Committees and Councils 

Application for Committee/Council Chair/Membership
Committee A

Chair:  Irwin Yellowitz
iyellowitz@aol.com

Academic freedom protects all faculty members, tenured or untenured.  If a faculty member in New York State has experienced, or is threatened with, a violation of academic freedom, or of the tenure rights which sustain it, the members of New York Committee A on Academic Freedom and Tenure are ready to help.  We are prepared to receive complaints and provide advice about possible courses of action.

If there is an AAUP chapter, you should approach it first.  The leaders of the chapter know the situation on campus, and they may be able to mediate.  They also can provide valuable advice.  If there is a collective bargaining agreement in place, the grievance procedure may cover the issue.  This will provide an important source of support.

If there is no AAUP chapter, or should the chapter be unable to help, you may approach New York Committee A on Academic Freedom and Tenure.  We will be available to discuss the issues fully, and to offer advice.  NY Committee A also may recommend to National Committee A of AAUP that it consider your issue.

We will discuss the issues and actions thoroughly with the faculty member.  This involves telephone conversations, e-mail exchanges, and a full examination of the available documentary record.  Faculty members should keep accurate and complete records of all relevant correspondence, telephonic and electronic communications, and meetings with colleagues and administrators.

Our counsel is based on AAUP guidelines and our own experience.  (See AAUP Policy Documents and Reports, 11th Edition, 2015, “The Redbook”.) We offer advice on whether the procedures of the institution meet established academic practice, and whether they have been applied properly.   We offer advice on whether the actions taken or contemplated have a prima facie aura of discrimination or malice.  Our advice helps faculty members understand their situations better, allows them to maximize the effectiveness of internal institutional procedures, and clarifies the realistic possibilities for outside action.

When NY Committee A believes that a violation of AAUP policies or standards has occurred, it may

– try to arrange a settlement,

– investigate the matter, and/or

– refer the complaint to National AAUP Committee A with a recommendation for a full investigation and appropriate action.

Finally, at any time, you may approach National Committee A on Academic Freedom and Tenure.  However, once you do so, NY Committee A will step aside.  It is the policy of NY Committee A not to become involved in any matter that has been reviewed, or is under review, by National Committee A.

Thus, AAUP offers a variety of means for a faculty member to get valuable advice, and perhaps ultimately to have AAUP intervene in the case.    If you follow the steps outlined above, you will best take advantage of the resources offered by AAUP in this critical area.

Committee on Academic Professionals

Chair:  Vasiliki (Val)Lagakis
Vasiliki.Lagakis@ncc.edu

Deals with issues involving college and university professionals who work in positions other than faculty appointments. Such issues include recruitment and appointment, compensation, job security, and protection of professional autonomy and responsibility. The committee also promotes the inclusion of academic professionals in the AAUP.

Committee on College & University Governance

Chair – Kimberley Reiser
Kimberley.Reiser@ncc.edu

Promotes meaningful faculty participation in institutional governance. The committee receives complaints of departures from these standards and, where appropriate, makes recommendations to National to undertake formal investigations. Such cases may lead to a recommendation from the committee to the Association’s national council that an institution be sanctioned for “substantial noncompliance with standards of academic governance.”

The following are the results of the (2019) Shared Governance Survey:

Shared Governance Survey Summary (Parts 1 & 2)

Shared Governance Survey Summary (Part 1)

Created:  10/24/19 and sent via Action Network

Shared Governance Survey Summary (Part 2)

Created:  2/2/20 and sent via Action Network

Sample Results (Part 1)

Q1: Which of the following best describes your primary role at your institution, e.g. faculty at?

4-year                                     49.15%
Graduate University             28.63%
Community College             11.54%
Adjunct/Contingent              5.13%
Academic Administrator      2.14%
Other                                      2.14%
Student                                   0.00%

Q2:  Which of the following best describes your institution?

Small/Public                          3.43%
Large/Public                          28.76%
Small/Private                         44.64%
Large/Private                         23.18%

Sample Results (Part 2)

Q1: Do members of the Governing Board have appropriate individual qualifications with regard to education and experience?

Of 37 respondents, 4 said “not at all” (1) and 15 said “I don’t know” (7). The remaining responses were 5 (2), 8 (3), 3 (4), 1 (5), and 1 (6).

