The big story this week is that SEIU’s membership has voted, overwhelmingly, to approve a strike. Negotiations continue. — Bruce
1. SEIU news
http://www.dailyillini.com/news/campus/article_a1408ab6-680e-11e2-99e7-001a4bcf6878.html
http://www.news-gazette.com/news/politics-and-government/2013-01-25/seiu-authorizes-strike.html
More from the DI: from Megan, from the CFA and from a student columnist:
http://www.dailyillini.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/article_592c895e-6512-11e2-ad9f-001a4bcf6878.html
http://www.dailyillini.com/opinion/columns/article_b809c27c-6696-11e2-9c5c-0019bb30f31a.html
Relevant quote: “Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will. Find out just what a people will submit to, and you have found out the exact amount of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them” — Frederick Douglass.
The American Association of University Professors has released the final version of a report urging colleges to give contingent faculty members an expanded role in governance, arguing that excluding such employees from governance matters is detrimental to the integrity of the academic profession.
3. Most of the pension work is going on behind the scenes I’m sure.
http://www.sj-r.com/breaking/x1578914071/State-unions-propose-pension-summit
http://capitolfax.com/2013/01/25/credit-rating-downgraded-by-sp/
4. The new Chicago center seems to be designed not to divert resources from current C-U activities, but it does divert opportunities. See also 1/24 and 1/25 below.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/breaking/chi-tech-research-center-linked-to-u-of-i-slated-for-chicago-20130123,0,7474444.story
5. Our weekly MOOC reports.
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/survey/skepticism-about-tenure-moocs-and-presidency-survey-provosts
This is also in 1/23 below if you don’t subscribe to the NYT.
“Because today’s free samples are tomorrow’s clientele” — Tom Lehrer, The old dope peddler.
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2013/01/25/public-universities-use-moocs-steer-students-traditional-credit-pathways
6. Administration comings and goings: Avijit Ghosh is candidate for president of U North Iowa and the politics behind the appointment of our new Trustees.
http://wcfcourier.com/news/local/update-uni-names-second-presidential-candidate/article_5c017984-66ff-11e2-a495-0019bb2963f4.html
http://capitolfax.com/2013/01/22/behind-the-moves-and-odds-and-ends/
From: http://www.uillinois.edu/our/news/summary.cfm
1/22 — pp.1-4 (various) On new Trustee Patrick Fitzgerald
1/22 — pp.29-31 (IHE) “New Purdue president outlines critique of higher education” [That’s ex-gov Daniels (R-IN).]
1/22 — pp.45-46 (Telegram?) There is a mandatory student fee at Worcester State called a “parking/pedestrian access fee”. Students have to pay to walk on campus.
1/23 — p.2 (Trib) More from Daniels (R-Purdue).
1/23 — pp.3-4 (NYT) “Public universities to offer free online classes for credit”, see #5 above.
1/24 — pp.1-7 (various) — Coverage of the new UI Chicago center
1/24 — pp. 8-11 (NG) — Amusingly in juxtaposition: “Technology taking away more jobs than it creates”
1/24 — p.17 (Sun-Times) editorial in which paying obligated pensions is called a “disaster”
1/24 — p.33 (MIT Tech) — editorial on MIT internal review, re: Aaron Swartz
1/25 — pp.1-7 (various) UI tuition hike
1/25 — pp.1-10 (various) More on new center
1/25 — pp.17-18 (IHE) More on MOOCs, see above.
Campus Faculty Association 