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NEW YORK STATE AAUP ANNUAL FALL CONFERENCE
Friday, October 19, 2007 & Saturday, October 20, 2007
NYSUT Headquarters
Latham, NY 

Present: Fri., Oct 19 & Sat., Oct. 20

Newly Present: Sat., Oct. 20

Thomas Giordano & Joyce Furfero (St. John’s University); Irene Whelan & Cecilia Winters (Manhattanville).

Proceedings

1. Professor Stephen Z. Goldberg (presiding) convened the meeting at 3:15 PM October 19, 2007.


2. The Minutes of Spring Meeting at Adelphi University by Marilynn Fleckenstein of April 13 and 14, 2007 were moved (Yellowitz/Kaplan) and approved with corrections: p4. Gellman will not run again for CBC Executive Committee; dues may be impacted; Yost Award


3. President’s Report (S. Goldberg)
   
   President Goldberg reported: A letter was sent to the Pres.of Marymount and that Marymount members expressed appreciation for the efforts of the Conference on their behalf. However, the Fordham Administration took exception to the resolution’s posting to its reception at the campus.Pres. Goldberg explained that a scheduled appointment related to the Kaplan resolution on TIAA/CREF did not take place since the TIAA/CREF representative did not come as scheduled.  National had not previously informed him of a letter it had written to the President of Rensselaer.


4. Vice President’s Report (K.M. Smith)* Report
   
   V.P. Smith reported conference membership: K. Isaac of the national office sent two lists, one of chapters and a second of members at institutions that do not have chapters; the tally was 5,079, including 48 institutions and others. Eleven are collective bargaining chapters with more than three thousand members. She noted a discrepancy between National’s figures and hers (4856). Upon requesting a list of Molloy members from Isaac, V. P. Smith discovered that the figures were also incorrect. V.P. Smith informed national of the discrepancies. She noted that Marymount is still on the list. Attendees mentioned many errors in national’s records. E.D. Policano stated that the Conference has to do outreach to and organize individuals at campuses who are members of AAUP, but not in a chapter. Pres Goldberg stated that previous attempts at outreach proved very difficult. (The discussion continued under New Business.)


5. Report of Treasurer (P. Cihon)* 2007 Report | 2008 Notes
   
   Treasurer Cihon reported the 2007 YTD Budget: National has imbursed the Conference for three quarters thus far, 4th quarter 2006 and 1st and 2nd quarters of 2007. Niagara ($2,952)), PSC ($18,000) and UUP ($9,000) pay the Conference directly. Outstanding expenses include the stipend for the editor of Academe. Expenses YTD are $53,000; income is $66,000. Conference is operating in the black.
   2008 budget estimate reflects a deficit of $7,350 as in years past and a dues increase of $19.00.
   He suggested that it might be appropriate for the Conference to share awards with the recipient.  
   Motion (Cihon/Floss) to accept the report carried. 
   Motion (Shrecker/Marino) to accept 2008 budget carried.
   Motion (Gellman) that an award given to the Conference for the work of an individual member be shared with the member carried.


6. Reports and Plans of Standing Committees
   1. Committee A on Academic Freedom and Tenure (I. Yellowitz)* Survey Report | Proposal for Improving the Operation of NY Committee A
      Prof. Yellowitz reported on the Survey on Academic Freedom in the NYS that had been distributed to chapters with responses from 21: nine (9) chapters reported issues on their campuses, a similar situation as Ohio. Issues are not necessarily being referred to either national or the state committee in that chapters may not be aware of there existence. Of the nine cases, the success rate is low; three were known by the state Committee A. The work of the committee can be highlighted in NY Academe as a way to inform the chapters of its availability. An annual, scientific survey should be developed by a professional. If it is done systematically, a pattern will emerge.    
      
      Motion that there be an annual survey of academic freedom issues distributed to NYS Chapters (Yellowitz/Floss) carried. 
      
      Prof. Yellowitz mentioned the problem of National’s not systematically informing the Conference of state cases. As a result, there is little coordination between the national and state committees. He suggested a discussion with National for the development of a set of guidelines that would be beneficial to individuals and so that the Conference’s role is clarified. The state committee gives advice and refers  cases to National. However, Prof. Yellowitz stated it might be helpful as well for National to refer inquiries to NY Committee A, which could do fact-finding and make recommendations to National. The president NYSC and members of the National Council will have to be involved. After a discussion of how to resolve the issue, Pres. Goldberg will attempt to have the problem placed on the agenda of ASC.
   
