NEW YORK STATE AAUP ANNUAL FALL CONFERENCE 2008
Friday, October 17-18, 2008 at Hilbert College
Present:
Present: Fri.,Oct 17: Lenore Beaky (L.B.), LGCC/CUNY; Patrick Cihon (P. C.), Syracuse; Stephen Goldberg (S. G.), Adlephi; Frank Higman (F.H.), Niagara; Jeanette Jeneault (J. J.), Syracuse; Jeffrey Kraus (J. K.), Wagner; Cecelia McCall (C. M.), Baruch/CUNY; Thomas Policano (T. P.), RIT; Irwin Yellowitz (I. Y.), CCNY/CUNY.
4:30: Jeffrey Baker (RIT), Richard Dowds (D’Youville), Somnath Pal (St. Johns), Vinny Tirelli (CUNY), Suzanne Wagner, NULTA; Hilbert - Kate Eskew, Denise Brill, Sandra Augustine, Michael Bonilla
Sat., Oct 18:Fred Floss, UUP; Steve Street, UUP; Joan Crouse, Hilbert College.
Proceedings
1. President Stephen Goldberg convened the meeting at 1:35, Oct 17, 2008.
2. The Minutes of Spring 2008 were moved (Yellowitz/Beaky) and approved with editorial corrections.
3. President’s Report, S. Goldberg (S. G.)
President Goldberg reported: Absent a written report, he stated that it has been a quiet period. Rensselaer – faculty senate has been dissolved but issues may be resolved. Ithaca College – tenure issue has arisen, but it has not come to AAUP.
Jeanine Plottel, former executive director and current trustee of Barnard College, may be able to attend the downstate meeting in the spring.
4. Vice President’s Report, Kathleen Smith (K. S.)*
In her absence, President Goldberg reported, mentioning that she has accepted an administrative position at Molloy as of January 2009 but will remain vice president of the state conference until the spring meeting. S. G. mentioned that he is serving a third term and is ineligible to run again for the presidency of the conference.
Commentary
L. B. – referred to the non-CBC members listed on the report at CUNY’s City College and Hunter College; as well the UUP other chapter members were referenced by S. G.; P. C. noted that Niagara paid dues for 164 members while 142 are listed in the report. The names of the CUNY 14 non CB members will be sent to C. McCall for verification. A representative of UUP will also receive their list for the same purpose..
Motion to accept the report carried.
5. Report of Treasurer, Pat Cihon (P. C.)*
P. Cihon reported on the 2008 Actual Budget, which has a deficit of $8,816 due to the late remittance of reimbursements by the national office.
2009 Budget: income of $70,999; expenses of $81,725; deficit of $10,734.
P. C. mentioned that no Conference money are invested in CDs. Expenses will increase largely because of Academe and salary. He mentioned the $1.00 increase in state dues from $18.00 to $19.00.
Commentary
The deficit is real and will be a problem eventually unless the national office remits the appropriate reimbursements to the Conference. Suggestions for reducing expenses were floated – different venue for the meetings, teleconferencing, fewer issues of NY Academe.
Suggestions for reducing Academe expenses: fewer pages, an electronic version for a savings of 50%.
Motion to approve the 2009 budget carried (Jeneault/Beaky).
6. Reports and Plans of Standing Committees
- Committee A on Academic Freedom and Tenure (I. Yellowitz)*
To raise the visibility of the committee many suggestions were previously made without yielding any inquiries. Prof. Yellowitz suggested a session on academic freedom at a subsequent meeting. On the survey (fewer responses than usual), he reported that there seem to be few academic freedom issues in NYS as opposed to other state conferences such as Ohio; however, responses to the survey indicate that issues are not being reported to the state AAUP. National is overwhelmed with academic freedom cases but can handle only a fraction of them, while state conference committees receive few if none. He suggested that he, President Goldberg, and the three National Councilors from this region meet with the new director of the national committee and work out a procedure for cooperation between the state conferences and the national committee. Local issues were raised by J. J., L. B. and
P. C.
L. B. Was asked to poll other Council members about the feasibility of a meeting with national and S. G. will talk to Committee A members about availability for such a meeting. Jeff Krauss suggested that an article on Academic Freedom be published in NY Academe and addressed to members with a notation that Committee A members are available to chapters and individuals. Materials will be sent to the chapters with the next survey.
b. Committee on Chapter Members and Dues (K. Smith)*
S. G reported above.
c. Committee on Minorities in the Profession (Grace Vernon)
T. P. will elicit her interest in serving or be removed as chair.
d. Committee on Government Relations: Patricia Bentley & Jeff Kraus
J. K. reported that Pres Bush signed the HEA reauthorization; a bill has been introduced in Congress that offers the protections of NLRA to graduate students.
e. Committee on College and University Governance: Frank Higman
none
f. Committee on the Economic Status of the Profession: Deborah Dolan
Professor Dolan has an administrative position; a new chair needs to be found.
g. Committee on Women in the Academic Profession: Patricia Bentley
none
h. Committee on Retirement: Martin Kaplan
none
i. Committee on Contingent Faculty: Jeanette Jeneault
J. J. reported that a new organization, the North East COCAL, is in the process of formation. Its first conference will be in August 2009 in Albany, NY. The purpose of the organization is advocacy for part-timers and lobbying. J. J. was elected Communications Chair of the organization. She announced that members of the state conference Committee on Contingent Faculty are Marcia Newfield and Steve Street.
