Dear graduate students,
I am reaching out once again about the upcoming graduate student unionization election, which will take place on March 26–27 at the Davis Center, Chikago Landing. As a reminder, online information sessions about the election will take place today, March 18, from 12–1 p.m. and Wednesday, March 20, from 7–8 p.m.
Sessions are open to all members of the UVM community, and your participation as a graduate student is especially important in anticipation of the upcoming election. Links to join the information sessions are as follows (Microsoft Teams required):
March 18, 12 p.m.: https://go.uvm.edu/graduateqna1
March 20, 7 p.m.: https://go.uvm.edu/graduateqna2
Your vote in this election is extremely important. If you do not make a decision on this issue, one will be made on your behalf. You will make a choice about the process by which many graduate experiences will be shaped in the future: either by third-party, United Auto Workers union representation or by shared governance with UVM graduate students, faculty, and leadership working directly together to address issues that will have an impact on our academic community.
The collective bargaining process employed by unions, by its nature, can only address aspects of the intricate relationship between students and the university that fall within a narrow definition of “terms and conditions of employment.” The primary educational relationship between graduate students and their faculty and programs—built on our shared goals for your learning, discovery, and professional development—is outside the focus of union representation.
A shared governance approach is holistic, flexible, and draws from within our academic community. It enables the Graduate College and the Graduate Student Senate to work closely together to gather views from throughout the university. This adds sensitivity and nuance that improves connection and decisions as we serve many needs and interests. As this tested shared governance approach continues to yield meaningful results, we are advancing rigorous standards, transparent expectations, and accountable support systems for all students.
At the same time, students tell me consistently that they value deeply the close, individualized attention and support they enjoy from their faculty as an essential part of their graduate school experience at UVM.
While there is no way to predict what specifically a union would propose, or to know fully what would and would not be included in a contract, it is reasonable to expect that the presence of a union could make for a more regulated environment, in which traditionally individualized academic relationships are instead governed by rules and requirements in a union contract. This could limit the faculty’s and university’s ability to work directly with individual students to address their concerns and questions, grant exceptions, and make swift decisions that help serve each student’s distinctive needs, wants, experiences, and goals.
As you consider the path forward, I encourage you to engage in thoughtful dialogue and seek out diverse perspectives about these complex and nuanced issues. Above all, please make a plan to vote. It is the only way to ensure your view on UAW union representation is counted. Full details on how this election will be decided can be found in the Q&A section of our informational webpage on graduate student unionization.
As always, please reach out with any questions or thoughts (hhoock@uvm.edu).
Sincerely,
Holger Hoock
Dean of the Graduate College
Full details on the election and FAQs.
Absentee Voting. If you cannot be present to vote in person, you may request an absentee ballot. Absentee ballots must be received at the Vermont Labor Relations Board no later than 4:30 p.m., next Monday, March 25.
Highlights of recent progress achieved by the Graduate College working with Graduate Student Senate.