   
   2. Committee on Chapter Members and Dues (K. Smith)
      
      Reported above.
   
   
   3. Committee on Contingent Faculty and the Profession (J. Jeneault)
      
      Prof. Jeneault asked for suggestions for committee membership. It was noted that Marcia Newfield of PSC wants to join the committee. A letter will be disseminated to chapter presidents and the Committee will be mentioned in NY Academe. She went on to say that adjuncts experience many problems, including unpaid work, excessive workload, pay scale, lack of course tuition and gender equity. She would like to explore the feasibility of legislation. F. Floss mentioned a possible conflict between legislative fixes v. contracts.
   
   
   4. Committee on Government Relations (P. Bentley)
      
      P. Bentley reported that committees are not meeting though GR is circulating a newsletter; HEA reauthorization is anticipated; AAUP members should pay attention to statements on higher education by the presidential candidates. The State Conference should schedule a state lobbying day. She mentioned that Spitzer’s signing the Optional Retirement Program (TIAA/CREF) is very significant benefit for SUNY and CUNY and that his Commission on Higher Education will report in December.
   
   
   5. Committee on College and University Governance (no report)
   
   
   6. Committee on the Status of Women in the Profession (P. Bentley)
      
      P. Bentley reported that there have been few meetings. She mentioned a gender equity case against Adelphi. (Pres. Goldberg responded that the AAUP campus chapter asked the university to settle, but to no avail. The administration does not accept figures that have been submitted. The chapter is assisting an individual with legal expenses) P. Bentley concluded saying that there is on-going work on contingent labor, and that benchmarks are being set on family issues and family leave.
   
   
   7. Committee on Retirement (M. Kaplan)
      
      Prof. Kaplan reported that retirees are being ignored by national. His request for information from the National Committee on Retirement has been ignored. State chapters are unresponsive as well. He asked Pres Goldberg to make an inquiry to the national office.
   
   
   8. Committee on the Economic Status of the Profession (D. Dolan)
      
      none
   
   
7. Report of the Councils
   
   
   1. The Independent Council (No chair)
   
   
   2. The CUNY Council (C. McCall)
      
      McCall reported on activities related to contract negotiations.
      
      L Beaky mentioned the preparation of a statement on academic freedom from the PSC-CUNY and the CUNY Faculty Senate. She also mentioned a pending meeting of PSC leadership who are also AAUP members. She also mentioned a pending meeting of PSCers who are also AAUP members.
   
   
   
   3. The SUNY Council (F. Floss)
      
      F. Floss also mentioned SUNY’s on-going negotiation with the State. He explained the case of Prof. S. Kurz who has been charged with terrorism by the Bush administration. He mentioned that a film on academic freedom, produced by the daughter of Norm Swenson, will be shown on the Sundance Channel. UUP passed a resolution sent to the RPI administration.
   
   
   
   4. The Collective Bargaining Council (E. Gellman)
      
      Prof Gellman reported that the proposed constitution for CBC will be discussed at a Council meeting in November. CBC is providing services to chapters by making  consultants on health care available. A proposal for a new computer system for membership and systems consultant will be discussed by the Council.
   
   
   5. The Regional Councils (none)
   
   
8. The Report of the Executive Director (T. Policano)* Report
   
   E.D. Policano reported as follows: Additional people will attend the Saturday session to discuss problems at their campuses. He is focusing on enhancing communication and developing a web space with dialogue capacity. He is dissatisfied with the outcome of discussions that he held with National concerning a policy on access to NYS members’ email addresses; the outcome was a moderated listserv which proved to be inadequate. (Pres. Goldberg suggested a check-off for email usage when dues are submitted.) The E.D. will work with K. Smith to up-date chapter information. He has applied for a national grant of $1500 for stylizing the web page. He distributed a proposed logo for the NYS AAUP web site. For communication with members, he suggested a forum with four categories.

