Dear Colleagues,
The San Diego Division of the Academic Senate held Representative Assembly meetings on June 4, 5 and 6 to discuss Chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla’s actions related the events of May 6, when an encampment of protestors on the UC San Diego campus was removed and protestors were arrested by an outside police force. The agenda for these meetings with associated meeting materials can be found here.
Summary of Actions Taken by Representative Assembly
The agenda included six proposals. One was submitted by the Senate Council and five resolutions were submitted by Senate faculty for inclusion on the agenda.
- Senate Council proposal (agenda item 10a; see agenda page 73). The Representative Assembly approved (by a vote of 74- yes, 18- no and 0- abstain) a proposal by the Senate Council (agenda item 10a; see agenda page 73) to conduct a vote of the entire membership of the San Diego Division on each of the following four questions:
- Should Chancellor Khosla have authorized the use of an outside police force to remove the encampment: yes, no, abstain?
- Do the actions of Chancellor Khosla merit confidence in his ability to continue as the UC San Diego Chancellor: yes, no, abstain?
- Do the actions of Chancellor Khosla merit no confidence which means he should be removed as the UC San Diego Chancellor: yes, no, abstain?
- Do the actions of Chancellor Khosla merit censure: yes, no, abstain?
Three of the resolutions submitted by faculty proposed expressions of confidence, no confidence or censure of Chancellor Khosla:
- Resolution: Vote of Confidence in Chancellor Khosla (agenda item 14a; see agenda page 74). A Representative Assembly vote on the resolution of confidence in Chancellor Khosla failed with a vote of 32- yes, 43- no and 11- abstain.
- Resolution: Vote of No Confidence in Chancellor Khosla (agenda item 14d; see agenda page 86). A Representative Assembly vote on the resolution of no confidence in Chancellor Khosla failed, but with a tied vote of 41- yes, 41- no and 7- abstain.
- Resolution: Vote of Censure (agenda item 14e; agenda page 90). A Representative Assembly vote on the resolution for censure of Chancellor Khosla failed with a vote of 34- yes, 39- no and 13- abstain.
All three of these resolutions were subsequently requested to be sent for a vote of the entire membership of the San Diego Divisional Senate and each received sufficient support (more than one-third of voting members) for this to occur.
The Representative Assembly considered two additional petitions.
- Resolution: Campus Healing and Improved Response to Future Civil Disobedience (agenda item 14b; agenda page 80). This resolution was endorsed for sending to a vote of the entire divisional membership by the Representative Assembly with a vote of 59- yes, 17- no and 7- abstain.
- Resolution: Political and Social Action at UC San Diego (agenda item 14c; agenda page 82). This resolution called for the Representative Assembly to approve the creation of a Faculty Crisis Response Committee as a new Senate standing committee. The measure was approved with a vote of 66- yes, 10- no and 9- abstain. As a next step, the Senate will work to establish bylaws for this committee to begin its formation.
Next Steps for the Divisional Senate Vote
Following these outcomes, the Senate Council proposal and the four Resolutions for a Vote of Confidence, a Vote of No Confidence, a Vote of Censure, and the Resolution for Campus Healing and Improved Response to Future Civil Disobedience will be sent out to the entire membership of the San Diego Divisional Senate to vote on each measure using an electronic ballot. A separate notice will be sent next week when voting is open with a link to the ballot and additional information. The voting period will conclude seven calendar days after the ballot is open. At the conclusion of the voting period, the Divisional Senate will announce the voting results in an email to the members of the San Diego Division and the results will be transmitted to the systemwide Academic Senate.
Final Thoughts
I would like to personally thank the Representative Assembly members, alternates, appointed student and research representatives, and other Senate faculty who participated in the meetings of June 4, 5 and 6, despite the difficulty, complexity and deep divisions regarding the topics under consideration. I hope that these meetings will allow Senate colleagues to begin a dialogue. Listening and acknowledging the opinions of other faculty is critical to allowing us to move beyond our current state of division. I look forward to learning the results of the divisional vote in hopes that the outcome helps clarify where we stand and guide how we move forward.
I would also like to express my deep gratitude for the hard work and professionalism of the Senate staff, Parliamentarians and Senate Leadership past and present that made these meetings possible.
Sincerely,
