EOU Board to consider operating budget, library name next week

EOU Board to consider operating budget, library name next week

Nov. 6, 2020 LA GRANDE, Ore. – The Eastern Oregon University Board of Trustees convenes its first regular meeting of the academic year on Nov. 12, and will consider the operating budget and whether to alter the library’s name, as well as other policy decisions. 

The board’s first order of business on Thursday is to elect a Vice-Chair from current trustees. Abel Mendoza served in the role most recently. The rest of the morning’s agenda includes a vote on minor amendments to the university’s COVID-19 Resumption Plan, quarterly financial reports, and a decision on EOU’s operating budget for the 2020-21 academic year. The board will determine a process for comprehensive evaluation of the president, and vote on presidential compensation.

Trustees are scheduled to begin discussion of Pierce Library’s name at 2:15 p.m. Members of the Pierce Library Naming Committee will present their findings, followed by public comments on the issue, before trustees vote on Pierce Library’s name. The Board is not considering alternative names at this time, only whether to remove or retain the Pierce name. 

Community members, alumni, students, faculty and staff are encouraged to read the committee’s report on th Library, review supplemental information and submit written testimony at eou.edu/pierce-library-renaming. Written comments received by Nov. 9 will be shared with trustees prior to the meeting. 

A limited opportunity for oral public comment will be available via Zoom video conferencing when the Board considers this agenda item. Individuals wishing to provide oral comment must sign up through the Oral Public Comment Form by Nov. 9. Time constraints will limit the number of people allowed to make oral comments.

Trustees will also discuss the purpose and role of shared governance at the university and hear reports from shared governance leaders of Faculty Senate, University Council and the Associated Students of EOU. Additionally, trustees will receive an update on legislative happenings, review a draft of the College of Education’s accreditation self-study report, and act on adopting an ethics affirmation form. The full agenda is posted at eou.edu/governance/board-meeting-schedule with links to additional materials.

The Board of Trustees meeting will be held in a hybrid format with some trustees attending on campus and others participating via Zoom. Members of the public can watch the meeting via livestream at livestream.com/eou/governance. Proceedings begin at 9 a.m., and are scheduled to conclude at 4 p.m.

Written comments or requests to provide oral public comment regarding items other than the library name can be submitted to board@eou.edu. Contact Ella Maloy at emaloy@eou.edu or 541-962-4101 for additional information.