Important Deadline for First Year Faculty

According to Article 4.4.2 of the contract, “up to three years' full-time service in other accredited colleges and universities may be applied toward the probationary period by written agreement of the concerned parties at the time of the member's initial appointment, or not later than the end of the first semester of a member's probationary service.”

This means that if you intend to count your full-time service at another university towards your tenure clock, you must make the agreement in writing before the end of this semester.  There is no specific form for this process; rather, you send a letter to your department chair.

Before you write the letter, there are some important considerations in making the decision:

§ You must go up for a tenure evaluation in whatever year will be considered your 6th year.  That may mean being reviewed in the middle of your third year here.  Make sure that you will have the support necessary to make your case.

§ You may go up for tenure evaluation early (before your six year) with no penalty.  Check with your department for their advice on this issue.

§ The request for prior credit will also affect when you are eligible for promotion.  For promotion from assistant to associate professor, you are eligible after 5 years in rank.  However, you may decline the opportunity to be evaluated for promotion.  You would be eligible then again the next year.

After careful consideration, if you decide you want to proceed, send a letter to your department chair that includes the following statement:

"Pursuant to Article 4.4.2 of the AAUP Collective Bargaining Agreement, I request that  ___  years of my full-time service at  ________  College/University be applied to my probationary period." 

You should also attach a copy of any supporting material.  Your chair will then forward the request to the Dean who will send it to the Academic Vice President for final approval.

It took me about four years to understand all of this, so if you have any questions, stop by, call, or e-mail me.  I know it can be a difficult decision.  —Katy Wiss v
 

A Question of Fairness

If full-time faculty were compensated at the same rate as part-time faculty at WCSU:

§ They would earn between $23,952 and $28,080 annually.
§ They would have no paid health & limited retirement benefits.
§ They would most likely have no office, computer, or phone.
§ Yet, they would teach up to 50% of the courses in some departments.

Equal work deserves equal pay. 
Campus Equity Week is a series of coordinated events in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.  CEW's purpose is to draw attention to the growing dependence of higher education on part-time (contingent) faculty, and the consequences—for the quality of higher education, for the future of our profession, and for the lives of faculty members hired as contingent employees.

Teachers' working conditions are students' learning conditions. 
At the September 24 AAUP chapter meeting, we chose to focus on educating the campus community for Campus Equity Week.  Are you willing to staff a table during lunch in the Student Center the week of October 27-31st?  If so, contact Heather Finn, Chapter Staff, AAUP, 111 White Hall, 837-9235 or aaupw@wcsu.edu to help.  KW v
 

In addition to being a well-informed and engaging speaker, Dr. Snyder is currently Associate Secretary for Planning and Development at AAUP.  He is the former President of Molloy College in New York and the former Director for Academic Freedom & Professional Standards at AAUP.  Please come and participate in this important conversation.

Not Receiving our E-mail?

Although we really do try to keep our e-mail to the membership to a minimum, we still need to communicate some important ideas quickly in between newsletters.  If you have not been getting our e-mail, let us know at aaupw@wcsu.edu.  We will add you to the distribution list.  This is especially important for our part-time members who may not have WCSU accounts. 

Conversely, if you would rather not receive these communiqués, let us know at the same e-mail address.  KW v
 

Change in TRS Retiree Earnings Limitation

For any faculty members who participate in the Teachers Retirement System (TRS):  the post retirement earnings limitation for re-employed retired members has been changed from 45% of the "entry salary level" to 45% of the "maximum salary level", on a school year basis (7/1-6/30).  TRS does not recognize summer school earnings as regular earnings for TRS purposes, the summer school earnings would not apply to the 45% earnings limitation.  KW v