November 16, 2007

Chapters observe Campus Equity Week

UUP activists from chapters around the state — including Beth Wilson of New Paltz, above — joined thousands of other higher education colleagues in holding Campus Equity Week (Oct. 29-Nov.2) events to educate the public and policymakers on issues of fairness and quality related to part-time faculty in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

Members of unions affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) delivered their message to lawmakers, college administrators, colleagues and the media that the over-reliance on and inequities faced by part-time and contingent faculty have a negative effect on all members of the campus community.

“Our part-timers do a great job, but receive less pay for doing much of the same work performed by full-timers,” said UUP President Bill Scheuerman, an AFT vice president. “Our part-time academic and professional faculty deserve better.”

UUP chapters observed Campus Equity Week (CEW) in diverse ways:

• At New Paltz, photos of UUP part-timer members and their written testimonials took center stage at the Jacobsen Faculty Tower. UUPer Beth Wilson, an adjunct in the art history department, wrote: “I love working here. I just wish I could pay the mortgage on what I earn!” The chapter also asked passersby to sign a petition opposing the campus policy that puts a two-course per semester cap on part-time instructors.

• At Oneonta, the centerpiece of CEW was a two-hour forum that tackled the future agenda of the local campus. The forum included discourse on conditions, compensation and resources for part-timers. Printed CEW materials and buttons were also distributed.

• At Morrisville, the union’s monthly “coffee hour” in the student center focused on part-timer concerns. Members were able to review the handouts and, if donning a UUP pin, were given a free coffee and bagel.

• At Oswego, three members penned a letter to the campus newspaper, citing an American Association of University Professors report stating that 65 percent of higher ed faculty are now in contingent positions. Buttons and literature were also distributed.

• At Geneseo, all part-time academic and professional faculty received a letter from the union, along with a gift certificate to a campus café. According to Chapter President Meg Stolee, Geneseo’s part-timers can be assured that “the union is committed to bringing attention to the disparities they face.”

 “We’ve come a long way, but work remains to be done,” Scheuerman said. “Our list of accomplishments shows what can be done when the 33,000 members of UUP work together as one.”

— Karen L. Mattison