It is so exciting to hear about all the accomplishments and accolades the University is proud of… It is harder and harder [for faculty] to get excited about all this momentum and to want to engage when we haven't seen raises lately, the union negotiation is dragging on with no response/proposal from leadership to the union proposal on compensation... Please address this in clear, unambiguous terms.
Many of us would like to hear more about why you are appealing State Employment Relations Board regarding the union election results.
Many productive discussions have occurred since the University and UAOU began negotiations in August 2025 toward the development of the first faculty union contract at the institution since its founding; such discussions have continued in good faith throughout the academic year, including two recent meetings that have taken place this month. Another meeting has been scheduled for March 18.
Because Ohio Revised Code 4117.21 encourages all parties to maintain confidentiality in relation to matters discussed during negotiation meetings, we’re unable to comment on specific proposals. What I can share regarding compensation proposals is that it’s important for the University to have a full picture of all proposals related to compensation – which extends beyond salaries. Our negotiation team believes that we now have all the related proposals and is working on our response.
It is my hope, as it is yours, that we can move through the negotiations process in a timely manner so that we don’t leave our faculty in the required status quo period for longer than necessary. However, we owe it to future generations of faculty and students who will be impacted by the result of this first contract negotiation to take the time necessary to get it right.
I also want to note that the ongoing court appeal against the State Employment Relations Board [PDF], which takes issue with irregularities in the union election process, has neither impacted the University’s ongoing commitment to negotiating in good faith nor its timeline of negotiations.
You have previously responded to questions regarding proctoring for online courses. I would like to inform you that ProctorTrack is technologically troublesome for many students… I recognize we have acquired a new service, but can't imagine this will resolve the majority of the issues we encounter both technologically and pedagogically.
Thank you for sharing your concerns. I deeply appreciate your advocacy for our students and your commitment to upholding both our academic standards and fostering an equitable learning environment. I also recognize that online proctoring platforms can sometimes present both technological and pedagogical challenges for students and instructors.
With exceptions to licensing, certification or unit requirements, proctoring an assessment is a decision made by an instructor who has determined that this approach best supports our student achievement and learning outcomes. Faculty who are interested in alternatives to traditional proctored exams are encouraged to consult with the Center for Teaching, Learning, and Assessment (CTLA), which can assist with designing assessments that maintain academic integrity while reducing reliance on proctoring technologies.
I'd also like to note that OHIO is currently engaging in a University-wide RFP for a new proctoring solution as part of the Enterprise Survey & Course Evaluation Project. This effort focuses on identifying a technology that is more reliable, more accessible and better aligned with the instructional needs of our faculty.
Could we get a calendar invite to the university updates with a link to the meeting? I think that would be more helpful than only having articles in the newsletters alone. I think this would increase attendance and involvement.
Thanks for your thoughts and feedback. We can certainly add future University Updates events to OHIO’s Calendar of University Events. From there, you can easily add these events, or any campus event, to your calendar of choice in Outlook, Google and .ical formats.