General Counsel<\/h2>\nThe University General Counsel is the university\u2019s chief legal officer, responsible for all legal advice and representation provided to the university. This office works with cabinet-level officials and department directors\/deans and is a member of the university\u2019s risk management and regulatory compliance team. Duties include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Receiving all summons, subpoenas, warrants, or other legal process served on the university.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Selecting (and reviewing the work of) outside counsel hired to do legal tasks for the university.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Directing the preservation and retrieval of university records in response to potential or actual litigation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Drafting and\/or reviewing proposed contracts (and related documents) between the university and other entities.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Drafting and\/or reviewing for legal sufficiency proposed changes to: governing documents of the Board of Trustees of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ, the university constitution, and university policies.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Advising on such matters as university governance, public records and meetings law, employee rights and duties, student rights and duties, illegal discrimination and civil rights, First Amendment law, business transactions, procurement, real property, intellectual property, tort liability, risk management, regulatory compliance, administrative law, labor disputes, and civil litigation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
The general counsel only represents the university and cannot represent students or employees in personal legal matters. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nBoard Secretary<\/h2>\nThe Board Secretary is the chief administrative officer supporting the university\u2019s governing body, the Board of Trustees of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ. These duties include: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Advising the board and university officials regarding best practices for board operations<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Preparing notices and agendas for meetings of the board and its committees<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Coordinating staff preparation for meetings of the board and its committees<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Monitoring compliance with public meetings law and the board\u2019s procedures<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Assisting the board chair and university president in the conduct of board meetings <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Preserving and certifying the record of meetings of the board and its committees<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Orienting new trustees and coordinating training for trustees<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Reimbursing trustees for expenses related to their service<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nPublic Records Requests<\/h2>\nEOU\u2019s records are maintained in compliance with federal laws such as the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and Oregon laws such as Oregon\u2019s public records law. To request access to university records, complete this web form<\/a>. For information about fees and related matters see this web page<\/a>. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nSubpoenas, Service of Process and Legal Holds<\/h2>\nOnly the general counsel and the president are authorized to accept service of legal process on behalf of the university. If you are served with a subpoena, summons, warrant or other legal document related to university business, or you receive a legal hold notice, contact OGC+BS immediately. Do not provide university information or access to university facilities to persons presenting such documents, unless you have been told to do so by the university general counsel or president.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nUse of Outside Counsel<\/h2>\nEOU contracts with private law firms (Outside Counsel) when the university needs specialized legal expertise or when a legal project requires additional legal personnel. Before the university contracts with a law firm, the scope of work and the budget for that work must be identified. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOU\u2019s general counsel hires all outside counsel for the university. The general counsel reviews invoices from outside counsel before processing them for payment. Communications between university personnel and outside counsel must go through the general counsel, unless the general counsel has authorized a less formal arrangement. At all times the general counsel must be included in written communications between outside counsel and university employees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fiscal year 2025 (July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025) EOU spent $124,008 on outside counsel. That work was divided between contract matters ($12,502 or 10% of the total), labor and employment matters ($18,305 or 15% of the total), and public records matters ($93,363 or 75% of the total). The public records matters included litigating 12 public records petitions.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nUniversity Policies<\/h2>\nThe university\u2019s policies are presidential directives, developed through shared governance review, that: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Have broad application or impact throughout the university community;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Must be implemented to ensure compliance with state or federal law;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Are necessary to enhance the university\u2019s mission, to ensure institutional consistency and operational efficiency, or to mitigate institutional risks; or<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Are otherwise designated by the President or the Board as university policy.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
