President Bill Powers may think the UT Shared Services Plan is a “no-brainer,” but at least one group has doubts. On Thursday, the Save Our Community Coalition is staging a study-in to protest the job eliminations and outsourcing recommended in a January university report, a plan they say will have a devastating effect on the local economy.
The report, “Smarter Systems for a Greater UT,” was written by business leaders at the request of Powers. Along with the recommendation to centralize some nonacademic services, the plan lists privatization as a step that could increase university revenue. Although the report specifically mentions parking and food service, the SOCC is concerned that those areas are only the tip of the iceberg.
Organizers hope the Thursday study-in will pressure the university to remove outsourcing from the table and to halt any planned layoffs. They say the privatization plan is not consistent with the values of the university community, which has been spotlighted with Powers’ being named the chair of the Association of American Universities.
“We are so excited that President Powers will be representing the university that we love as the Chair of the Association of American Universities,” said Synde Lea, one of the action organizers. “But we want UT to represent the values that that position should reflect.”
SOCC Study-in Thursday, Oct. 31, 1-3pm. President Powers’ Office Foyer, University of Austin Campus.
This article appears in October 25 • 2013.