The Officers of Administration Council is now accepting nominations for OA Star Award honorees!

Each year, the OA Council selects and recognizes officers of administration who have made an exceptional, positive impact on the university. Honorees will be recognized at OA Council’s Fall listening session and given seats to a home football game at Autzen Stadium this fall from a place of honor in the President’s suite.

Officers of administration selected to receive an OA Star Award distinguish themselves by applying their professional efforts for the betterment of the entire institution and the university community. They not only excel in their positions and departments, but they also embody a spirit of collegiality and vision, working with peers and partners across departmental and divisional lines. They strive for continuous improvement and look to build relationships and solutions that improve the university for all stakeholders.

To make a nomination, individuals can submit the names of up to three UO officers of administration along with a short paragraph that includes one or more of the following criteria: excellence in performance, personal interaction, initiative and creativity, and commitment to fostering a more inclusive campus community. Please include specific examples to the best of your ability.

Nominations are due by 5:00 PM on Friday, June 13, 2025.
OA Star Nomination Form
Honorees will be notified by 5:00 PM on Friday, July 25, 2025, via UO email.

Reminder for OA Leadership Symposium – Wednesday, May 28

OA Leadership Symposium, Flourishing
8:30 AM to 12:00 PM
There is a waitlist for this session. If you signed up but can no longer attend, please unregister in MyTrack to allow others to attend.

OA Leadership Symposium, Measuring Flourishing and Creating an Action Plan
12:00 PM to 3:30 PM
There is limited seating available. If you signed up but can no longer attend, please unregister in MyTrack to allow others to attend.

Safety and Mental Health Resources 

As the academic year begins to wind down, we would encourage everyone to prepare for the heat and the season of transition. As May is also Mental Health Awareness Month, we wanted to share a few additional resources that all UO employees have access to.

Safety and Risk Services Resource Hub
Variety of Mental Health Supports Available

If you have any questions, please reach out to oa@uoregon.edu.

Best,
Officers of Administration Council

The OA Leadership Symposium aims to cultivate individual and organizational flourishing within the UO community, empowering OAs to thrive personally and professionally. It provides an opportunity to engage with the broader UO community in exploring the meaning of flourishing and its implementation in the workplace, ensuring a supportive environment for all. All OAs are welcome!

The Symposium consists of two sessions. You can attend either session or both. You will need to pre-register for the session(s) you plan to attend. Details and links to register are below. Space is limited for each session; register early.

We hope you join us, and if you do, wear a name tag and bring business cards if you have them! If the registration session is full, you can still show up on the day of. Just note that a spot would not be guaranteed.

OA Leadership Symposium
Wednesday, May 28th

OA Leadership Symposium, Flourishing
8:30 AM to 12:00 PM

OA Leadership Symposium, Measuring Flourishing and Creating an Action Plan
12:00 PM to 3:30 PM

This Symposium is a collaborative effort between Human Resources, the Office of the Provost, the Center for the Science and Practice of Well-Being, and the OA Council.

If you have any questions, please reach out to oa@uoregon.edu. We look forward to seeing you on May 28th!

Best,

Adrian Cruz and Ann Craig 
OA Council Professional Development Committee AY 24-25 

As we enter the last Term of the Academic year, we want to share a few updates on the work the OA Council (OAC) has been doing to advocate for and support OAs. Below is a highlight of our progress and upcoming initiatives tied to our goals based on the feedback from the Spring 2024 OA Survey. If you would like to view the full report, please see here.  

Compensation 

OAC continues to be engaged with Senior Leadership in sharing OAs concerns around the planned two years of back-to-back merit-only increases, advocating instead for another year of across-the-board increases for OAs and a reexamination and refinement of the OA merit process. 

Professional Development  

OA Symposium – May 28

Join OA colleagues from across campus on Wednesday, May 28, for professional development centering UO’s strategic plan, Oregon Rising. Members of the Flourishing working group will lead a workshop on defining flourishing for yourself and your unit and help you develop an action plan. 

OA Stars – Nominations Open Soon 

We love highlighting the work of OAs! OA Star nominations are coming up soon. Be thinking about the stellar OAs in your world that you would like to nominate. 

