Oregon Health & Science University faculty are frustrated by high-level leadership changes, inconsistent pay scales that some deem inequitable, and the challenges of getting to work when both of OHSU’s Portland campuses have very limited parking, according to a letter they delivered to the university’s board of directors.
The letter, a commentary on OHSU’s fiscal year 2018 budget, was presented by the Faculty Senate’s president-elect, Dr. Derick Du Vivier, who sought to put an upbeat spin on agitation expressed in recent months by his colleagues.
“I have been at the university for about three years now, but my understanding is that the number of participants and vigor of discussion has increased dramatically,” Du Vivier said, of faculty engagement with the university’s budget and leadership.
“What the Faculty Senate has expressed is a great deal of appreciation for greater interaction and transparency with the budget process. We would like a continuation of that effort,” he said.
But beyond budget transparency, faculty members expressed more frustration than support for the university’s leaders.
On pay equity, the Faculty Senate letter said that women and racial and ethnic minorities are not compensated at the same level as men and white faculty members. In addition, recruiting efforts that pay new hires more to get them to join OHSU have left longtime faculty feeling underpaid.
“In some instances, faculty earnings are equivalent or very close to those of faculty at higher rank or more experience. In other instances, faculty at higher rank or with more experience earn less than faculty at a lower rank,” letter said. “Since new faculty are hired with salaries at the current market rate and frequently include invaluable start up packages, existing faculty members often have lower salaries. Some faculty members engaged in patient care, scholarship, research, teaching, service, and student advising appear to be less valued. This environment negatively impacts morale and collaboration. Faculty who make important contributions to our missions feel less valued. The end result is the creation of an environment that breeds discontent and engenders a feeling that administration is disconnected from faculty and faculty work.”
To address salary equity concerns, faculty are asking OHSU board members to hire an outside consultant to look into measures that would improve the situation.
Traffic, and the ways construction makes it hard to get to work, are also concerns of faculty members – a complaint echoed in morale surveys of staff at the Veterans Administration campus, a short distance from OHSU’s hilltop campus.
“Increased construction across a broader geographical footprint combined with growth in vehicular and bicycle traffic is straining the traffic infrastructure at OHSU,” the faculty letter to the board said.
“This strain, in conjunction with continued municipal growth, results in a growing negative impact on the productivity of faculty and staff at OHSU. The Faculty Senate applauds the executive leadership for holding flat parking fees for the coming year and working to develop OHSU-exclusive park-and-ride programs. OHSU support and promotion of active commuting such as biking, walking and running is commendable,” the letter continued. “However, the safe adoption of these modes of transportation by a larger number of people requires a greater number of sidewalks and bike lanes. We suggest that university leadership aggressively seek creative solutions to this transportation and parking problem by partnering with the City of Portland and Trimet.”
In other signs of frustration, faculty also said they feel that their initiatives are not adequately pursued – and that financial support for Faculty Senate efforts is too low.
High turnover among university leadership has interrupted and slowed the progress of faculty-initiated efforts, the letter said, continuing, “we believe it is important the board and new executive leadership clarify support for and address ‘Faculty First’ and ‘Faculty Compact’ funding as well as multi year contracts for faculty.”
And despite growing engagement among faculty members with their senate, only $3,167 of OHSU’s $3 billion budget is directed toward the Faculty Senate – which is asking for additional financial support.
“Over the past years, the Senate has experienced increased growth and activity,” the letter to the board stated. “In order to maintain this momentum and capitalize on the university’s greatest asset, we ask the Board for a greater allocation for budget and resources to facilitate and support faculty engagement and representation in university governance consistent with peer institutions. Examples of support include but are not limited to FTE for Senate President, dedicated staff, dedicated office space, and improved website access and development resources.”
Reach Courtney Sherwood at [email protected].
