at 11:40 AM
Subject: Faculty Senate special meeting WEDNESDAY, 5/27, 3:00
To: <psu-fsen...@pdx.edu>, <psu-fsena...@pdx.edu>

Dear Faculty Senators and Ex-Officio Members of Faculty Senate,

Per the Bylaws, upon petition of at least five members, Faculty Senate will convene for a special meeting on Wednesday, May 27th, 3:00-5:00 in Cramer Hall 53 (a week from today).

PLEASE NOTE THE DAY/DATE! Steering Committee believes that a meeting sooner rather than later is desirable, and there are no available Mondays. We hope that members recognize the unusual circumstances that dictate the unusual scheduling. Faculty Senators are reminded that:

> They may designate an alternate to attend in their stead for part of all of the meeting.

> We do not anticipate that any votes will be taken at this meeting: only discussion.

The purpose of this meeting is to discuss Faculty Senate's response to the President's Provisional Plan under Article 22 of the CBA. According to Article 22, the President must consider Faculty Senate's response to the Provisional Plan. Steering Committee intends that the discussion at the meeting on the 27th will form the basis of a Resolution on the Sense of the Faculty Senate Regarding the Article 22 Provisional Plan, to be introduced at the June 1st regular meeting.

Faculty Senators are urged to talk with their Faculty colleagues about their concerns, questions, suggestions, etc., and be prepared to contribute to the discussion with a view to creating a collective response from Senate. Newly elected Senators are invited to attend as guests, but are not official Senate members at this meeting.

As usual, an online attendance option will be available for participants who need one. Please respond to this online form, and you will receive the meeting (Zoom) link during the 2-o'clock hour on the 27th:

https://forms.gle/HgFTLU4QCwejPN2v5

******

Remember that nominations (including self-nominations) for Steering Committee and Presiding Officer Elect may be submitted to the Secretary before the June 1st meeting. Please consider nominating a colleague (or yourself) for one of these important Senate leadership positions.

Best regards,

Richard Beyler
Professor of History
Cramer Hall 441-O

Secretary to the Faculty
RMNC 635

Portland State University
P.O. Box 751
Portland, OR 97207

503-725-3996