Akron-AAUP Monthly Newsletter: August 2009

Welcome Back Message from Chapter President Walter Hixson

Yes, the summer has gone too fast and we have difficult challenges ahead of us this year—but welcome back anyway.  It is a privilege for me to assume the responsibilities as the new President of Akron-AAUP.  I can assure you that your representatives have been working hard to try to achieve a new contract commensurate with the talent and dedication of the UA faculty.  It is no easy task, as the UA administration poses many challenges as a working partner.  

The economic downturn presents challenges as well.

We will do our best in responding to the survey data on issues most important to our faculty but ultimately it takes two dedicated parties to achieve an agreement.  We will know soon how serious the University is about negotiating an equitable contract.  

Right now we are hopeful but if the Administration does not follow through in these talks with good faith bargaining we must be prepared to do what is necessary to preserve our livelihoods and professional integrity.  You should be prepared for all contingencies and above all you must be prepared to do more than complain—you must be ready to stand up for academic freedom, equitable pay and benefits, and real shared governance.

While we should not have to resort to picket, protest or in the worst-case scenario to going on strike to achieve these fundamental goals, unfortunately the University’s approach to governance has shown that we cannot rule out any of these possibilities.

For now, colleagues, carry on with your research and teaching excellence, both of which have facilitated our enrollment growth at UA.  However, as the new semester begins and contract talks unfold, it is also time for UA faculty to adopt the Boy Scout motto: Be Prepared.

Wishing you the very best in the coming academic year,

Walter L. Hixson, President, Akron-AAUP

Current Contract Negotiations and the Higher Learning Commission’s 2008 Report:

In April, 2003 The University of Akron received a comprehensive visit from the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. This is the organization responsible for accrediting The University of Akron.

The result of that visit by the HLC was a subsequent commission-mandated focused visit in April, 2008 to assess the nature of shared governance at UA (See the HLC report, Assurance Section). Despite the administration’s optimistic reading of the 2008 report the commission members, in fact, made some very clear recommendations for future actions, some of which concern the negotiation process for our second collective bargaining agreement.

1.  The HLC recommended an early starting date for negotiations “…the better to complete negotiations in a timely way and to prepare for implementation” (See the HLC report, Advancement Section).  

The commission recommended a start date for negotiations of December 2008.

Akron-AAUP began to assemble its negotiating team during summer of 2008.

The first formal meeting of the Akron-AAUP and administration teams took place July 15, 2009.

2.  On the constitution of the negotiating teams the HLC offered these very clear suggestions “To expedite negotiations, it may be useful to ensure that members of negotiating teams are experienced in the academic environment…”  and  “…in addition, the administration might consider including representation from among Deans and department chairs.  These individuals, who are not represented by the contract, can nonetheless provide the administration’s legal team with practical insights into issues that have a direct impact on the academic mission of the institution. “

As of this writing the teams have met four times.  No Deans or department chairs have been present.

Your Experience with the Thesis/Dissertation Banking System:

The negotiation team is aware that the negotiated thesis/dissertation banking system is flawed. In order to negotiate the bargaining unit's will, we are asking for your assistance. Anyone who has asked, but been denied, the opportunity to "cash in" their accumulated credits for a course release, should make their experience known in an email to Dave Witt at doodle2@ameritech.net.

Akron-AAUP's Negotiating Team

As we learned the last time around, it is never too early to begin planning and strategizing for the next round of negotiations.  Our current contract expires December 15th, 2009.  Akron AAUP is very pleased to report that Mike Cheung, from Chemical Engineering, has agreed to lead our negotiation team again.  You may recall that Mike served as Chief Negotiator during our first lengthy round of negotiations. In preparation for the next round of negotiations, Mike has selected the following faculty members to join him at the negotiating table:

  • Linda Barrett from Geography is returning for the second time. (Linda is serving double duty, as she is also our Grievance officer.) New members include

  • Minel Braun from Mechanical Engineering,

  • Gary Frank from Accountancy,

  •  Elizabeth Kennedy from Associate Studies,

  • Kevin Kreider from Theoretical and Applied Math,

  • Evangeline Newton from Curriculum and Instructional Studies, and

  • John Reeves from Anthropology. 

This dedicated team of  faculty have agreed to represent our nearly 700 member bargaining unit at the negotiating table this Summer and Fall 09. While these are certainly tough economic times, we are confident that this team will be ready for strong negotiations and will address the issues faculty have identified as significant on the recent faculty survey.   The Negotiating Team, in tandem with the Executive Committee and Communications Committee. have had two day long retreats this semester to  review the current contract and note the changes faculty seek.  They are ready!  Be sure and thank these faculty members when you see them on campus.

