Welcome to Akron-AAUP

Higher Learning Commission Report on UA is Now Available

You'll recall that the University of Akron received a commission-mandated focused visit April 28 and 29 by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The HLC focused on two issues: outcomes assessment and institutional governance.  The commission's final report is now available in two parts.  Follow these links to read the Assurance and the Advancement sections.  The latter is of particular interest to faculty.

"Yet there remains a need to develop structures and processes that support systematic and sustainable shared governance that includes faculty.  At the time of this visit, there were promising but as-yet-unrealized signs that such processes can be developed...

...and to help the institution prepare for its next comprehensive review, we recommend that the University submit to the Higher Learning Commission a progress report on shared institutional governance" 

-Higher Learning Commission, Report of a Focused Visit, Assurance Section,  II,E (pg 10)

Items in the Current Newsletter

-Information on market adjustments and merit increases

-Faculty Development grants through ITL

-Grievance is Filed over Rejection of Philosophy Department's RTP Guidelines

-Fall Election of Liaisons and Liaison Reps to the Executive Committee

-A Note on the Recent AAUP Summer Institute

-Kent State and Wright State have Ratified Their New Contracts

-Ohio State, Kent State, Cleveland State, Miami U., Ohio U., U of Toledo, Youngstown State, The U of Cinncinnatti, Wright State and CCC all have Domestic Partner Benefits.  

The University of Akron does not.

Read this issue here.

Akron-AAUP Week: Oct 6-10

The Law and Academic Freedom    

Rachel Levinson, Senior Counsel, AAUP National:      October 7,  2:00 P.M.   Student Union.

New Faculty Reception

October 8th, 2:00 P.M.    Immediately following: Fall chapter membership meeting at 3:00 P.M.

The Law and Domestic Partner Benefits

Mark Spindelman, Ohio State University Moritz College of Law.  October 9th, 3:00 P.M. in the UA School of Law.

An Award for Akron-AAUP

At the June Meeting of the Assembly of State Conferences your Akron-AAUP received a national award for Outstanding Chapter Website.  We shared this honor with colleagues at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.  This is truly a group effort, so congratulations to all!

Of course, this means it's time for cleanup and extensive revisions. Your web team will gladly receive suggestions as well as all offers of help.

UA Faculty at the  2008 AUUP Summer Institute in Kingston, RI

Last year the chapter funded three faculty members to go to Reno, Nevada for three days of intensive training and focused workshops at the annual AAUP Summer Institute. This year Akron-AAUP was well represented again with 8 members of the faculty in attendance at The University of Rhode Island at Kingston. In addition to attending some informative sessions on the history of AAUP, government relations, trends in faculty status, etc., your colleagues participated in rigorous training workshops on Contract Negotiations and Grievance Procedures.

Professors Aby and Witt lead a workshop on Communications and Public Relations Campaigns.  Professor Lyons lead a workshop on Conflict Resolution.

Though training sessions can be rigorous the Institute is by no means 'all work and no play.'  Friday evening featured an old-fashioned New England clam bake.  Saturday evening presented the option of a ferry ride to Newport for a little touring and dinner, or a bus tour of Newport mansions.

Robbie, our Bake Master

Newport, Rhode Island

The Summer Institute is educational, inspirational and is a great opportunity to learn from and share experience with issues common to faculty across the country. We recommend the Summer Institute to all.

By the way, your AAUP chapter is held in high regard by faculty, and even by administrators, at other institutions.  The developing relationship between UA faculty and administration remains a subject of close attention and great interest to the entire academic community of the U.S.  We find this gratifying, indeed.

And, From the 2007 Institute: Academic Freedom

Last year's Institute opened with a session on "Academic Freedom and the First Amendment" presented by Rachel Levinson, Senior Counsel for the National AAUP.  With Rachel's kind permission we post for your perusal a copy of the notes distributed to all who attended.  You can get a copy here.  It's worth a look.

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