Q2:  Do Board members inform themselves on governance issues by keeping up with the literature?

Of the 37 respondents, 5 said “not at all” (1) and 24 said “I don’t know” (7).  The remaining responses were 3 (2), 2 (3), 3 (3), 1 (4), and 0 (5).

Q3:  Do Board Members participate in meetings of the Association of Governing Boards or the AAUP?

Of the 37 respondents, 8 said “not at all” (1) and 26 said “I don’t know” (7).  The remaining responses were 0 (2), 0 (1), 0 (3), 0 (4), 1 (5), and 2 (6).

Part 1 Summary:

  • The majority (49.15%) of the 234 respondents described their primary role as faculty at a 4-year institution while 11.54% are faculty at community colleges. Only 5.13% of the total respondents identified as adjunct/contingent faculty, which could be an indicator for future discovery since adjunct/contingents make up the majority at most institutions.
  • The vast majority (44.64%) of the 234 respondents are from what they identified as “small/private” institutions while only 3.43% identified as being from a “small/public” institution. The next largest category was “large/public” (28.76%) and “large/private” (23.18%).

Part 2 Summary: 

  • The argument here is that if Board members don’t have the qualifications and they don’t inform themselves on governance issues by keeping up with the literature, then how could they be expected to engage in meaningful and productive conversations if they even/ever did attend/participate in meetings of the Association of Governing Boards or the AAUP?
  • Equally concerning is the lack of transparency about the qualifications of the Board Members to serve in that capacity and decide/rule on shared governance issues.

Overall Summary:

  • Based on the differences in the fall and spring releases of the survey, fall may be a better time to send surveys out because the response rate appears to be higher for fall than spring. However, this year with the COVID-19 crisis coming short on the heels of the beginning of the spring semester, we recognize it may have made an impact.
  • Reminders via Action Network are likely useful (note update of responses post reminder), however it appears that most people take the survey shortly after receiving it if they are going to answer it at all.

 

 

Committee on Chapters, Members, & Dues

Chair: Katherine Cho
kath7c@aol.com

Committee on the Economic Status of the Profession

Chair:  Thomas X. Carroll
carrollt57@yahoo.com

The National Association’s research office prepares the annual Report on the Economic Status of the Profession, using data collected in the AAUP’s annual faculty compensation survey. The report describes national trends in faculty compensation, as well as issues in the financial organization and condition of higher education, and is a valued resource throughout the higher education community. The NYSC Committee uses this data, as well as looking at other indices and issues, which directly impact faculty in NYS. 

Committee on Faculty Holding Contingent Appointment

Chair: (Chair – POSITION OPEN)

Deals with issues related to contingent faculty appointments. Works to improve conditions for contingent faculty members and to reverse the trend towards part-time and non-tenure-track appointments.

Committee on Government Relations

Chair:  Fred Floss
flossfg@buffalostate.edu

Works on government relations, advocating positions that are beneficial to the higher education community in NYS. Members of the committee analyze bills before Congress and state legislatures, may recommend Association policy with regard to proposed legislation, and, on occasion, testify at legislative and executive hearings on mattes of concern to higher education.

Committee on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Chair:  Currently Vacant – Accepting Applications

 

Committee on Retirement

Chair: Currently Vacant – Accepting Applications

 

Committee on Gender and Sexuality in the Academic Profession

Chair:  Margeaux Lippman
margeaux.lippman@gmail.com

In June 2019 the AAUP Council, acting on the recommendation of members of the affected committees, voted to merge the Committee on Women in the Academic Profession and the Committee on Sexual Diversity and Gender Identity into the new Committee on Gender and Sexuality in the Academic Profession. Shortly thereafter, the NYSC followed suit. The National committee formulates policy statements, provide resources, and report on matters of interest to all those who identify as women, femme, and nonbinary, and to the academic community, addressing such issues as equity in pay, work/family balance, sexual harassment and discrimination, Title IX, and the role of gender and sexuality in rank and tenure.

