LCC Faculty Colleagues –
As we head into week three of the term, please find some updates below on our new contract, a possible separation incentive, local issues impacting our campus, statewide updates including HB 4124, and more.
Local Updates
New Contract with Class Size Appendix
Our contract is finalized and fully signed! We are collaborating with the Administration on getting printed copies for faculty. In the meantime, please find it on our union website at: https://lccea.org/contract/ or here. You will see that salary schedules with our increases each year are included, and there is an appendix with class size maximums. Please note that class sizes must be lowered due to safety, external accreditation requirements or regulations, or classroom capacity, in which case class sizes will be lower than the maximums listed in the appendix. Similarly, if faculty choose the “525 weekly student contact hours” method for lecture classes, class sizes will be larger for the individual faculty member in exchange for fewer total sections to teach – please note this option is only allowed if the faculty member agrees to use this workload method. For more details on updates to the contract, please see this summary document. In addition, you can find an instructional workload calculator at: https://lccea.org/membership/tools-and-calculators/
Bargaining: Possible Separation Incentive
Our LCCEA Bargaining Team members – Amy Beasley, April Myler, Peggy Oberstaller, Rick Riordan, and I – are negotiating a possible separation incentive for contracted faculty with the goal of mitigating budgetary challenges that could otherwise result in layoffs. We advise contracted faculty contemplating retirement or resignation to refrain from providing notice to HR or their dean until it is determined whether there will be an incentive available. If you have not done so already and are considering leaving LCC, please email lccea@lanecc.edu or lccfacultyunion@gmail.com as soon as possible.
Welcome Our New Grievance Chair!
Please join me in welcoming our new, highly competent Grievance Chair, Gerry Meenaghan, who, together with the Grievance Team, is here to support all faculty with contract questions and assistance in seeking remedies when a contract violation occurs. The team will offer more Know Your Contract workshops this year.
Lockdown Safety Committee
Based on our new Article 42 in our contract, a college committee charged with developing a safety implementation plan to improve campus safety in the event of a lockdown is forming. Thank you to our faculty representatives Don Easton, Jeff Lanz, Tammy Salman, and Rand Ware serving on this important work group.
Campus Conditions
Campus conditions and morale remain challenging for all employee groups. The impacts are tangible.
Manager Departures During the Summer
Besides the overwhelming low morale evinced by the Gallup poll* of all employees, a significant number of managers, including trusted and respected ones, have left LCC or were otherwise let go or pushed out over the summer. At least nine have left since June and at least ten total since March, which represents 15% of all managers who are no longer at LCC. Underlying these departures are concerns and lack of confidence among middle managers about the upper administration. (See Appendix for more on Gallup poll results.)
Speech Suppression
In addition, please see my Board statement sent to all faculty from October 7 regarding suppression of speech that has impacted LCC student Richard Riordan who courageously filed suit against the college and has been reinstated to campus by a Federal judge –one welcome step toward justice. Other documents now in the public record indicate that the impetus for the unlawful barring of student Ricahard Riordan stems from concerns expressed by Board Members Steve Mital, Kevin Alltucker, and Julie Weissman as well as President Bulger – fears the federal judge deemed “hyperbolic and grandiose,” finding the student poses no legitimate safety concern. The Federal judge hearing the case predicts that Richard will most certainly prevail on his First Amendment claim, and wrote in his order that what LCC did, “looks much like blacklisting.” The judge also wrote that LCC’s misrepresentation of the student’s actions “approaches dishonesty.”
Due to recent censorship by the LCC Administration, we have added new pages to our union website where we will share LCCEA Reports to the Board of Education and other information for the public at: https://lccea.org/lccea-reports-to-board-of-ed/ We will continue to push for the publication of all reports and written public comment on the Board agenda. Thank you to Board Chair Jesse Maldonado for advocating that all reports and public comment be properly posted with the Board’s agenda.
Planned Real Estate Deal Exposed
In more news, in September LCC Board of Education Vice Chair Jerry Rust held a town hall and other events in Florence shedding light on the LCC Administration’s plan to seek to change the title of an LCC-owned ten-acre parcel that is adjacent to the LCC Florence campus. The LCC Administration quietly, without any public meeting discussion, sought to remove a restriction on the deed that the land be used for educational purposes so that the land could instead be sold and/or used for a housing development. Thank you to Jerry Rust for bringing this issue to light and engaging the Florence community to refocus the Florence campus on educational needs. This is reminiscent of the Titan Court** apartment building debacle, which has been an albatross on the LCC budget for years. (See Appendix for more background on Titan Court.)
What can we do about these conditions?
We have the power to change them. Together! Read on…
Building Our Future Together
Board Of Education
At our recent all faculty union meeting, faculty were unanimous in agreement that the Board of Education is not functioning well. Fortunately, this is temporary! Public elections for the Board take place in May every other year, and all the voters of Lane County will have the opportunity to elect four Board members in May 2027. The seats currently held by Kevin Alltucker, Jesse Maldonado, Steve Mital, and Zach Mulholland will be up for election. It is unknown at this time who among these Board members will seek reelection. LCCEA committee members will be conducting interviews with potential candidates for endorsement. Thank you to our Legislative and Political Chair, Rosa Lopez, for leading this important endeavor. Stay tuned for more!
Launching our Future
We do hold our beloved LCC in our hands, and together, we can and will transform it for the common good. As with our solidarity and organizing success in our contract campaign, the power and promise of our collective future are bright! Our officers have established the LCC Faculty Political Action Committee to support pro-education candidates and issues in our local community, including for the Board of Education. Please consider making a one-time donation of any amount or a monthly donation of $10 or less to the LCCEA PAC. All officers, plus more than two dozen faculty have already donated since the launch of our PAC in September! Together, we do have the power to make transformational change for our students, for our community, and for our future.
