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Connecting
Lisa Klein, President of Rutgers Council of AAUP Chapters, AAUP-AFT, Professor in Ceramic and Materials Engineering
Welcome back to the start of the academic year. Let's jump right into the important issue of the moment, and that is to respond to the Transforming Undergraduate Education Report. Here are some of my thoughts to begin the discussion. Additionally we are forming a committee to make sure that AAUP has appropriate input, and we welcome your thoughts.
As the academic year begins, it is important for everyone to consider the Undergraduate Report and its impact in our community. Always eager to reconnect with students I read the Undergraduate Report looking for how to connect. I saw the word connect everywhere, but what I didn’t see was how.
As I read each section, the question that comes to my mind is how? How will a single admissions program, or single honors program, or a single ethics code help me to connect to students? I’m all for having uniform policies and opportunities for all students to participate in all programs, but what does this have to do with connecting?
As the years go by, I have less time to connect to students due to mounting administrative responsibilities. I assemble all my own course materials. I enter my own purchase orders. I print my own rosters. I’ve become an expert at multitasking. As a result my face time with students has suffered. So, how does this new undergraduate plan help me to reconnect? With professors taking on the responsibilities that assistant deans did in the colleges, the multitasking accelerates.
Approximately 50% of the introductory classes are taught by non-tenure-track faculty. This includes part-time lecturers, adjunct faculty, and teaching assistants. These are the faculty members that students are face to face with every day. How does the report plan to connect the students with these members of our campus community?
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Faculty Governance Rights – If You Don’t Use Them, You Risk Losing Them
What happens when faculty don’t exercise their right to participate in and contribute to the variety of tasks required in a system of shared governance? The administration steps in to do the job. Read More
More From the Grievance Department
Annual Appointees’ Rights to Notice of Non-Reappointment Attacked President McCormick Rejects Opinion and Award of Arbitrator - Reaffirming Need for Binding Arbitration Read more
NJ Superior Court Hears Rutgers’ Appeal of AAUP’s Right to Negotiate Changes to Patent Policy Read more
Update on Personnel Actions and Grievances:
Beginning in April each year, following the meetings of the Board of Governors, the AAUP-AFT is notified of personnel actions across the University. Read more
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The Choice is Clear - Jon Corzine for Governor
Senator Jon Corzine has a clear vision for the future of higher education and deserves our support as the next Governor of New Jersey. His policies include increased student aid, investment in university research and infrastructure, equity for part-time faculty, employee representation on governing boards, and respect for academic freedom and faculty governance. Read More
Higher Education Organizations Endorse Corzine For Governor
Jon Corzine’s Plan for Greater Affordability & Greater Opportunities in Higher Education
The Edison Innovation Fund: Jon Corzine’s Plan to Make Smart Investments in Research and Development
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General Assembly Candidates Support Higher Education
On Nov. 8, we must send legislators to Trenton who are committed to working with us to resolve the issues of affordability and accessibility in higher education. Our elected representatives to the State Assembly must stand with us in support of higher education funding. Read more
Endorsement of General Assembly Candidates
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Rutgers AAUP-AFT Response to Hurricane Katrina
The devastation brought on by Hurricane Katrina is fraught with destruction and despair. As union members, educators, and family members we all have an obligation to step in and help. Read More
AFT Katrina – Union Community Fund
More from the AFL-CIO Bush Uses Disaster to Ram Through Low-Wage Work Sign the Petition for Decent Pay in the Gulf Coast
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Contract Enforcement Survey
Rutgers AAUP-AFT will be conducting brief monthly surveys of the bargaining units with an eye toward monitoring implementation of the collective agreements. This first month's survey focuses on members' titles and status within the unit. Completing it will take only a few minutes. The results will help us determine if titles and unit membership are being correctly assigned. Individual responses will be kept confidential. Please take a moment now to complete the survey by clicking on this link.
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Update from Executive Council
The Executive Council of the Rutgers Council of AAUP Chapters, AAUP-AFT has passed the following resolutions at its September 21 meeting:
1. Support of NYU Graduate Student Union
2. Against the Practice of Selling Complimentary Textbooks
The next executive council meeting is on October 18th at 9:30am at the Labor Education Center.
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