   The E.D. further reported that N. Byrd has requested a representative from NYS for the Government Relations Committee. It was noted that three members of the NYS Conference are on the committee (Bentley, McCall, Schrecker). Hilbert College has formed an AAUP chapter. The E. D.read: At its session on June 28, 2007, Middle States commission on Higher Education acted: To reaffirm accreditation and to request a progress letter, due by April 1, 2009, documenting implementation of an organized, sustained process to assess the achievement of institutional, program-level, and general education student learning outcomes. The Periodic Review Report is due June 1, 2012. He urged voluntary compliance prior to its imposition from the outside.  He closed by saying that the Conference should determine topics and themes for subsequent meetings. Two possible topics are contingent faculty and student assessment of faculty teaching. The Conference agreed to the ED’s suggestion that the Minutes be circulated and approved as soon as possible after a meeting. Phil Gray’s position as a committee chair remains in status quo. The Conference should monitor the case for due process.  

   Recessed 6:45 PM

   Reconvened: Saturday, October 20, 2007 at 9:30 AM

   The E.D. continued his report by asking for suggestions about ways to communicate with members across the state. He displayed and demonstrated RIT’s off-campus website. It contains campus links, documents, resources, faculty and jobs. The site employs an open forum to discuss and resolve campus-wide matters. He then displayed and reviewed the NYS AAUP website.  

9. Report of the Editor of New York Academe (J. Krauss)* Report
   
   J. Krauss referred to two published editions and mentioned a dearth of information due to the current dysfunctional state legislature and the pending  State Higher Education Commission report.


10. Old Business
    
    none


11. AAUP Reorganization (E. Gellman)
    
    The restructuring, initiated by attorneys, is basically a change in the Association’s tax status from a public charity (501©3) to three interrelated organizations – a professional association with the same constitution as now exists, a public charity which will raise and distribute funds, and a labor organization, AAUP CBC, each with a separate constitution. The three constitutions will be presented to the Council in November; attorneys are currently consulting with the IRS. Dues will go to the AAUP professional association, but the CBC can set and raise its own dues. The CBC chapters will be chapters of AAUP. The organization will essentially look about the same to the membership. 
    
    
12. New Business
    
    
    1. St. John’s University (Giordano/Furfero)
       
       The University Administration is disciplining and dismissing faculty members (two suspensions without pay and other cases) without following formal procedures.  National AAUP has not responded effectively. The leadership of one campus union has denounced the faculty members and the campus chapter will not grieve. Irwin Yellowitz mentioned that the State Conference’s Committee A was not informed of the issue prior to National. Now it is too late for the conference to intervene. The contract has expired so the University could move to decertify a la a Yeshiva action since it is a private institution.
       
       It was suggested that individuals could bring charges to the NLRB on failure to represent. Elections are being held to unseat the current officers. Committee A staff should be queried about this chapter. (National Committee A might not support the chapter in that the Committee champions the Red Book over the local contract when the two differ.) The St. John’s representatives asked for a model chapter constitution and for Conference leaders attend a campus meeting in the Spring. Hofstra or CUNY might have to play host if the St. John’s administration does not permit an on-campus meeting.
    
    
    
    2. Manhattanville (Irene Whelan/Cecilia Winters)
       
       The representatives reported a dysfunctional campus situation. Chapter membership is dwindling. They have a dual affiliation with NYSUT and AAUP. NYSUT has provided free legal assistance and has intervened successfully in  cases of intimidation of the non-tenured faculty. The faculty took a vote of no confidence, and the Trustees are receptive. Changes are in the wind. 
       There is a window of opportunity to improve standing among the faculty and grow. Dues of $292 are collected and sent to NYSUT which allocates an amount to AAUP. The goal is to increase the membership, but faculty are bought off by the administration. Sixteen members have paid dues thus far.
       
       It was suggested that they use the vote of no confidence to rally and recruit faculty and create a recruitment campaign.
        
    3. Nominations Committee
       
       Pres. Goldberg appointed  Frank Higman (Niagara) chair and solicited volunteers. Pat Cihon (Syracuse) and Joyce Furfero (St. John’s) agreed to serve. Open offices are – president, vice president and two at-large members.
    
    
    
    4. Spring Meeting - April 18 and 19, 2008.
    
    
    
    5. Listserv
       
       The State Conference should find a way to get permission from members.
       Chapter leaders may be the focus, or it may be a hybrid of individual members and presidents. A coupon in NY Academe could offer either in print or on-line versions as a means of acquiring email addresses. UUP exceptions were stated and attempts will be made to resolve them.
      

Adjourned:  12:13 PM

*Written reports are linked in the body of the minutes.

Respectfully submitted by Cecelia McCall Secretary 10/22/07, additions/corrections completed 11/18/07

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