Category: Announcement

UConn-AAUP Update: September 10, 2024

NOT A MEMBER YET? JOIN NOW

In this Issue:

• UConn-AAUP Member Meetings on Negotiations
• UConn-AAUP Member Organizing Training- This week!
• UConn-AAUP Picnic, Contract Committee Kick-off
• Adjunct Parking Concerns
• Course Enrollment Increases

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UConn-AAUP Member Meetings on Negotiations. Mark your calendars & Register TODAY!

At the end of last semester, the chapter released a membership survey to begin seeking your guidance for negotiations.  Throughout the summer, groups of members have met in subcommittees to craft bargaining proposals, researching and discussing key topics and concerns.

The Negotiations subcommittees will present a summary of their reports and members will be able to add to the reports and be part of the discussion.  Members’ voices are key to this process, and we want to hear from you!!!  The chapter has organized several sessions to support your continued involvement in this process.
REGISTER TODAY

These meetings are open to all active members (dues paying) of the bargaining unit. Once membership is confirmed, a link will be sent out to you via your personal e-mail address that you provide on the form.

When registering please make sure to indicate all sessions you anticipate attending.

Department Heads	Tuesday	September 17th	7:00 PM	Virtual
Adjuncts	Wednesday	September 18th	7:00 PM	Virtual
All Members	Thursday	September 19th	1:00-2:30	SU Theatre
All Members	Thursday	September 19th	7:00 PM	Virtual
Athletics	Monday	September 23rd	7:00 PM	Virtual

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UConn-AAUP Member Organizing Training- This week!

It is an exciting time to be a member of the chapter! Join us for a discussion/training on how to have effective conversations with colleagues about the importance of attending upcoming union events.  Ariel Lambe, a UConn-AAUP member and Associate Professor of History will lead this training.

This event is being held TOMORROW! Wednesday, September 11^th from 1:00-2:30pm and will be held virtually – let us know you are coming by registering here

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UConn-AAUP Picnic and Contract Campaign Kick-off

On Wednesday, October 2, 2024, from 3:00-6:00pm we will hold a picnic and contract campaign kick-off at the UConn-AAUP office. Join us for a family-friendly event with plenty of fall-themed food and drink, including apples & honey to celebrate Rosh Hashanah. This is a great opportunity to learn more about the union, get to know fellow union members and leaders, and help us kickoff our contract campaign with an afternoon of camaraderie! There will also be lawn games (anyone else want to learn Bocce?) & I have heard that we may potentially have a trivia game.  Join us!

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UConn-Adjunct Parking Concerns

The collective bargaining agreement dictates the rate that adjunct faculty are to be charged yearly.  The rate increase was 4.25%.  We heard from several members that they were charged more than this rate.  In following up with parking services we learned that there was a coding issue, and they are working to correct it.  Please call parking services directly if you are facing this problem.  Should it not be corrected, do not hesitate to contact the office directly.

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Course Enrollment Increases

The decision from the State Labor Board last year stated that increases in class size were a management prerogative and not negotiable. But the Board also stated that increases in class size increased workload and therefore the impact on workload is a negotiable subject of bargaining. UConn-AAUP has submitted an “information request” requesting the administration to produce data that shows which courses have seen increased enrollments from Fall 2023, Spring 2024 and Fall 2024.  To confirm the information from the administration, if you have seen increases in enrollment over this period, please follow this link to provide your course enrollment increases. CLASS SIZE FORM

In Solidarity,

Chris Vials President
Michael Bailey, Executive Director

Tel 860.487.0450

In this Issue:

• Welcome Back – Chris Vials, UConn-AAUP President
• Social Gathering – Hops 44, Friday, September 6^th, 4-6:00 pm

Welcome Back Message from President Chris Vials

Welcome back everyone!  I hope you had a restorative summer and that you are coming into the new semester looking forward to the year ahead.  My name is Chris Vials and this is my first year as President of the UConn-AAUP.  Since I arrived here as a faculty member in 2010, I have served a variety of roles in the organization, including as a member of the Executive Committee, the Negotiating Team, and as Chair of the Contract Committee.  I am honored to return to our organization once again in my new role as President.

