Dear Alma, I am a non-tenure track faculty member and I’m now quite visibly pregnant. So far, I have not been issued a teaching contract for next year, and I think my condition will factor into the Department Chair’s decision about a new contract for me. I haven’t spoken about this yet with him/her becauseContinue reading “Dear Alma| Questions about Pregnancy and Leave”
Category Archives: Dear Alma
Dear Alma| Help for “Befuddled”
Dear Alma, I hear that the Academic Senate will soon receive a report from a special ad-hoc committee on compensation and benefits. But, the Senate already has a committee charged with reviewing compensation and benefits. What’s with all the multiplying? If the Senate Executive Committee gave birth to a new committee, why didn’t we get a newContinue reading “Dear Alma| Help for “Befuddled””
Dear Alma| An answer for “Happy”
Dear Alma, I’m NTT, but I’m compensated well for the work I do and I have a good working relationship with the tenure-stream faculty in my unit, particularly my head. Won’t a union lower my status and make those relationships adversarial? Happy W. Whattigot Dear Happy, Glad that you are in the well-compensated minority ofContinue reading “Dear Alma| An answer for “Happy””
Dear Alma: Help for “Scared”
Dear Alma — is it true that if there’s a union at UIUC, I’ll be forced to join it? — Scared of Jimmy Hoffa Dear Scared — No, you do not have to join the union unless you want to. It is true that under law, the faculty union will have a duty to representContinue reading “Dear Alma: Help for “Scared””
Dear Alma| Logical fallacies about really good universities; wacky salary scales
Dear Alma — Is it true that there are no really good universities with unions? — Gotya Thisthyme Dear Gotya (if that is your real name) — This is a tricky question. Faculty at private universities in all states, and public universities in many states are not legally allowed to unionize, so the universe forContinue reading “Dear Alma| Logical fallacies about really good universities; wacky salary scales”
Dear Alma| “Very Special” and “Statis N. Xiety”
Dear Alma — I’ve heard it said that “non-tenure track faculty is a contradiction in terms.” What could this possibly mean? — A very special faculty member. Dear Spesh – Don’t know what it could mean. In our view, any person who is paid to teach a course at this university is a member ofContinue reading “Dear Alma| “Very Special” and “Statis N. Xiety””
Dear Alma: “Concerned Student”
Dear Alma, I keep hearing that union supporters don’t care about students, and that a union will drive tuition up even higher. What’s your take on this? — Concerned Student Eating Ramen Dear C.S. — We certainly care about students and their educations: many of us got involved with CFA because we are concernedContinue reading “Dear Alma: “Concerned Student””
Dear Alma | Help for “Frightened” and “Redecorating”
Dear Alma, I am a lecturer who supports the union of non-tenure-track faculty at UIUC, but I’m frightened that my decision might cost me my job. Can my colleagues and I be disciplined for talking about a union at work? Signed, Frightened in Freer Dear Frightened, The answer is No. You and your colleagues haveContinue reading “Dear Alma | Help for “Frightened” and “Redecorating””
Dear Alma| Curious
Dear Alma — I keep hearing that CFA’s union organizing campaign is a secret, underground movement. Kind of like an infiltration of subversives in trenchcoats. But you have hundreds of members and supporters. What’s up? – Curious about Conspiracies Dear Curious – Back in the day, there were three of us. Our plan was to dig aContinue reading “Dear Alma| Curious”
Dear Alma | Prof. Newby
Dear Alma — is it okay for a senior faculty member to call me into his office and talk to me about how bad a union would be for our department? Signed, Prof. Newby Dear Prof. Newby, One of the great things about a university is that anybody can talk to anyone about anything. OfContinue reading “Dear Alma | Prof. Newby”
Dear Alma | Ambitious
Dear Alma, My department head says that if we have a faculty union then she could no longer negotiate a retention deal with me… Could this be true? Truly, Ambitious Dear Ambitious, It’s wonderful to hear you hope to stay at Illinois even if you get a terrific outside offer. Is it the scenery thatContinue reading “Dear Alma | Ambitious”
