Faculty Forum Papers
December 1978 Faculty Forum Papers
By
Kenneth D. Patterson
Professor of Economics
November 29, 1978
Dear Colleagues:
During the last session of the Oregon legislative assembly, I
had occasion to present faculty interests regarding budget
matters and other legislation affecting higher education.
I was disappointed to discover that concerns of faculty, in
matters affecting educational policy and practice as well as
faculty economic welfare, were given low priorities by the
officials and agencies I had previously believed were deeply
involved in advancing our professional interests.
The intermittent efforts of individual representatives of
faculty bodies to explain and support faculty interests has
not been effective. There is no tendency among legislators,
state executive officers, or public employee bodies to develop
and defend an environment supportive of our professional and
personal interests. It seems clear that professional interests
of faculty are now unrepresented before the Oregon legislators.
The current proposal that faculty support a professional representative
in Salem should provide for continuing and responsive clarification
of our interests in legislation. Such representation is not only
desirable, it may be necessary.