The UConn chapter of the AAUP was founded in 1932 and has served faculty as a union since 1976.  We represent over 2500 faculty, researchers, coaches and trainers.  We are facing a challenging year ahead: our current collective bargaining agreement expires in June 2025 and we will enter negotiations with the administration for a new contract later this semester [or, “this academic year”].  You will no doubt be hearing a lot from AAUP leadership and staff in the months ahead, and we hope to hear from you as well.  The AAUP is its members: we are strong as a union to the extent that everyone stays informed, active, and engaged.

As we enter a new academic year, please know that whatever the challenges, the AAUP has your back.  We are here for you.  I would be delighted to meet you at our Welcome Back social at Hops 44 in Mansfield on Friday, September 6 (4-6pm) or at our first Chapter Meeting of the year on October 23^rd at noon.  Stay tuned for details on both of these events.

I wish you all the best for an excellent year ahead and I hope to see you soon.

Chris Vials President, AAUP, UConn Chapter

Social Gathering – Hops44, Friday, September 6^th, 4:00-6:00 pm

UConn-AAUP will be hosting a social event next Friday, September 6th, 2024, from 4:00 – 6:00 pm at Hops44, 625 Middle Turnpike, Storrs, CT. Free appetizers and a cash bar will be available. Hope to see you there to kick off the new academic year!

In Solidarity,

Chris Vials President
Michael Bailey, Executive Director
Tel 860.487.0450

UConn-AAUP Update: May 14, 2024

In this issue:

 

Special University Senate Meeting
UConn Benefits Team to Visit Campuses
CT AFL-CIO Bill to Support Striking Workers

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Special University Senate Meeting

The University of Senate will be holding a special meeting of the University Senate on Monday, May, 20^th, 2024 at 4:00pm

UNIVERSITY SENATE MEETING AGENDA May 20, 2024 A special meeting of the University Senate will be held on Monday, May 20, 2024, Gentry Building (Neag School of Education), Room 131 and hybrid (via WebEx) Public Access Link: http://www.kaltura.com/tiny/yjtgv The agenda for this meeting is as follows: 1. Resolutions in Response to Student Protests 2. Adjournment

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UConn Benefits Team to Visit Campuses

The UConn Benefits Team will be visiting each of the regional campuses during the Benefits Open Enrollment period for any employees who have questions or need assistance with making benefits changes.  Here are the dates we will be at each campus:

Regional Campus	Date
Hartford Campus	Monday, May 13
Stamford Campus	Tuesday, May 14
Waterbury Campus	Thursday, May 16
Avery Point Campus	Tuesday, May 21

Please take this opportunity to meet with the UConn Benefits Team to answer any questions you may have or to make changes to your benefits during the Open Enrollment period.

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CT AFL-CIO Bill to Support Striking Workers

CT AFL-CIO is supporting  House Bill 5164 that would make striking workers eligible for unemployment benefits after they have been on strike for two weeks. For more information and to send a letter to your legislative leader: https://act.aflcio.org/letters/tell-your-legislator-striking-workers-need-a-level-playing-field

In Solidarity,

Michael Bailey, Executive Director UConn-AAUP
Gina DeVivo Brassaw, Internal Organizer UConn-AAUP

 

UConn-AAUP Update: May 10, 2024

In this issue:

End of the 2024 Legislative Session Message

Dear Members,

I write to you as the legislative session comes to an end with passage of the State Budget Stabilization Bill with good news and not-so-good news.

Good news, first: THANK YOU, AND CONGRATULATIONS! Your efforts in reaching out to your legislators with letters, emails, one-on-one conversations, testimonies, and your persistence with university leadership over their ask of the governor and legislature have paid off! From rallies to op-eds in state newspapers, and even national media coverage, the demands for a healthy UConn budget garnered considerable attention and support. As described to us by the top legislative leaders, it was the rank-and-file members—YOU— who were able to secure more funding than the administration had initially requested in December. It has been inspiring to see chapter members amplify their voices, not only at the legislature, but at the Board of Trustees meetings and beyond.

The not-so-good news: As we were informed by the UConn CFO, any shortfall of the $96.4M ask will be made up with funds from the first year of the Provost’s Financial Plan. The total amount of funds for UConn Storrs included in the Stabilization Bill is $78.8M.

Our organizing and membership development efforts have will continue in earnest. We will build on our successes and return stronger in the fall. Your fellow colleagues are expecting this of themselves and others. We have a long, hard road ahead, but the stronger the union, the sweeter the victories.

In solidarity,

Jeffrey Ogbar
President

 

With the recent events that have surfaced over the past couple of weeks regarding free speech and right to assembly on the UConn campus and other college campuses across the country, UConn-AAUP is providing members with a library of information for reading.

