United Academics AAUP/AFT

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Do you have a complaint, grievance, or other questions about UA's contracts for full-time or part-time faculty? If so, . Curious about what the contracts say? Click here to go to our contracts page with all of UA's current and past contracts.

What's New

• SPECIAL MEMBERS' MEETING: THURSDAY 3-19-09, 3:30-5PM IN MARSH LOUNGE, BILLINGS All UA members are strongly encouraged to attend this Thursday's meeting for all UA members: How have cuts, position eliminations, and layoffs been visited upon each unit? What should UA's next steps be? Join in this crucial discussion to shape a fuller picture of what is taking place at UVM and how through UA we can respond: 3:30-5 pm, Marsh Lounge, Billings.


• 2009-2010 BRACE AND BACKUS AWARD COMPETITION OPENS Applications are now being accepted for two awards for UVM students: the Jeffrey Brace book award and the Linda Backus Memorial Award. The Jeffrey Brace Book Award, in honor of Jeffrey Brace, an early 19th-century black Vermonter, former slave and activist, provides up to ten $500 awards to be used for books and supplies (at the UVM Bookstore) by students who exemplify academic excellence and an active commitment to achieving social and economic justice. The Linda Backus Memorial Award provides a $1000 cash award for the purpose of rewarding student civic engagement in advancing economic and social justice goals. The award is named in honor of Linda Backus, former professor of education at UVM, committed union organizer, and second president of United Academics. The deadline for both awards is April 20, 2009. Click here for the full competition flyer.


• SMALLER CLASSES AT UVM? THE NUMBERS DON'T ADD UP In his February 6 address, University of Vermont President Daniel Mark Fogel assured trustees that reducing the faculty through attrition and nonreappointment while increasing the student body will not negatively impact student experience next fall: "[W]e will in fact see more of the small sections valued so highly by UVM's students and faculty and only a small increase in large classes." Following the trustees meeting, however, President Fogel acknowledged that the Registrar appears to have included as "0- to 11-seat" classes independent study, honors thesis, and internship credit hours. In addition, the Fall 2009 "0- to 11-seat" section count included Continuing Education seats reserved in larger classes, adding to the appearance of an 87-section increase in very small courses. President Fogel has requested more accurate data from the Registrar. As we await that data, we present the following analysis focusing on classes with 12 or more seats, much more typical of the courses available to first- and second-year students. What the following table and charts show is that available seats in small classes, once the norm for UVM, are in decline while the number of seats in "supersize me" classrooms, used sparingly in the past and only where pedagogically appropriate, are on the rise. Bottom line: As the student body grows and the faculty shrinks, eroded is the special character of a UVM education where students are known by name, not number. Click here to see the details.


• NEW CONTRACT TIPS! Check out the Contracts page for new contract tips that could help you. Recently added: Have you submitted your RPT dossier but have new materials to add? You may be in luck! Click here to read more. Are you a Lecturer II or III? If so, there are Professional Development Funds available to you. Click here for the details. Are you on Sabbatical or Professional Development Leave? If so, click here to read about important deadlines.


• PART-TIME FACULTY NEGOTIATIONS: A NEW PAGE COMING WITH ALL THE DETAILS Negotiations have begun between the part-time faculty unit and UVM's administration for a new collective bargaining agreement. In the next few days, UA will post a new page with updates, information about upcoming negotiation sessions, and tips on what you can do to help the negotiating team. As this is sensitive material, only UA members will be allowed access to this information. Members: information will be coming to your e-mail inbox soon. Non-Members: if you'd like to join UA and stay informed about important issues like the new CBA, just e-mail .


• UA & FACULTY SENATE TO HOST FACULTY FORUMS -- COME SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS, HOPES & FEARS United Academics is teaming up with the Faculty Senate to host a series of fora to give faculty a formal venue in which to express concerns and questions about the budget and about restructuring. This is your chance to share your perspective with your fellow faculty and with the administration (who will, in the words of Faculty Senate President Robyn Warhol-Down: "be there to listen, but not to speak.") The Fora will be held from 4-5:30pm: on Friday Feb. 13th at the Ira Allen Chapel; on Wednesday February 18th at the Silver Maple Ballroom in the Davis Center; and on Monday February 23rd in Waterman Building's Memorial Lounge.


• UA & STUDENTS STAND UP TELL ADMINISTRATION: "DON'T DOWNSIZE EDUCATION AT UVM" IN MAJOR PRESS CONFERENCE On Thursday, February 5th UA and Students Stand Up held a press conference in Waterman's Memorial Lounge to tell the Administration "Don't Downsize Education at UVM!" The press conference featured faculty and student speakers, and was attended by a large range of media outlets. For links to media coverage of the conference or to read the exciting and moving statements from student and faculty leaders, click here to go to UA's What's New at UA page for all the details.


• UA EXECUTIVE COUNCIL PROTESTS TO BOARD OF TRUSTEES United Academics has been engaged in a number of activities to defend the quality of education and research at UVM in the face of UVM's current budget problems (beyond the vital work of administering the contract, which in the current climate is even more important than usual). To this end, the Executive Council (EC) has sent a formal letter to the entire Board of Trustees. It articulates UA's concerns and calls for the administration and the Board to consider alternative approaches that are now being explored at other universities, such as judiciously drawing from the endowment, slowing the transition to structured budgeting, and making deeper cuts in administrative costs. The letter reflects input from and discussions with faculty, especially the UA's Membership Meeting held for this purpose on Jan. 23rd. Click here to read this letter.


• UA MEMBERS TAKE OUR CASE TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES In an unprecedented show of concern, a wide range of faculty spoke to the UVM Board of Trustees on Saturday February 7th at their spring Board meeting. Growing out of the fierce concern felt by faculty all over the University, Faculty Senate President Robyn Warhol-Down spoke eloquently and passionately at Friday's Board meeting about the misguided attempts to balance UVM's budget suggested so far. In addition, faculty from across the University applied for one of the limited 3-minute "public comment" spots available at Saturday morning's Board session. click here to go to UA's What's New at UA page to read the statements of Warhol_Down, UA President David Shiman, and many other faculty members.


• UA RELEASES STATEMENT ON UVM'S BUDGET PROBLEMS Along with the entire UVM community, United Academics AFT/AAUP--the union representing most faculty at the University of Vermont--is concerned about the recently announced $22 million budget shortfall. We are committed to working with the administration and the rest of the University to develop and implement institutionally responsible solutions that maintain UVM's commitment to its core missions: quality teaching, research, and service. Towards that end, United Academics articulates the following guiding principles and commitments. (To download this statement (an Adobe Acrobat PDF file) click here.)


• Do you have questions about salary adjustment? If so, check out UA's Salary Adjustment FAQ for answers.

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Last updated 18 March 2009