MTU AAUP

Video of Senate Forum

If you missed the forum on February 12, you can watch it here: http://www.sas.it.mtu.edu/usenate/

For a summary of highlights, along with an index to where in the video they can be found, read the continuation of this post.

Shared governance — because Michigan Tech is not a corporation

Governance is truly shared only when agreed-upon policies cannot be violated with impunity. This is the crucial element that a faculty contract adds to agreements between the Senate and the university administration. Ensuring that these policy agreements are backed by legally binding contract provisions is our main priority in negotiating for a first contract with the administration.

Voodoo Economics

The contention that representation of faculty by the AAUP will necessarily cost the university upwards of $625,000 per year is based on flawed assumptions. While the administration has spent a lot of money over the past three years, most of these expenses were unnecessary and they definitely need not continue once a contract has been signed. With more reasonable assumptions, the cost to the university of dealing fairly with faculty should not be more than $110,000 per year. The ultimate cost of unfair dealings with faculty has been much higher, as the settlement of Professor Lantz's case illustrates.

For further explanation, read the continuation of this post.

The real dividends of AAUP representation

The petitioners for decertification have suggested that AAUP dues represent a "tax" on faculty. Instead, AAUP representation has already paid faculty dividends: lower health benefits cost than the rest of Michigan Tech employees, immediate university contributions to TIAA-CREF for new faculty, and an average 13 percent increase in salaries. For details, read the continuation of this post.

Letters in support of MTU-AAUP

Click on images to enlarge.

From Lisa C. Klein, Professor of Materials Science & Engineering, Rutgers.

From Thomas J. Peters, Professor of Computer Science and Engineering and Professor of Mathematics, University of Connecticut.

From Frank Owen, Professor of Mechanical Engineering, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.

Comments from Professors Mullins and Nelson

Mike Mullins, Professor of Chemical Engineering, calls on the petitioners to put more trust in their colleagues, and Professor Paul Nelson of the School of Business and Economics, similarly comments that "great" universities are run by the faculty, not the administration. See the emails in the continuation of this post.

Across-the-Board Increases Provide Floors, Not Ceilings

We are negotiating for across-the-board salary adjustments as one component of raises awarded to faculty. Research universities including those in the University of California system and the Florida system use across-the-board or cost-of-living adjustments to help raise the average salaries to attract good faculty. Governor Granholm has also recognized the value of minimum increases in her proposal for higher education funding for 2009 which provides for a 2.3 percent minimum increase to all universities.

For more specific information, read the continuation of this post.

Protecting academic freedom and tenure

The AAUP was founded in 1915 in order to protect academic freedom and tenure. In 1973, the AAUP adopted collective bargaining, stating that it is an effective instrument for achieving the basic purposes of the AAUP. At Michigan Tech, we have good reasons to believe that collective bargaining is essential to protecting tenure. For details, read the continuation of this post.

Does a faculty union protect incompetence?

As faculty ourselves, we, too, are concerned about faculty who appear to be a drain on their departments. For an explanation of how the AAUP will work with faculty and administrators to help ensure a competent and productive faculty, read the continuation of this post.

Research Universities with Collective Bargaining

Many top-ranked research universities have collective bargaining. In addition, all of Michigan Tech's peer institutions that can have collective bargaining do have collective bargaining. For details, read the continuation of this post.