University Policy 6.20.05, Policy on University Policies<\/a>, Section (D)(1).<\/p>\n\n\n\nPolicies are superior to (and supersede inconsistent terms in) lesser documents such as departmental procedures, handbooks, and manuals. Policies are inferior to and cannot contradict the terms of the Bylaws of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ, board statements, board resolutions, board committee charters, or the university constitution. Board Statement Number 5, Categories of Authoritative Statements<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThe current official copies of all Policies of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ are on this webpage. <\/a>Other university web pages citing to university policies should link to the policies on this page. Policies should not be copied onto other web pages, where their terms can become inconsistent and out of date. The process for proposing an adoption, amendment, or repeal of a university policy is described on this web page<\/a>. You can submit such a proposal using this web form<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nSigning of Contracts<\/h2>\nThe Board of Trustees has reserved to itself the authority to approve certain categories of contracts. These are listed in Board Statement Number 2, Delegation of Authority, Section 1.6<\/a>. The most common of these are contracts for:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- Capital infrastructure projects for which the total anticipated cost or value to the university exceeds $2,000,000; <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Non-Capital transactions or projects for which the total anticipated cost or value to the university exceeds $1,000.000;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Contracts for external auditors;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Bond agreements; and<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Agreements to name university buildings or outside areas for individuals or organizations.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
The board has delegated to the president the authority to approve all contract types not mentioned in section 1.6 of Board Statement Number 2. The president, in turn, has issued a Contract Signature Authority<\/a> document, which delegates authority to a small number of people to sign certain kinds of contracts that bind the university. <\/p>\n\n\n\nOnly the board, the president, and people listed on the contract signature authority have the legal authority to sign contracts that bind the university. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Academic and administrative sub-units of the university, such as programs, departments and colleges, are not independent legal entities. They cannot enter into contracts on their own authority. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Contracts signed without authorization may not legally bind the university. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- University employees who sign such contracts without authorization may become personally liable for the commitments made in the contracts. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Such employees may also be disciplined for violating the university\u2019s contract approval process.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDrafting and Review of Contracts<\/h2>\nAll contracts require review prior to the university agreeing to them. The level of review depends upon the risk presented by the contract. That level of risk, and how it is altered by contractual terms (including those commonly referred to as \u201cboilerplate\u201d), is as much a part of the deal as the price paid or the quality and timeliness of the goods and services obtained. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Review of the terms of a contract is a key part of the negotiation. Depending upon the risk presented by the contract, this review and negotiation may take weeks or months to complete. In order to avoid putting the university at a disadvantage, it is important to build in time for this part of the process when developing a project that will require new contract(s). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The OGC+BS and the Division of Finance and Administration are developing a process to determine the level of review that various types of contracts require. The goal is to speed the review of low risk contracts so that more time and effort can be devoted to high risk ones. As that project moves forward, more information about it will be described here. In the meantime, persons with signature authority should check with the general counsel before signing contracts, unless we have reached some other understanding. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nGoverning Board of Trustees<\/h2>\nThe Board of Trustees of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ is the governing body of the university. The State of Oregon has assigned to the board the duty to assure the success of the university for the benefit of the people of Oregon and the university\u2019s (past, present and future) students. The Board of Trustees performs such duties as determining the university\u2019s mission and strategic plan; hiring and supervising the university president; assuring the quality of the university’s academic programs; conserving and growing the university\u2019s capital and financial assets; determining the university budget; and setting tuition and fees. Every degree issued by the university is issued by the authority of the board.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Click on these links to learn more about the board and its meeting schedule<\/a>, Trustees<\/a>, its committees<\/a>, the rules by which it operates<\/a>, and information about past and future meetings<\/a> of the board.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nFreedom of Expression, Academic Freedom and Institutional Independence<\/h2>\nIn the twentieth century, American higher education became the best in the world because American higher education embraced the pursuit of knowledge for its own sake, without ideological tests for determining what areas of inquiry are acceptable. Three components are essential to this system:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Independent governing boards that respect the freedom of intellectual inquiry of professional faculty, and that protect institutional academic freedom from outside interference<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Professors who combine effective teaching with rigorous engagement with their field of study, and who enjoy freedom of inquiry and expression within their field of study and within their field\u2019s professional standards<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- A general campus culture that embraces freedom of expression and ideas<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
See EOU\u2019s website on Freedom of Expression<\/a> for more information about these topics.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nMeet the Team<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"Christopher](\"https:\/\/www.eou.edu\/governance\/files\/2025\/09\/CHRISTOPHER-L.-BURFORD-DSC_2889-681x1024.jpg\")
<\/figure>\nChris Burford<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
General Counsel and Board Secretary
cburford@eou.edu<\/a> | (541) 962.3006<\/a>