There are two sections to the resource page. One that the UConn-AAUP Executive Committee has endorsed, and one that UConn-AAUP neither endorses nor supports the material in that section.

Any additional information to the library must be approved by UConn-AAUP Executive Committee. The library includes the following:

UConn-AAUP Supports and Endorses:

• UConn-AAUP/GEU-UAW joint letter to President Maric

National AAUP

• In Defense of the Right to Free Speech and Peaceful Protest on University Campuses
• AAUP President Condemns Student Arrests
• As Police Clear Encampments, Professors Arrested Along With Students

American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)

• Open Letter to College and University Presidents on Student Protests

Free Speech Resources

UConn-AAUP has added a page that we will continue to develop with resources on freedom of information.  We currently have a legal opinion for teaching faculty regarding using classroom time for discussion on the funding crisis during instructional time and a fact sheet from National AAUP regarding campus free speech/academic freedom in politically charged times.  Check out the resources here at Freedom of Speech Resources – UConn-AAUP (uconnaaup.org)

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UConn-AAUP Has Not Voted to Endorse

• A group of faculty have written an open letter deploring the university’s disproportionate response to student protest and calling for an amnesty for arrested students. The letter does not take a position on the underlying issues of Israel, Palestine, and the war in Gaza, but stresses the need for the administration to protect free speech, encourage civic discourse, and preserve the right to peaceful assembly.  The letter can be found here; signatures will be collected through at least 5pm on Monday May 6^th.

 

 

 

 

AAUP Statement of Support for Student activists

UConn students have joined students at universities across the country by setting up an encampment in defense of Palestinian life. UConnDivest established the encampment at Dove Tower (near Babbidge) on the Storrs campus and has occupied the space continuously since Thursday April 25, at 5PM.

UConn-AAUP endorses the following statement in solidarity with UConn student activists who are demonstrating in support of the Palestinian people. You can read the statement here:

https://forms.gle/txioqSa4raRuoSR79

If you would like to join your colleagues, and our students’ unfettered right to free speech and assembly you can sign the solidarity statement here and/or bear witness to the encampment with other faculty observers.

Student organizers have requested a meeting with University administration to discuss UConn’s ties to the war industry and protections for pro-Palestinian student activists. The administration has not responded to their request to meet.

The national AAUP and the UConn-AAUP has already joined numerous unions in calling for a ceasefire in Gaza:

https://www.insidehighered.com/news/faculty-issues/academic-freedom/2024/02/14/aaup-joins-labor-unions-call-ceasefire-gaza

On April 24, the President of the American Association of University Professors, Dr. Irene Mulvey, condemned the crackdown of peaceful dissent across the nation.

Many faculty members across the country have signed statements in support of students’ right to protest. We invite our members to do the same. The statement is in the link below.

https://forms.gle/txioqSa4raRuoSR79

Sent on behalf of the UConn-AAUP Executive Committee

 CHILD CARE REIMBURSEMENT NOTICE

Applications for the Spring 2024 Child Care Reimbursement must be submitted to the UConn-AAUP office by MAY 2, 2024.

Please note that the Spring 2023 reimbursement is for daycare provided for the months of November, December 2023 & January, February, March & April, 2024 ONLY.  Child must attend daycare at least two weeks during the month to qualify for that month.

The UConn-AAUP Child Care policy and application is now available on the UConn-AAUP website:

www.uconnaaup.org
Resources or Quick Links – Childcare Reimbursements

Please download, fill out, and fax, mail, or e-mail (BarbaraK@uconnaaup.org) the application and receipts to the UConn-AAUP office.  ALL applications are acknowledged.

UConn-AAUP Telephone 860-487-0450, Fax 860-487-0341
1875 Storrs Road, Storrs, CT 06268

UConn-AAUP Update: April 22, 2024
Not a member? Join now!