The NYSC committee serves as an ‘arm’ of the National AAUP committee of the same name. The purpose of the committee is to formulate policy statements, provide resources, and report on matters of interest to all those who identify as women, femme, and nonbinary, and to the academic community, addressing such issues as equity in pay, work/family balance, sexual harassment and discrimination, Title IX, and the role of gender and sexuality in rank and tenure.

For additional resources go to the AAUP National website page on “Gender and Sexuality in Higher Education”: Gender and Sexuality in Higher Education | AAUP

CUNY Council

Chair:  Cecelia McCall
liann.mccall@gmail.com

Collective Bargaining Council

Chair:  Adam Pack
drpackuc@gmail.com

Western-Midwestern Regional Council

Chair – Current Vacant – Accepting Applications

Long Island Regional Council

Chair: Sophie Christman
drsophiechristman@gmail.com

 

NYC-Westchester Regional Council

Co-Chairs:

Ira Gerhardt
iragerhardt.aaup@gmail.com

Jacob Appel
jacobmappel@gmail.com

 

Lower Central Regional Council

Chair: Currently Vacant – Accepting Applications

Capital Area-Mid Hudson Regional Council

Chair: Currently Vacant – Accepting Applicaitons

APPLICATION FOR NYSC AAUP COMMITTEE/COUNCIL CHAIR AND/OR MEMBER VOLUNTEER POSITION

Per the NYSC AAUP Constitution and Bylaws, “The President shall recommend to the Executive Council for approval the chairs and members of standing committees
and councils. The Terms for the chairs and members of standing committees and councils shall be for three (3) years, beginning and terminating at the end of the spring
meeting” (NYSC AAUP Constitution, 4/3/2020).

Accordingly, the NYSC AAUP seeks NYS AAUP members in good standing to apply for the following volunteer positions:

COMMITTEES:

• Committee on Academic Freedom and Tenure (Chair – Irwin Yellowitz) – not currently seeking members
• Committee on Academic Professionals (Chair – Valerie Lagakis) – seeking members
• Committee on College and University Governance (Chair – Kimberley Reiser) – seeking members
• Committee on Chapters, Members, & Dues – (Chair – Katherine Cho) – seeking members
• Committee on the Economic Status of the Profession – (Chair – Thomas Carroll) – seeking members
• Committee on Faculty Holding Contingent Employment (Chair – POSITION OPEN) – seeking members
• Committee on Government Relations (Chair – Fred Floss) – seeking members
• Committee on the Status of Minorities in the Profession (Chair – POSITION OPEN) – seeking members
• Committee on Retirement – (Chair – POSITION OPEN) – seeking members
• Committee on Gender and Sexuality in the Academic Profession (Chair – Margeaux Lippman) – seeking members

COUNCILS:

• CUNY Council (Chair – Cecelia McCall) – seeking members
• Collective Bargaining Council (Chair – Adam Pack) – seeking members

REGIONAL COUNCILS: (we are seeking to revitalize these Councils – if you are interested in being part of this effort, please contact sdearhealeyaaup@gmail.com)

• The Long-Island Council  (Chair – Sophie Christman) – seeking members
• NYC-Westchester Council  (Co-Chairs – Ira Gerhardt  and Jacob Appel) – seeking members
• Lower Central Council – seeking Chair and members
• Capital Area-Mid Hudson Council  (seeking Chair and members)
• Western-Midwestern Council (seeking Chair and seeking members)

If you have an interest and/or experience in one of these areas and would like to volunteer for one of these positions, please send an email to NYSC AAUP President
Mary Rose Kubal (mrkubalaaup@gmail.com) and cc: NYSC AAUP Executive Director Sally Dear-Healey (sdearhealeyaaup@gmail.com) with “Application for Committee or Council Chair or Membership” in the subject line and attach a completed copy of the following application (a copy of this notice and application is also posted on the NYSC AAUP
website under Committees & Councils/Position Openings):

Name:
Affiliated institution(s):
AAUP Chapter (if applicable):
Email address:
Please describe in your own words why you would like to be a Member or Chair of the
following NYSC AAUP Committee or Council:
_____________________________________________________________________________________________,
(indicate name of Committee or Council)

and include any experience(s) and/or training(s) and/or skill(s) that you feel make you a qualified candidate/applicant. You may also want to include some ideas for how you see
this Committee or Council best serving the needs of our members and chapters.