Flourishing 

OA PDX Social – May 12 at UO Portland  

We will be hosting our first Portland-based OA social on May 12th. More information to come!  

OA Affinity Groups – OAC’s Professional Development Committee will be sending out more details to OAs who signed up for an affinity group during the Winter Social. If you are interested in learning more, feel free to email us at oa@uoregon.edu. 

OA Classification 

As the advocacy body for OAs, we wanted to be responsive to the interest we have heard (and continue to hear) on the subject of OA classification. The feedback we received from the Spring 2024 survey on this topic prompted us to seek out information and resources that we could share with OAs. You can check out these resources by viewing the full report here.

A Deserved Break 

We want to thank you for your hard work and dedication during this time of uncertainty. As best you can, please take some well-deserved time for yourself over spring break. OAC welcomes your thoughts, questions, and feedback. Email us at oa@uoregon.edu. 

Go Ducks! 

Officers of Administration Council 

The Winter Term is in full swing! We hope you all have been able to start the new year off as best you can. To help create additional space for OAs to flourish, we are excited to host our Winter Social! This event will create opportunities for connection, support, and shared growth.

Winter Social  

Date: Wednesday, February 12th.
Time: 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM.
Location: Ford Alumni Center (in-person only, due to the nature of the event).

Light refreshments will be served.
No RSVP is required.
All OAs are welcome to attend.

Spring Symposium – Save the Date 

Looking ahead, we are thrilled to host our Annual OA Professional Development Spring Symposium on Wednesday, May 28th! This flagship event will provide structured training and helpful resources while providing opportunities for OAs across campus to come together for shared learning and comradery. As we get closer to the event, we will share additional information. 

Continued Advocacy 

In addition to these events, know that the OA Council continues to advocate for and support OAs as best we can. Please share your thoughts or questions by emailing us at oa@uoregon.edu. Your voice is vital in shaping the future of OAs at UO.  

Go Ducks!   

Officers of Administration Council  

As we close out 2024, we want to share a quick update on the work your OA Council has been doing to advocate for and support OAs Below is a quick summary of our progress on this academic year’s goals and a look ahead to what’s next.

2024-25 Advocacy Goals: 

• Compensation 

• Professional Development 

• Flourishing 

Here’s a brief overview of what we’ve been working on in each area:

Compensation 

The OA Council has been actively engaging with senior university leadership; to discuss concerns we’ve heard from OAs regarding the OA merit process, along with advocating for continued cost-of-living adjustments in the future. Conversations will continue in 2025.

Professional Development 

We are strengthening cross-campus connections to foster engagement and enhance career growth opportunities for all OAs. Current collaborations and conversations include interactions with:

• Undergraduate Education Student Services Leadership Team

• All Campus Advising Association

• Human Resources

• Office of the Provost

We will continue our collaboration, conversation, and advocacy in 2025 and are actively planning a Spring Symposium in May focused on OA professional development. More details to come.

Flourishing  

This Fall, we held our Listening Session where President Scholz discussed Oregon Rising and listened to feedback from OAs. We are continuing to follow up on the feedback we received from OAs in their responses to the Spring survey.

Save the Date! We are excited to host the Winter Social on Wednesday, February 12, 2025. This event will create opportunities for connection, support, and shared growth. We will share more information as we get closer.

OA Classification 

OA Council is an Elected Administrative Committee that acts in an advisory capacity to the President, and as such, the Council neither encourages nor discourages union activity. That said, we have heard from OAs, both in response to the OA survey and through other channels, that a number of OAs are interested in learning more about unionization. In response to this interest, we have been in active conversations to understand better, from a legal and policy perspective, what makes an OA. We are looking forward to sharing information and resources with you in the coming weeks.

Happy Holidays! 

Your voice is vital in shaping the future for OAs at UO. Please share your thoughts, questions, or feedback by emailing us at oa@uoregon.edu.

As we wrap up the year, we want to thank you for your hard work and dedication. We hope you enjoy a well-deserved break and take advantage of the special leave days and holiday observances.

Go Ducks!

Best,
Officers of Administration Council

Fall Listening Session Recap

For those who could attend, thank you for joining us for our Annual Fall Listening Session! We heard from elected OA Council Leadership and had a presentation and question and answer session with President Scholz. With over 170 OAs in attendance virtually and in person, we thank you all for taking the time to listen in and share your thoughts.

