The Department of Philosophy at Portland State University (PSU) is urging university leadership to reverse the termination of three key faculty members—Dr. Brian Elliott, Dr. Monica Mueller, and Dr. Albert Spencer III. This decision threatens the department’s long-term viability, the diversity of its curriculum, and high-profile community programs like the Oregon High School and Middle School Ethics Bowls.

We, the undersigned, support the reversal of this decision for the following reasons:

1. Impact of the Cuts

• Dr. Elliott, Dr. Mueller, and Dr. Spencer teach high-enrollment courses that are central to general education and PSU’s Race & Ethnic Studies requirements. These include unique and critical offerings such as Indigenous Philosophy, Queer Philosophy, Philosophy of Race, and Latinx Philosophy.
• Their contributions extend beyond traditional coursework to community-focused programs, including the Oregon High School and Middle School Ethics Bowls, the Philosophy High School Summer Camp, and the Philosophy for Children Capstone.
• Eliminating their positions would mean fewer course offerings, a decline in enrollment, and the inability to sustain programs such as PSU’s online Philosophy degree pathway or host signature community events.

2. Questionable Decision-making Process

• The administration has not engaged in necessary shared governance procedures for changes in curricular needs or programmatic requirements, violating the university’s Collective Bargaining Agreement.
• The decision contradicts PSU’s own strategic criteria for faculty reductions, which include alignment with the university’s strategic plan, academic results, market demand, and financial sustainability.
• PSU data intended to inform these decisions shows that Philosophy is in the 97th percentile for Student Demand, 99th percentile for Competitive Intensity, and 82nd percentile for Employment. Despite these metrics indicating a department with strong potential for growth, it has been disproportionately targeted for faculty cuts.

3. Broader Consequences

• These terminations undermine the department’s ability to fulfill its mission, resulting in a decline in course offerings, weakened community engagement, and a loss of academic reputation for PSU.
• The cuts will also reduce access to high-quality, diverse education for students and dismantle programs that are integral to PSU’s identity and outreach efforts.

We call on PSU leadership to:

• Reverse the decision to terminate Dr. Elliott, Dr. Mueller, and Dr. Spencer.
• Engage in transparent and collaborative decision-making processes that align with PSU’s strategic goals and values.
• Recognize the critical contributions of the Department of Philosophy to PSU’s academic mission, community engagement, and reputation.

By signing this petition, we affirm our commitment to preserving the excellence and diversity of education at PSU and urge university leadership to reconsider these cuts for the benefit of the Philosophy Department, its students, and the broader PSU community.

Update: The American Philosophical Association issued a statement in support; see here