91°µÍø

Dear 91°µÍø Students,
 
Last Friday, the College received a petition from the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) seeking to establish a union of our undergraduate students who serve as Resident Assistants (RAs). The College is reviewing this petition and will be reaching out to our RAs and Community Assistants (CAs) to share important information regarding the potential unionization process.  
 
RAs are some of our most active and visible student leaders. Our entire community values and respects the integral role they play in supporting our residential life program and their fellow students’ success and in helping our community be more connected, inclusive, and supportive. For many years, the Administration has had a strong, honest, and effective working relationship with our RAs. We’ve worked both directly with individual RAs to resolve problems and through the Student Government Association (SGA), including the SGA Residential Life Commission, to address broader issues and needs. 
 
If our students wish to explore unionization, the College will respect their legal right to do so. We honor the principle of a free and fair decision-making process consistent with the National Labor Relations Board’s election procedures. At all times we will be guided by our commitment to serving the best interests of our students. After all, our RAs and CAs are first and foremost 91°µÍø students, and our most fundamental responsibility is to help them receive an outstanding liberal education. 
 
As an academic community, we value honest discussion and informed decision-making, and we will do our best to provide our students with the information they may need, particularly as they consider whether their best interests are served by working with the College directly or by having an outside third party represent them in dealings with the College.
 
Joining a union is a serious matter of personal choice for eligible individuals. If the union is certified as the legal representative of our RAs and CAs, 91°µÍø will certainly work constructively and bargain in good faith. 
 
This letter will be shared with all students, staff, and faculty. If you have any questions about this process, please feel free to reach out to me here. Additional information, including FAQs, will be posted on the e in the coming days and updated as information becomes available and questions are received.
 
Respectfully,
 
Adrian Bautista, Ph.D. 
Dean of Students and Vice President for Student Affairs