Chris Burford received his doctor of law (J.D.) degree from the University of Oregon School of Law.\u00a0 He has been a licensed Oregon attorney since 1992.\u00a0 He formerly worked in a variety of legal capacities for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, culminating in eight years as tribal Attorney General. As proprietor of Burford Law Office, he served as outside counsel to the City of Pendleton, mainly in matters of municipal and transactional law. He joined EOU in 2015.<\/a> He received a bachelor\u2019s degree in History from Western Kentucky University.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"Suzannah](\"https:\/\/www.eou.edu\/governance\/files\/2025\/09\/headshot-Suzannah-01-706x1024.jpg\")
<\/figure>\nSuzannah Moore<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Board Support
mooresm@eou.edu<\/a> | (541) 962.3740<\/a>
Suzannah Moore supports the À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Board of Trustees through the Office of the Board Secretary, coordinating agendas and materials, guiding public meetings and records compliance, and facilitating trustee onboarding and engagement. She partners with the General Counsel to align board actions, policies, and delegated authorities with university and state requirements. Moore manages committee workflows, public comment processes, and the archival of minutes and resolutions, and helps ensure clear, accessible communications between the Board, campus, and the public.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.eou.edu\/governance\/files\/2026\/01\/DSC_4688-684x1024.jpg\")
<\/figure>\nHelen Moore<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Public Records Officer
hmoore@eou.edu<\/a> | (541) 962.3740<\/a>
As Public Records Officer, Helen Moore receives and responds to requests for access to records in the custody of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ.\u00a0 Helen formerly served for many years in the university\u2019s information technology department.\u00a0 In that capacity, she served for four years as a member of the Board of Trustees of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ, as staff trustee.\u00a0Helen received her Bachelors of Science degree in History from À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Office of General Counsel & Board Secretary (OGC+BS) has two distinct and complimentary roles. In the general counsel role, the office is the legal representative, advisor, and strategic counsel to À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ. This role includes receiving subpoenas and other legal process served on the university, and hiring (and supervising) outside counsel serving the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":491,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-6265","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.eou.edu\/governance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6265","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.eou.edu\/governance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.eou.edu\/governance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.eou.edu\/governance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/491"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.eou.edu\/governance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6265"}],"version-history":[{"count":25,"href":"https:\/\/www.eou.edu\/governance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6265\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6395,"href":"https:\/\/www.eou.edu\/governance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6265\/revisions\/6395"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.eou.edu\/governance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6265"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
The University General Counsel is the university\u2019s chief legal officer, responsible for all legal advice and representation provided to the university. This office works with cabinet-level officials and department directors\/deans and is a member of the university\u2019s risk management and regulatory compliance team. Duties include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Receiving all summons, subpoenas, warrants, or other legal process served on the university.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Selecting (and reviewing the work of) outside counsel hired to do legal tasks for the university.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Directing the preservation and retrieval of university records in response to potential or actual litigation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Drafting and\/or reviewing proposed contracts (and related documents) between the university and other entities.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Drafting and\/or reviewing for legal sufficiency proposed changes to: governing documents of the Board of Trustees of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ, the university constitution, and university policies.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Advising on such matters as university governance, public records and meetings law, employee rights and duties, student rights and duties, illegal discrimination and civil rights, First Amendment law, business transactions, procurement, real property, intellectual property, tort liability, risk management, regulatory compliance, administrative law, labor disputes, and civil litigation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
The general counsel only represents the university and cannot represent students or employees in personal legal matters. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nBoard Secretary<\/h2>
\nThe Board Secretary is the chief administrative officer supporting the university\u2019s governing body, the Board of Trustees of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ. These duties include: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Advising the board and university officials regarding best practices for board operations<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Preparing notices and agendas for meetings of the board and its committees<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Coordinating staff preparation for meetings of the board and its committees<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Monitoring compliance with public meetings law and the board\u2019s procedures<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Assisting the board chair and university president in the conduct of board meetings <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Preserving and certifying the record of meetings of the board and its committees<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Orienting new trustees and coordinating training for trustees<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Reimbursing trustees for expenses related to their service<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nPublic Records Requests<\/h2>
