Category Archives: NTT

Raises in the UIC Union Contract: A Careful Look

A careful analysis of the raises in the faculty union contract at UIC shows that our colleagues in Chicago will make solid gains to their base salary: 6.75% over the past two years (2012-2014), and the campus salary program plus an additional 1% for next year (2014-15). Our analysis shows that the raise pool gainsContinue reading “Raises in the UIC Union Contract: A Careful Look”

Academic Freedom for Non-Tenure-Track Faculty: A Union Makes a Difference

Who decides what academic freedom means for non-tenure-track faculty?  What options do non-tenure-track faculty have when they are evaluated on criteria other than their job performance? According to the Statutes of the University of Illinois Board of Trustees: The commitment of the University of Illinois to the most fundamental principles of academic freedom, equality ofContinue reading “Academic Freedom for Non-Tenure-Track Faculty: A Union Makes a Difference”

Dear Alma| “I Am as Shocked as You Are”

Dear Alma, Is it true that the President of the Board of Trustees thinks that non-tenure-track faculty are hourly employees, with no expectation of academic freedom?  Does Mr. Kennedy think he can fire whomever he pleases? Signed,  Shocked Dear Shocked, It is true.  I am as shocked  as you are, because those words have aContinue reading “Dear Alma| “I Am as Shocked as You Are””

Major Gains for Adjunct Faculty at University of Oregon

  300 Adjuncts Gain Union Protections, Paths to Promotion and Sabbatical, New Titles   The new faculty union contract at the University of Oregon initiated a one-time reclassification process for adjunct faculty. The result is major gains for some 300 faculty, or 73 % of adjuncts, who have new rights under the contract and a newContinue reading “Major Gains for Adjunct Faculty at University of Oregon”

UNION CONTRACTS AT UIC: WHAT DID AND DID NOT HAPPEN

By the Campus Faculty Association Organizing Committee The faculty at the University of Illinois, Chicago have ratified their historic first union contracts. Here at UIUC, the campus debate about a faculty union has involved a lot of speculation about what the effects of unionizing would be. Now fact can replace speculation, and we can lookContinue reading “UNION CONTRACTS AT UIC: WHAT DID AND DID NOT HAPPEN”

Academic Freedom and Shared Governance: Support James Kilgore

Dear Colleagues, I am writing you to ask you to sign a petition in support of Dr. James Kilgore. James has been working as an adjunct faculty member in Global Studies and in the College of Fine and Applied Arts.  When he was hired to teach, James informed the University that he had served timeContinue reading “Academic Freedom and Shared Governance: Support James Kilgore”

Dear Alma| On Academic Freedom and Due Process

Dear Alma, What due process protections does the University offer to non-tenure-track faculty?  Can an NTT be fired for reasons that have nothing to do with job performance or departmental planning? Signed, Specialized Faculty. Dear SpeshFac, Alma took a thorough look at the Provost’s new Communication #25, on the treatment of non-tenure-track “specialized faculty.”   ItContinue reading “Dear Alma| On Academic Freedom and Due Process”

Dear Alma | Scarey Hypothetical

Dear Alma, If we have a union, what’s to keep departments from reducing everyone from full time to part time? Signed, Wondering Dear Wondering, Alma can’t recall in her 85 years ever hearing of a university administration reckless or stupid enough to convert its entire NTT faculty to part-time, especially to thwart the formation ofContinue reading “Dear Alma | Scarey Hypothetical”

Dear Alma| “Should”, “Shall” and “Will”

Dear Alma, I’m an NTT teaching writing, and I could use some help with a lesson on the conditional mode  for my students.  Can you give me a good example of the differences between “should,” shall” and “will”?   Thanks, Alma! Stumped Dear Stumped, I should understand what you’re talking about. I shall support the NTTContinue reading “Dear Alma| “Should”, “Shall” and “Will””

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””

CFA on “Specialized Faculty”

The Campus Faculty Association Comments on “Employment Guidelines for Specialized Faculty Holding Non-tenure System Positions” (Provost’s Communication XX) By: The CFA Non-Tenure-Track Organizing Committee Recently, a draft for “Employment Guidelines for Specialized Faculty Holding Non-tenure System Positions” was circulated by the Provost’s office.  It was briefly discussed in the Academic Senate and has been sentContinue reading “CFA on “Specialized Faculty””