To this end, the EHU governing bodies, administration and faculty wish to engage constructively with the Students’ Union – indeed, with all EHU students – to ensure every stakeholder understands the origins and purposes of the academic and financial policies that have brought the university to this point in its development. We welcome the opportunity to hear the views of the entire university community as together we ensure a successful and sustainable future for EHU.
In its November 26, 2019 announcement, the EHU Students’ Union expressed concern about certain financial rules, the terms of labor contracts with faculty, and student representation in the Senate and Governing Board of the university, announcing plans to picket the premises of the university’s donors and partners in Lithuania. We will not attempt in this statement to correct inaccuracies in the Students’ Union’s announcement nor will we here refute the specific arguments presented. We believe that engaging in public demonstrations with EHU’s partners will not facilitate a constructive discussion nor advance mutual understanding among faculty, administration, and students.
Instead, the leadership of EHU once again affirms that we take the concerns of the Students’ Union seriously and are prepared to continue the dialogue already begun on these matters. The General Assembly of Part-Owners, the Governing Board, and the Rector invite all students of EHU to join in a serious examination of the course upon which the university has embarked and to address any associated concerns. All of us with a stake in EHU must once again commit to sitting down together and discussing what is best for the future of the institution to which we are all dedicated.
signed by
Rector Prof. Sergei Ignatov
Chair of the Governing Board Per Carlsen
Chair of the General Assembly of Part-Owners Horton Beebe-Center