Check out the newly available UO Strategic Plan, Oregon Rising.

For those unable to attend, below is the recording of the session, including the presentation of the OA Star Awards immediately following.

Listening Session Recording
Passcode: 1*8SAGy7

The End of the Calendar Year and Looking Ahead   

As 2024 comes to a close, we hope OAs will use some of their well-earned vacation time, including the Floating Holiday and Special Day of Leave. For more information on UO’s Holiday Observance, see here. 

As we get closer to Winter Term, we will share information for our Annual Winter Social, including the date and time. In the meantime, feel free to share any questions, thoughts, feedback, or concerns with us by emailing oa@uoregon.edu

Go Ducks!

Best,
Officers of Administration Council

Please join us for our Annual Fall Listening Session. We will hear from senior members of the University Administration, including President Scholz, and give OAs a chance to share their thoughts with the OA Council, Senior University Administration, and each other.
 

OA Fall Listening Session 
Tuesday, November 12th 
2:00 PM – 3:30 PM  
EMU Ballroom (in-person)
All OAs are Encouraged to Attend
No RSVP Required *   

Additionally, this time is when we will formally recognize our 2024 OA Star Winners!  

* Remote viewing link to be shared via email prior to the event for remote viewing. 

OA Star Selections 

Thank you to everyone who participated in the nomination process to recognize this year’s OA Stars. The honorees will be recognized at the OA Council’s Fall Listening Session on November 12th and this portion of the program begins at 3pm. The honorees will receive a certificate and have already enjoyed a seat in the presidential suite at a home football game earlier this season. 

Officers of administration selected to receive OA Star Awards excel not only in their positions and departments but also embody a spirit of collegiality and vision, working with peers and partners across departmental and divisional lines. They strive for continuous improvement and look to build relationships and solutions that improve the university for all stakeholders. Thank you to all who nominated OA Stars for 2024! 

Below is the full list of this year’s award winners.

Cecile A. Gadson 
Cody Weaver 
Emma Bjorngard Basayne
Evey Lennon 
Jonathan Jacobs 
Luis Ruiz
Nick Mahlum 
Patty Smith   

You can read the highlights from their nomination entries here. 

Goals for the 2024-25 Academic Year  

After careful deliberation and based on the feedback collected by OAs through various channels, the OA Council has selected the following goals to strive toward for the 2024-25 academic year. If you have ideas about how we can reach these goals, would like to help, or have any questions, please let us know.

Compensation
Professional Development
Flourishing 

You can read more about each of these goals here

Thank you to everyone who participated in the nomination process to recognize this year’s OA Stars. The honorees will be recognized at the OA Council’s Fall Listening Session. The honorees will receive a certificate and have already enjoyed a seat in the presidential suite at a home football game earlier this season. 

Officers of administration selected to receive OA Star Awards excel not only in their positions and departments but also embody a spirit of collegiality and vision, working with peers and partners across departmental and divisional lines. They strive for continuous improvement and look to build relationships and solutions that improve the university for all stakeholders. 

Below is the full list of this year’s award winners. 

Cecile A. Gadson
Dr. Gadson is a licensed psychologist and the African American and Black Student Specialist at the University of Oregon Counseling Services. Dr. Gadson is an inspiration in the effort she has put into making connections, network, and work collaboratively with campus and community partners and agencies to develop programming and resources to support university student health, well-being, and success. 

Cody Weaver
Cody is the definition of a relationship builder who is able to build strong working relationships beyond his department, encompassing colleagues, contractors, vendors, and industry professionals. His collaborative, thoughtful, and caring approach in all communications helps build a more positive and supportive campus environment. 

Emma Bjorngard Basayne
Through a holistic approach to advising, Emma is making an impact on the lives of many by consistently going above and beyond expectations. She is a beloved advisor in the COE who advises and coaches students through difficult decisions around academic, professional, and sometimes personal issues. 

Evey Lennon
Evey is a leader who is a forward-thinking individual who has worked to push the library into the future of its versatility, adaptability, and fiscal consciousness. Every is the epitome of a creative, positive, and collegial partner and it comes through in the results she is able to achieve on a regular basis. 