7. Reports of Councils
a. The Independent Council
none
b. The CUNY Council: Cecelia McCall & Lenore Beaky
C. M. and L. B. reported on the contract settlement and the CUNY administrationsacceptance of forced cuts of $50 million. I. Y. mentioned the urgency of closing negotiations in order to obtain a pay bill before the legislature adjourned on June 21.
c. The SUNY Council: Eileen Landy
none
d. The Collective Bargaining Council: Estelle Gellman
none
e. National Report: Lenore Beaky
L. B. reported that there are implementation issues related to the restructuring of the national organization. The new secretary general, Gary Rhoades’ tenure begins in January 2009. The University of New Haven has been censured for the firing of a contingent faculty member. It has been proposed that a third of the National Council be elected nationally as opposed to regionally. NYS would lose one Council member. S. G. stated that every state conference should have an opportunity to discuss the proposal. L. B. was asked to express to the Council the NYS’s concerns and ask that no change be made without giving the state conferences "substantial time to review and discuss any proposed changes...." (see below).
8. The Report of the Executive Director (Tom Policano)*
T. P. reported that he had participated in the selection of a new computer system to track membership. He tries to be timely in updating the information on the web. The web forum had security problems, was shut down, and then re-opened. The problem at RPI is of a governance nature not academic freedom. T. P. will speak to the president of the faculty for suggestions as well as the president of the faculty senate for a resolution. Cary Nelson asked state conferences to reduce dues for new members. He said that the summer institute was a good networking opportunity. David Linton has offered Marymount as the site of the spring meeting.
On the Kaplan resolution (spring meeting) - T.P. did follow up with the parties mentioned. Estelle Gelman suggested that it be brought to the annual meeting. S. G. asked that a record of outreach be submitted to the Secretary.
9. Old Business
none
10. New Business
Motion (Policano/Krauss): The spring meeting be held at Marymount Manhattan College under the condition that there be a site coordinator.
Discussion of cost considerations of housing and transportation ensued. Dates for the meeting were established with April 17 &18, 2009 prioritized and 24 & 25 set as back up dates.
11. Report of the Editor of New York Academe (Jeff Krauss)
Two issues have been published; the next issue is early January which will include information on the state budget and mention of the next meeting. Turning over distribution of an electronic newsletter to the national office is problematic.
Open Meeting: Meeting: 4:30
Discussion
NYS Conference members introduced themselves to the new attendees from various campuses. S. G. asked about the local situations: At D’Youville, there have been protracted contract negotiations due to cost of health care; they agreed to a one year contract with a salary increase on average of 5.8%; negotiations on second two years of the contract are on-going, but the president reneged and has offered a lower salary package. An unfair labor practice action can not be filed because of Yeshiva; faculty political action might be taken. Rudy Fichtenburg was mentioned as a resource for the chapter. Hilbert has full-time and part-time non tenured faculty, all are contingent; the provisions of the rolling contracts were changed unilaterally by the administration; the handbook that is in development and needs to be completed could be a rallying point for the faculty. They were urged to contact national for help with the handbook and to submit it to T. Policano for review. Employment renewal is at-will. Niagara – achieved a reduced teaching load from 4/4 to 3/3 over four years, pre-negotiations shared faculty-administrative committees, agreement to negotiate issues that the committees dealt with. RIT – adjuncts do not have representation.
Recessed: 6:10
Dinner: 7:30-10:30
Vinny Tirelli was the guest speaker at the dinner session. He spoke of the newly formed Northeast COCAL and related C. Wright Mills’ epochs in his Power Elite to the conditions in academia that have led to the disempowerment of tenured faculty and the growth of contingent labor. The umbrella COCAL organization was formed in 1996 when graduate students at George Washington University organized. He believes that a new era is emerging and the political system changing with a new alignment on the horizon.
Saturday, Oct 18, 2008
President Goldberg reconvened the meeting on Saturday, October 18 at 9:10
1. President Goldberg reintroduced the discussion of an electronic version of the newsletter, Academe: Jeff Krauss said that the main expense is printing (6000 copies). A number of journals have converted to a digital format. Costs would be reduced substantially (approximately $9000 a year), but members would have to be induced to go to the web. A postcard may have to be sent to members to alert them to go to the web for the newsletter.