\nEOU\u2019s records are maintained in compliance with federal laws such as the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and Oregon laws such as Oregon\u2019s public records law. To request access to university records, complete this web form<\/a>. For information about fees and related matters see this web page<\/a>. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nSubpoenas, Service of Process and Legal Holds<\/h2>
\nOnly the general counsel and the president are authorized to accept service of legal process on behalf of the university. If you are served with a subpoena, summons, warrant or other legal document related to university business, or you receive a legal hold notice, contact OGC+BS immediately. Do not provide university information or access to university facilities to persons presenting such documents, unless you have been told to do so by the university general counsel or president.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nUse of Outside Counsel<\/h2>
\nEOU contracts with private law firms (Outside Counsel) when the university needs specialized legal expertise or when a legal project requires additional legal personnel. Before the university contracts with a law firm, the scope of work and the budget for that work must be identified. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOU\u2019s general counsel hires all outside counsel for the university. The general counsel reviews invoices from outside counsel before processing them for payment. Communications between university personnel and outside counsel must go through the general counsel, unless the general counsel has authorized a less formal arrangement. At all times the general counsel must be included in written communications between outside counsel and university employees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fiscal year 2025 (July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025) EOU spent $124,008 on outside counsel. That work was divided between contract matters ($12,502 or 10% of the total), labor and employment matters ($18,305 or 15% of the total), and public records matters ($93,363 or 75% of the total). The public records matters included litigating 12 public records petitions.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nUniversity Policies<\/h2>
\nThe university\u2019s policies are presidential directives, developed through shared governance review, that: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Have broad application or impact throughout the university community;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Must be implemented to ensure compliance with state or federal law;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Are necessary to enhance the university\u2019s mission, to ensure institutional consistency and operational efficiency, or to mitigate institutional risks; or<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Are otherwise designated by the President or the Board as university policy.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
University Policy 6.20.05, Policy on University Policies<\/a>, Section (D)(1).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Policies are superior to (and supersede inconsistent terms in) lesser documents such as departmental procedures, handbooks, and manuals. Policies are inferior to and cannot contradict the terms of the Bylaws of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ, board statements, board resolutions, board committee charters, or the university constitution. Board Statement Number 5, Categories of Authoritative Statements<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The current official copies of all Policies of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ are on this webpage. <\/a>Other university web pages citing to university policies should link to the policies on this page. Policies should not be copied onto other web pages, where their terms can become inconsistent and out of date. The process for proposing an adoption, amendment, or repeal of a university policy is described on this web page<\/a>. You can submit such a proposal using this web form<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nSigning of Contracts<\/h2>
\nThe Board of Trustees has reserved to itself the authority to approve certain categories of contracts. These are listed in Board Statement Number 2, Delegation of Authority, Section 1.6<\/a>. The most common of these are contracts for:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Capital infrastructure projects for which the total anticipated cost or value to the university exceeds $2,000,000; <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Non-Capital transactions or projects for which the total anticipated cost or value to the university exceeds $1,000.000;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Contracts for external auditors;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Bond agreements; and<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Agreements to name university buildings or outside areas for individuals or organizations.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
The board has delegated to the president the authority to approve all contract types not mentioned in section 1.6 of Board Statement Number 2. The president, in turn, has issued a Contract Signature Authority<\/a> document, which delegates authority to a small number of people to sign certain kinds of contracts that bind the university. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Only the board, the president, and people listed on the contract signature authority have the legal authority to sign contracts that bind the university. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Academic and administrative sub-units of the university, such as programs, departments and colleges, are not independent legal entities. They cannot enter into contracts on their own authority. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Contracts signed without authorization may not legally bind the university. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- University employees who sign such contracts without authorization may become personally liable for the commitments made in the contracts. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Such employees may also be disciplined for violating the university\u2019s contract approval process.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDrafting and Review of Contracts<\/h2>
