Dear USD Community,

USD’s faculty is one of the finest in the nation. Our internationally recognized scholars and teachers are dedicated to creating an exceptional learning environment for our students.

A few weeks ago, I was surprised to learn that some members of USD’s non-tenure track (NTT) faculty in the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) were interested in representation by the Service Employees International Union. While I wish the organizers had come to me first, they chose a different path. My surprise and disappointment was not in our NTT faculty, rather it was rooted in the notion that USD’s deeply held culture of caring for our employees was not meeting their expectations.

I was raised by parents who were both hourly wage workers. One belonged to a labor union and the other was part of an organization that voted against unionization. Their different experiences demonstrated to me that there are individual views on the matter, and each of them made a decision based on what was right for their particular circumstance. Reflecting back on the experience of my parents, I am neither for nor against unionization.  What I know is that at USD, I am for my colleagues on the faculty and staff and will continue to strive to support the best interests of all members of our USD community.

Soon members of the CAS NTT faculty will receive ballots via mail. We fully recognize the right of members of the NTT faculty to decide for themselves. A vote for or against unionization is a significant decision, and it is important to have the facts and to understand the details of the process involved.

At USD, we have a long history of working directly together to make this an exceptional place to study, teach and learn. Our core value of human dignity and the hallmarks of our culture – flexibility, collegiality, trust and shared governance – guide our decisions to meet the unique needs of our faculty, staff and students. Our campus culture has developed over the decades as a result of these collective values.

Our NTT faculty are vitally important to USD. Over the past few years, we have met with NTT faculty, hosted office hours, developed new ways to enhance their experiences at USD, and amplified their voices on campus. I believe important and substantive changes have resulted from these efforts.

But we understand there is always more that can be done. We want to do better, and we will – with or without a union.

We urge every eligible NTT faculty member to vote, because a simple majority of those who vote will determine the ultimate outcome. If only 50 people vote, 26 would determine the fate of more than 250.

This election has huge implications for USD and its culture going forward. In the end, I know there is one thing we can all agree upon: our university community will continue to show our appreciation and support for the incredibly important role our NTT faculty play at USD.

Peace,

James T. Harris III, DEd
President