Local Engagement – Canvass With Friends!
What do union leaders, retirees, and volunteers do on a Friday night during election season? We canvass! Please wear your LCCEA swag and join these smiling faces of Wendy Simmons, April Myler, and I to get out the vote for the November election. Sign up here for canvassing fun this Friday with us! Bring a friend. We will join other volunteers at 200 E 11th Ave Suite 100 at 5 p.m. this Friday, October 16. We will be canvassing for Governor Kotek and other local candidates who support investment in our schools and community colleges.
And here’s a message about the urgency of this election from Field Organizer, Dylan De Baldo, “We are less than 30 days away from election day and Governor Tina Kotek is still behind in the polls. We need our community to join us in action to ensure we get Kotek re-elected. We need canvassers to join us weekdays at 5pm or weekends at 10am. Join us in ensuring we re-elect Governor Kotek.” Help protect working families and keep an anti-education, anti-labor agenda out of Oregon.
In addition, OEA is hosting canvassing for Kori Rodley, seeking election to represent Springfield in the Oregon House on October 25. Sign up here for Oct 25. These races are highly competitive and absolutely critical for the future of funding for LCC and local schools, among many other issues.
OEA Endorsements for the November Elections
Be sure to vote … and Vote Early! Mail ballots by October 27 this year! The following are endorsed by OEA. A full list of endorsements outside of Lane County are at: https://oregoned.org/2026recommendations
Federal
Senator Jeff Merkley***
Representative Val Hoyle***
Statewide Elections
Labor Commissioner:
Christina Stephenson
Oregon Legislature (within Lane County):
Senator Floyd Prozanski***
Senator James Manning***
Kori Rodley (House District 7) – competitive district
Representative Lisa Fragala***
Representative Nancy Nathanson***
Representative Julie Fahey***
*** took action, demonstrated support for LCCEA bargaining campaign and contract resolution
In addition, LCCEA endorsed Callee Ackland and the Eugene Clean Energy Fund Initiative.
Springfield City Council: Callee Ackland
Eugene Clean Energy Fund Ballot Measure – vote yes!
As individual volunteers, we are also out canvassing for Governor Kotek who has demonstrated support for community college funding, maintaining open meetings law, and active attention to faculty, staff, and student needs right here at LCC. Join April, Wendy, and Adrienne this Friday at 5.
Statewide Updates
Oregon House Bill 4124
As we dive into this academic year, work continues at the HECC to assess the higher education system in Oregon and produce a report “on the condition of Oregon’s post-secondary education system and develop detailed recommendations for the design, implementation and operation of a viable and superior institutional framework” as required by HB 4124. Preliminary findings indicate that:
- Colleges and universities are not meeting demand for the annual need for graduates with degrees/ certificates for jobs in the state. The state workforce needs more graduates.
- Fewer students are going to higher ed in Oregon, including adult learners.
- Fourteen of the state’s seventeen community colleges are stable on three financial metrics, including LCC. (Source: Higher Education Coordinating Commission “Financial Sustainability of Oregon Community Colleges 2026” Report with image excerpted below)
Ballot Initiative for a More Affordable Oregon in 2028
Our statewide organization, Oregon Education Association, and other state partner organizations have launched a ballot measure petition for a More Affordable Oregon! If successful collecting required signatures, the measure will be on the ballot in 2028. The proposal would establish a tax on Oregonians with a net worth of $30 million or more to support health care, food assistance, schools, and other essential services. It would also provide a refundable tax credit to eligible taxpayers earning less than $50,000 in federal adjusted gross income.This initiative reflects our commitment to strong public services and an Oregon where every family has the opportunity to thrive. More details will be provided as the campaign rolls out.
Closing Note
LCCEA is a democratic, member-led organization that works through the dedication and volunteer efforts of our amazing members. We thrive through our collective action, together. Please share your interest in LCCEA committees and opportunities here.
Dates for Your Calendar
- Friday Fun! Canvass with Wendy, April, & Adrienne, Friday 10/16 at 5. Sign up here
- OEA Canvass for Kori Rodley for the state legislature, Saturday 10/25 at 10 Sign up
- Fall Movie Night – Monday, Nov. 16, 6:15 p.m Private LCCEA screening of Norma Rae (1979) at the Broadway Metro, family members welcome. Reserve your seat here on this form
With Appreciation and In Solidarity,
Adrienne
Appendix
*Gallup Poll Results
According to the Spring term Gallup poll, the college has very low rankings on numerous measures such as:
- 5th percentile: If I raised a concern about ethics and integrity, I am confident my employer would do what is right.
- 5th percentile: I always trust my institution to be fair to everyone.
- 8th percentile: Everyone at this institution is treated fairly regardless of individual differences, such as ethnic background, race, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender or gender identity.
**Titan Court
The Titan Court apartment building in downtown Eugene was LCC’s last big real estate development – it was a multi-decade real estate deal that was operating in the red for ten years and sent LCC into debt which will not be paid off until 2036. The building provides market rate housing to students from LCC and other institutions despite the fact that the project required the LCC Foundation to form a limited liability company in order to receive federal tax breaks for building in a low-income community, according to research by Daniel Morris, Ph.D. Much of the debt from Titan Court when it was operating in the red was paid out of the LCC’s general fund; hence, the main fund that pays for instruction and student services was also syphoning funds to the housing development and its massive debt instead. This should be a lesson for our campus Administration and the Board of Education when considering any real estate projects for the future, including at the Florence campus and other LCC-owned properties.