Commentary
The print version could still be offered to those who prefer it or members could be polled for their preference. Saving will not be made if the conference offers too many options. If the national office is asked to distribute the paper, the mailing may not be accurate. The national office has offered to send to the NYS Conference information to our membership in lieu of not sharing email lists. An electronic newsletter may be appealing to younger members and also attract additional members. J. K. suggested one more print edition that announces the possibility of moving to a digital paper. Responses would be requested via coupon or the web.
2. Elections – replacement of Kathy Smith as vice president and other officers whose terms have expired will occur at the spring meeting. Nominations will be published in Academe. S. G. appointed a Nominating Committee of Frank Higman and Jenette Jeneault. S. G. announced that Lenore Beaky was nominated for a second term on the National Council and Jeff Krauss for a first term.
.
3. Discussion - At-large nominations to the National Council, Lenore Beaky (L. B.) L. B. reported that there is a proposal from the National Council to elect a third of that body at-large as opposed to regionally. The proposal has been submitted to Committee O and will be on the agenda of the next Council meeting.
Proposal: Nine seats at the next election will be at-large; thereafter, each district would elect two seats not three.
Commentary
It seems that at-large membership would allow either wider representation from a region or a voting bloc. At-large elections can dilute groups. It may be an attempt to create a more prestigious National Council.
Motion on the National Council’s Proposal for the Election of At-large Members (Krauss/Cihon) carried:
Whereas, the New York State Conference of AAUP has been informed of potential changes in the composition of the Council; and
Whereas, such changes have significant implications for the governance of the organization; and
Whereas such reorganization should be approved only after a proposal is widely disseminated and the membership of the organization has the opportunity to review and discuss said changes prior to the final vote; therefore, be it
Resolved that the New York State Conference of AAUP urge the National Council to provide members and state conferences substantial time to review and discuss any proposed changes to the Council before they are submitted to the Annual Meeting for consideration.
6. Motion on COCAL (Jeneault/Policano) carried:
Be it resolved that the NYS Conference support the activities of the newly formed organization, Northeast-COCAL, including organizational help, advocacy, and publicity in New York Academe.
7. Panel Discussion 10:40
Members - Jenette Jeneault (Syracuse), Jeffrey Baker (RIT), Vinny Tirelli (CUNY), Kate Eskew (Hilbert), Steve Street (UUP)
Jenette Jeneault introduced the panel. Kate Eskew spoke to the lack of a formal tenure process at Hilbert where there are only rolling contracts. Hilbert is an at-will-employment college. The faculty senate is concerned about the impact that “at-will” and lack of tenure may have on recruitment of younger faculty since many in the current cohort are nearing retirement. They are developing a new faculty handbook and are concerned about building protections into it so that conditions are not changed without faculty in-put. They will be mindful of including language that protects adjuncts. Jeffrey Baker works at RIT and a community college represented by NYSUT. He mentioned the differences between the two colleges, one with protections (NYSUT local), the other without. The economics of commuting vs. low salary have to be considered. The law of supply and demand is at work. A survey of adjuncts at RIT indicates that only 53% are employed full-time, 30% have no health insurance, 42% are sole supporters of their families. The university does not contribute to the supplementary retirement plan. At the community college, the pay increase for part-timers was half that negotiated for full timers. Vinny Tirelli mentioned the CUNY situation where full and part-timers are in the same union. The union achieved a paid office hour for adjuncts. In California, adjuncts have a separate unit. COCAL is modeled on California. Campus Equity Week is a major focus. He referred to creative chaos. Northeast COCAL is in organization as a regional entity. Steve Street referred to the assumption of inferiority even though lip service is given to the demand for job security and higher pay. He mentioned two studies that have led to charges that adjuncts fuel the drop-out rate (Andrea Jaeger and Daniel Jacoby). Jenette Jeneault mentioned activist strategies – to form alliances with other campus unions through strategies such as co-sponsored events, joint picketing, open fora, speak outs, etc.; also other strategies of setting up a virtual union office if the administration refuses space, slam lobbying, publicizing the hidden healthcare costs to tax payers of underpaid adjuncts, including food stamps
Commentary
Students have greater access to full-time faculty than part-timers; findings of the studies mentioned by Street may be correlative but not causative; “the elephant in the room” is the declining support for public institutions which results in cost-cutting and the growth of contingent faculty; the issue is to break the cycle of driving out full-time faculty and breaking tenure. It may be time to look anew at the corporate model. It was stated that full-timers should help organize the part-timers so that they have a stronger voice. A goal should be to restore the university to the collegial model. It was suggested that part-timers should collect data to support their assertions. The changing demographics of the United States and the decline of the middle class were cited. The challenge to the traditional academy by on-line degree granting institutions was mentioned.
President Goldstein thanked the organizers of the meeting and adjourned the session at 12:10.
*Written reports are linked.
Respectfully submitted by Cecelia McCall Secretary 10/23/08, additions/corrections completed ...
Top
|