Jonathan Jacobs
In a challenging year for enrollment and financial aid, Jonathan helped create financial models that enabled the University of Oregon to deliver more scholarships to deserving students. These scholarships were critical to keep UO competitive and help students finance their dreams. 

Luis Ruiz
Luis’s work with study abroad scholarships highlight his efforts to ensure opportunities for historically marginalized groups. His assistance to students eligible for the Gilman scholarship – exclusively for Pell Grant students – stands out. He meets one-on-one with students to advise on the requirements, provide guidance on applications, and follow up as needed. Due to his efforts, UO consistently ranks among the top ten Gilman-awarded universities, among larger institutions like UCLA and NYU. 

Nick Mahlum
Nick’s exceptional work at the School of Journalism and Communication (SOJC) is making a profoundly positive impact on our campus. His dedication to creating a welcoming and efficient environment for both current and prospective employees is unparalleled. During the interview process, Nick consistently goes above and beyond to ensure candidates feel valued and at ease. 

Patty Smith
Patty Smith serves as the Executive Assistant within the Department of Physical Education and Recreation and is a vital member of the department’s Leadership Team. She thrives in her role within the department, she brings people together and inspires them to do their best. 

Congratulations to this year’s Stars and thank you for your contributions to our community! 

After careful deliberation and based on the feedback collected by OAs through various channels, the OA Council has selected the following goals to strive toward for the 2024-25 academic year. If you have ideas about how we can reach these goals, would like to help, or have any questions, please let us know.

GOAL 1: Compensation

Partner with university leadership to develop a clear plan of multi-year scheduled pay increases for OAs with a preference for COLA/ATB paired with merit and propose process refinement for merit.

GOAL 2: Professional Development

Promote the professional development and career progression of OAs. Facilitate the design of clear career progression paths for OAs. Cultivate ways for OAs to highlight and receive recognition for time/experience at UO within hiring and compensation processes.

GOAL 3: Flourishing

Cultivate a sense of belonging for OAs at UO, develop and share common onboarding resources specifically for OAs, including networking and mentoring resources. Encourage support and community building for remote work. Facilitate networking events for OAs and connect OAs with each other and relevant affinity groups.

Welcome to Fall term, the academic year is off to an engaging start full of activity!

The OA Council (OAC) is an elected body that represents the UO’s diverse group of unclassified professionals to promote and facilitate communication, identify and address pertinent issues, share information, enhance professional identity, and create opportunities for collegiality.

OAC is committed to advocating for the needs of our constituents. At the close of last academic year and over the summer, OAC met with stakeholders and UO leadership to highlight what we heard in the OA survey administered by the Council last year. Specifically, OAC has been focused on communicating the need for a transparent longer term pay increase plan for OAs, the need for a pay increase prior to January 2025, the need to address salary compression, and the need for a cost of living/across the board increase over merit. As we saw in the plan announced this morning, university leadership has heard those concerns.

The OAC’s 2024-25 goals are in active development and are based on OA input and continuing work from 2023-24. OAC preliminary 2024-25 goals were presented to the Board of Trustees at their September 17th meeting and thematically focused on the following:

1. Compensation: partner with university leadership to develop a clear plan of multi-year scheduled pay increases for OAs with a preference for COLA/ATB over merit and propose process refinement for merit.
2. Professional Development: promote the professional development and career progression of OAs. Facilitate the design of clear career progression paths for OAs. Cultivate ways for OAs to highlight and receive recognition for time/experience at UO within hiring and compensation processes.
3. Flourishing: cultivate a sense of belonging for OAs at UO, develop and share common onboarding resources specifically for OAs, including networking and mentoring resources. Encourage support and community building for remote work. Facilitate networking events for OAs and connect OAs with each other and relevant affinity groups.

As OAC did last fall, we are making plans to host an Information Session/Fall Open Meeting. This will include an update and Q&A with President Karl Scholz and campus leadership, discussion of the OAC goals for 2024-25, and the presentation of this year’s OA Stars.  Please look for more information about the OA Council Fall Open Meeting and the OA Council Goals in our next email!

Sincerely,
OA Council