In this issue:
5-Year Financial Plan
April 17th Boar of Trustees Action
Join us! Annual Chapter Meeting
Letter Writing Campaign
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5-Year Financial Plan

Many departments and individual faculty are being asked to identify budget cuts for FY 25 and FY 26 to meet the Provost’s request. With the legislative session ending on May 8th, and thus the final decision on additional funding beyond the block grant on that date, UConn-AAUP encourages members efforts to be directed instead on contacting their legislators to advocate for the full funding for UConn and all higher education in our State.
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April 17th, Board of Trustees Action

Once again, UConn-AAUP members and coalition partners brought concern, passion, and requests to the Board of Trustees meeting on April 17th regarding the 5-Year Financial Plan. Special thanks to Mary Beth Allen, Fred Biggs, Clare King ‘oo, and Brad Simpson for expressing the physical and mental anguish that this 5-year plan is having on our faculty, staff and students in their statements to the Board. We now call on the Board Trustees to address the impact of this farcical Plan on the University.
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Join us! Annual Chapter Meeting

UConn-AAUP is hosting the annual chapter meeting on APRIL 24, 2024 – 12 NOON, Student Union, Storrs Campus Room 331
Only Active Members (those who are members of the National AAUP and are in good standing with the UConn Chapter) have the right to attend and vote in Chapter meetings. Not a member? Join now!
Please RSVP HERE TODAY!

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Letter Writing Campaign

UConn-AAUP has set a goal of writing 400+ letters to the CT Legislature by May 8th.
UConn needs an additional $96.4M to fully fund UConn above the block grant amount proposed by the Governor. Contact your legislators today!
On April 4, 2024, the Appropriations Committee sent notice that they would make little changes to the mid-biennial budget leaving UConn with a $96.4M shortfall. Senior legislative leaders Matt Ritter and Martin Looney indicated there was additional money available to invest in higher education. It is up to us to now convince those leaders and your local representatives that UConn is the right place for those available funds. Write to CT lawmakers and tell them we need an additional $96.M to prevent devastating cuts to academics and to fund all SEBAC-negotiated raises.
Below is a sample letter you can send to lawmakers. We’ve also included a link to find your legislators and their contact information. Should you have additional questions please do not hesitate to reach out! Once you contact state lawmakers, let us know here so we can track our goal of 400+ letters. You can find additional information regarding UConn-AAUP’s advocacy at our 2024 UConn Budget Page including outreach materials and recent articles.
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Use this link to look up your legislators!
SAMPLE LETTER

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Michael Bailey, Executive Director UConn-AAUP
Gina DeVivo Brassaw, Internal Organizer UConn-AAUP

 

UConn-AAUP Excellence Awards
Join us for a Virtual Presentation
Monday April 22^nd NOON

All Welcome
JOIN US HERE:  UConn-AAUP Excellence Awards Zoom Link
Meeting ID: 859 1708 2976 Passcode: 896505

We are pleased to inform you that the UConn-AAUP Excellence Awards Committee selected the following faculty members as recipients of the 2024 UConn-AAUP Excellence Awards:

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TEACHING EXCELLENCE EARLY CAREER:

MANISH ROY
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR IN RESIDENCE – CIVIL & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING

JULIA SMACHYLO
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR – PLANT SCIENCE & LANDSCAPING ARCHITECTURE

RYAN TALBERT
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR – SOCIOLOGY

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TEACHING EXCELLENCE CAREER :
SARAH REED
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR – ANIMAL SCIENCE

FREDERICK RODEN
PROFESSOR – ENGLISH                                          

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TEACHING INNOVATION:
JOHN REDDEN
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR IN RESIDENCE – PHYSIOLOGY & NEUROBIOLOGY

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EXCELLENCE IN RESEARCH & CREATIVITY:  EARLY CAREER  
ANNA TARAKANOVA
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR – MECHANICAL, AEROSPACE & MANUFACTURING ENGINEERING

ABHINAV UPADHYAY
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR – ANIMAL SCIENCE

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EXCELLENCE IN RESEARCH & CREATIVITY:  CAREER
MICHAEL COPENHAVER, PROFESSOR
ALLIED HEALTH SCIENCES

INGE-MARIE EIGSTI
PROFESSOR & DIRECTOR – PSYCHOLIGICAL SCIENCES

SENJIE LIN
PROFESSOR – MARINE SCIENCES

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SERVICE EXCELLENCE:
RANDALL WALIKONIS
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR – PHYSIOLOGY &
NEUROBIOLOGY

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This year, as in the past, the UConn-AAUP Excellence Awards Committee was faced with a set of choices which were excellent in so many ways.  The award recipients are extended sincere congratulations and deep appreciation from their colleagues and students for such outstanding work.

 

The recognition of faculty teaching, research, and service excellence through UConn-AAUP awards began in 1997.  The intention of the awards is to showcase academic excellence at UConn.