Dear Students,

As you might have heard, the Oakland University administrators and representatives of the OU chapter of the American Association of University Professors are in contract negotiations, but have not yet reached a settlement.

Though we hope this situation will be resolved before the start of classes at 7:30 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 3 (tomorrow), there is a possibility that an agreement will not be reached and some faculty members will strike.

If this occurs, it’s important to remember that some faculty members will hold classes. As such, you should plan to attend all your classes as scheduled. If your instructor does not appear during the first 15 minutes of class, you can then feel free to leave. If you’re enrolled in online courses, log on daily to check for class materials and assignments.

We suggest you check your university e-mail account and Moodle for any communication from instructors. This, too, is important, because you will be responsible for any coursework assigned during a work stoppage.

Regardless of contract negotiations, all university offices will be open and all campus activities will proceed as planned, including the New Student Convocation on Wednesday, Sept. 2, and all Welcome Week activities.

The easiest way for you to regularly get the most current information on the contract situation is to visit the OU homepage or call the bargaining status hotline at (248) 370-2000. We also will provide you with important updates as they occur through e-mails to your university account.

We’re ready to do everything in our power to ensure that you have a productive, and enjoyable year. If a strike occurs, please know that we will continue working earnestly to resolve the issues.  We appreciate your patience.

Thank you,

Mary Beth Snyder,

Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management