Maternity and Paternity Leaves for Faculty:

Did you know that our AAUP Collective Bargaining Agreement guarantees 20 working days (4 weeks) of paid leave for new mothers and fathers?   New mothers may take 20 days of leave upon delivery of their child.  New fathers may take the 20 working days of paid leave within 180 days (6 months) of their child’s birth.  Adoptive and foster parents are also eligible for 20 working days of paid leave to care for their new families.  In addition to the maternity, paternity, adoptive, and foster leave of 20 paid working days to care for a new child in your family, the contract guarantees 40 working days (8 weeks) of Family Medical Leave in any given twelve month period for a new child .  The FMLA leave is unpaid, but faculty members may use their accumulated sick days and thus suffer no economic consequence for caring for their families if they have enough sick leave. 

In summary, if a faculty member gives birth to a new child, or their spouse gives birth to a new child, or a faculty member adopts or fosters a new child, they are entitled to up to twelve (12) weeks of leave in total.  If you are expecting a bundle of joy, be sure to notify your immediate supervisor and let them know in advance, so that they can cover your assigned responsibilities.  For more details of this faculty benefit, read Article 17 of our Collective Bargaining Agreement, Section 2, Subsection C,G, H, and I. 

Domestic Partner Benefits At Akron

As  you may know, the Board of Trustees and upper administration vigorously opposed domestic partner benefits during the first contraction negotiation. 

Their stated reason for doing so at that time was that state law, and the recently passed Constitutional amendment banning same sex marriage, prevented them from agreeing to it. 

Well, it will be interesting to see what they say now. 

The Ohio State Supreme Court ruled that single benefits, like domestic partner benefits, do not approximate marriage, and therefore are not illegal.  Furthermore, most of our sister institutions have domestic partner benefits, often applying to both heterosexual and same sex domestic partners.   In fact, at least one Ohio university obtained such benefits  after the passage of that amendment. 

Nationally, as reported in Inside Higher Ed, such benefits are now present in almost half of colleges and universities, according to research by the College and University Personnel Association for Human Resources (CUPA-HR). Read the article at http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/07/29/benefits. 

Akron stands out as an institution of higher education that seems unfriendly toward faculty with domestic partners. 

Our problem is more glaring in light of the University administration’s campaign for “Inclusive Excellence.”  Thus far, “Inclusive Excellence” excludes faculty, and potential faculty, with domestic partners.  If our goal is to attract the best faculty for our students and academic programs, then why capriciously narrow the candidate pool and give the appearance of prejudice and inequitable treatment?  Stay tuned for developments on this issue.

Akron-AAUP Website and Communications Update

Over the summer our chapter web site received a much-needed face-lift and re-organization.  The old site was beginning to creak a bit under the weight of many documents and news items, making navigation of the site a little problematic.  In addition to our new look we have, as well, purged the site of many out-dated items.   We hope you'll find the new site easier to navigate.Some of your bookmarked items may no longer be available at this time; or they may have been moved to another, we hope simpler-to-find, location.  All of the previous incarnations of akronaaup.org have been archived and we plan to make this available to you in the future.  Until then, if there is a particular document or past newsletter to which you'd like to have access just let us know; we'll be happy to see that you get a  copy.In order to facilitate more secure and private correspondence with our membership we have also established a new e-mail communication system.  All chapter officers, as well as standing and ad hoc committees, now have an e-mail address at akronaaup.org.   You'll find these addresses easily by following the "Contact Us" link on the new web site.

We'll be posting weekly (daily, if appropriate) updates on the progress of contract negotiations. You can follow our progress at http://www.akronaaup.org/negotiations.html. 
The site remains at .  You can contact the web team with requests for archived items and to report any problems with or suggestions for the new site by dropping us a note at: web@akronaaup.org

Free Money from ITL:  

Faculty Development Grants in the amount of $400.00, or less, are available through the Institute for Teaching and Learning (ITL) as a result of a past grievance settlement with the University.  Helen Qammar, the Director of ITL, estimates that there is $17,500 available until December 31, 2009.  This grant money may be used for purchasing equipment, going to a conference, buying books, or anything else that benefits the teaching mission at the University of Akron.   We encourage faculty who have not received one of the ITL grants in the past twelve months to apply.  If several faculty from the same department wish to combine their $400 grants they may do so, as long as a relevant rationale is provided.   
Click here for a link to the AAUP ITL Grant application, and guidelines.  When completing the application, be sure to note how the money will be spent, and how this will benefit the teaching mission at UA.  This narrative can be as brief as a few sentences.  Once completed, send the form to Helen Qammar, who will approve the release of funds in the order that the proposals are received.  If you have questions, don’t hesitate to contact an Akron AAUP representative.

Submitted by the Akron-AAUP Communications Committee

"Faculty interests are Akron-AAUP interests, so Ask Us Anything"