\nAll contracts require review prior to the university agreeing to them. The level of review depends upon the risk presented by the contract. That level of risk, and how it is altered by contractual terms (including those commonly referred to as \u201cboilerplate\u201d), is as much a part of the deal as the price paid or the quality and timeliness of the goods and services obtained. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Review of the terms of a contract is a key part of the negotiation. Depending upon the risk presented by the contract, this review and negotiation may take weeks or months to complete. In order to avoid putting the university at a disadvantage, it is important to build in time for this part of the process when developing a project that will require new contract(s). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The OGC+BS and the Division of Finance and Administration are developing a process to determine the level of review that various types of contracts require. The goal is to speed the review of low risk contracts so that more time and effort can be devoted to high risk ones. As that project moves forward, more information about it will be described here. In the meantime, persons with signature authority should check with the general counsel before signing contracts, unless we have reached some other understanding. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nGoverning Board of Trustees<\/h2>
\nThe Board of Trustees of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ is the governing body of the university. The State of Oregon has assigned to the board the duty to assure the success of the university for the benefit of the people of Oregon and the university\u2019s (past, present and future) students. The Board of Trustees performs such duties as determining the university\u2019s mission and strategic plan; hiring and supervising the university president; assuring the quality of the university’s academic programs; conserving and growing the university\u2019s capital and financial assets; determining the university budget; and setting tuition and fees. Every degree issued by the university is issued by the authority of the board.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Click on these links to learn more about the board and its meeting schedule<\/a>, Trustees<\/a>, its committees<\/a>, the rules by which it operates<\/a>, and information about past and future meetings<\/a> of the board.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nFreedom of Expression, Academic Freedom and Institutional Independence<\/h2>
\nIn the twentieth century, American higher education became the best in the world because American higher education embraced the pursuit of knowledge for its own sake, without ideological tests for determining what areas of inquiry are acceptable. Three components are essential to this system:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Independent governing boards that respect the freedom of intellectual inquiry of professional faculty, and that protect institutional academic freedom from outside interference<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Professors who combine effective teaching with rigorous engagement with their field of study, and who enjoy freedom of inquiry and expression within their field of study and within their field\u2019s professional standards<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- A general campus culture that embraces freedom of expression and ideas<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
See EOU\u2019s website on Freedom of Expression<\/a> for more information about these topics.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nMeet the Team<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\nChris Burford<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
General Counsel and Board Secretary
cburford@eou.edu<\/a> | (541) 962.3006<\/a>
Chris Burford received his doctor of law (J.D.) degree from the University of Oregon School of Law.\u00a0 He has been a licensed Oregon attorney since 1992.\u00a0 He formerly worked in a variety of legal capacities for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, culminating in eight years as tribal Attorney General. As proprietor of Burford Law Office, he served as outside counsel to the City of Pendleton, mainly in matters of municipal and transactional law. He joined EOU in 2015.<\/a> He received a bachelor\u2019s degree in History from Western Kentucky University.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\nSuzannah Moore<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Board Support
mooresm@eou.edu<\/a> | (541) 962.3740<\/a>
Suzannah Moore supports the À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Board of Trustees through the Office of the Board Secretary, coordinating agendas and materials, guiding public meetings and records compliance, and facilitating trustee onboarding and engagement. She partners with the General Counsel to align board actions, policies, and delegated authorities with university and state requirements. Moore manages committee workflows, public comment processes, and the archival of minutes and resolutions, and helps ensure clear, accessible communications between the Board, campus, and the public.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\nHelen Moore<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Public Records Officer
hmoore@eou.edu<\/a> | (541) 962.3740<\/a>
As Public Records Officer, Helen Moore receives and responds to requests for access to records in the custody of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ.\u00a0 Helen formerly served for many years in the university\u2019s information technology department.\u00a0 In that capacity, she served for four years as a member of the Board of Trustees of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ, as staff trustee.\u00a0Helen received her Bachelors of Science degree in History from À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Office of General Counsel & Board Secretary (OGC+BS) has two distinct and complimentary roles. In the general counsel role, the office is the legal representative, advisor, and strategic counsel to À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ. This role includes receiving subpoenas and other legal process served on the university, and hiring (and supervising) outside counsel serving the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":491,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-6265","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.eou.edu\/governance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6265","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.eou.edu\/governance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.eou.edu\/governance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.eou.edu\/governance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/491"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.eou.edu\/governance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6265"}],"version-history":[{"count":25,"href":"https:\/\/www.eou.edu\/governance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6265\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6395,"href":"https:\/\/www.eou.edu\/governance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6265\/revisions\/6395"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.eou.edu\/governance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6265"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}