Faculty Senate will be voting on a resolution to oppose administration in the event of the Graduate Teaching Fellowship Federation strike next week. The resolution, titled “Opposition to Efforts by Academic Affairs to Dilute and Degrade Academic Standards in the Event of a Graduate Teaching Fellows Strike,” is in response to a memo sent by the administration to deans and directors on Oct. 24 stating plans for continuing finals week in the event of a GTF strike.

The memo detailed plans that department heads could use in the event of GTFs not working during finals week. These plans included changing essays to multiple-choice tests or skipping finals altogether. This memo was stamped as confidential and not sent to faculty, according to the resolution.

The resolution claims that these measures would weaken academic standards that the faculty have a duty to uphold. It asks that the administration work “openly, publicly and transparently with the UO faculty” in finding a solution that would keep academic standards.

Doug Blandy, senior vice provost of Academic Affairs at UO, released this response:

“The Academic Continuity Plan is the result of dozens of conversations with department heads, associate deans and deans, so it is informed by the faculty. We appreciate the interest in being involved to serve our students as best as possible at a critical time of the term if a strike occurs. University leaders look forward to participating in the discussion at the upcoming meeting.”

The vote will take place at faculty senate on Nov. 19. Ron Bramhall, VP for non-tenure track instructional faculty affairs for the United Academics of UO first announced this resolution on Twitter:

@Univ_Of_Oregon Senate to say no to diluting academic standards if GTFF strike. Academic matters belong to faculty. http://t.co/ajdLM7mL6I

— Ron Bramhall (@BramhallUAUO) Nov. 15, 2014