Jack Beck School of Film Animation CIAS AAUP

Jack Beck School of Film & Animation, CIAS AAUP President (RIT chapter) Rochester Institute of Technology

AAUP at RIT NTID Power Workshop, March 19, 12: 30

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Some background. AAUP is what? J. BECK 10/21/2021 4

Founder • An organization of professors and other faculty comprised of 500 academic chapters. • Founded in 1915 by Arthur Lovejoy and John Dewey. • Dewey had great interest in educational reform, progressive thought and liberalism. • Invested a lot of energy into promoting democracy in academia, politics, workplace, media… • Wrote several books on educational theory. J. BECK 10/21/2021 5

Mission • Advance and uphold academic freedom. • Ensure shared governance on every campus. • Define professional, educational values and standards. • Belief that quality education is a boost to the common good and that teachers are entrusted with that legacy. J. BECK 10/21/2021 6

Tenure as Practice • The AAUP's "Statement of Principles on Academic Freedom and Tenure (1925)" is the definitive articulation of these principles and practices, and is widely accepted throughout the academic community. –Wiki • The AAUP created tenure. • There was the belief that those in administrations wanted to control what faculty teaches and writes. Tenure was a means to provide security for faculty who would otherwise be wary of punishment or dismissal. • Tenure is a good for the institute. It is a bargaining chip, or leverage, to attract quality faculty and keep them here. • Five Principles: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. J. BECK Terms of appointment stated in writing. Conditions and length of time (probation) to attain tenure. Ensure that all teachers, even pre-tenure, attain all academic freedom (without fear). Both faculty and administration should decide on tenure for an individual (shared decision). If tenure denied due to financial restraint, evidence is provided to make claim certain. 10/21/2021 7

Ooooh, yeah. What have you done for me lately? J. BECK 10/21/2021 8

Faculty Support • Due Process is ensured. • • Contingent faculty are not abused or over-used (in defiance of tenure dicta). • • i. e. provided a poll on semesters vs. quarters. Submitted findings to the Senate during deliberation. Listeners. • • AAUP played a significant role in securing improved status for lecturers at RIT. Will poll faculty for input into governance. • • AAUP helped greatly with creating a strict, detailed procedure to grievance. Fairness and diligence. Group that provides info, suggests action, advocates, notes breach of policy… Voice for faculty with the will and influence of a substantial entity. • J. BECK Helped create a “Faculty Ombuds” on campus. 10/21/2021 9

Faculty Support • Equity. Compensation is fair and competitive. • Lead the charge on benchmarking salary. AAUP provided the data to administration for years. • Tolerance. All are accepted. Nobody is victimized. • Charges. We write and solicit charges from the faculty (anonymous) that we send to the executive Committee of the Senate for inclusion in that year’s agendas. • • i. e. this year we asked that RIT be considered a sanctuary campus. In the past we have addressed administrative bloat and lecturer voting rights and inclusion in Senate. Opinions. Steadfast in ensuring fair treatment to faculty freedoms in the classroom. J. BECK 10/21/2021 10

State and National • National AAUP has a long history of censuring institutes that have unfair practice • The American Association of University Professors has accused the College of Saint Rose, in New York, of having violated shared governance and undermined tenure and academic freedom in laying off 23 faculty members late last year. The college’s administration announced plans to lay off the 23 professors, all of whom were tenured or on the tenure track, in December. The job terminations came as part of an effort by the institution to reduce or eliminate 27 academic programs in response to what it described as long-term enrollment declines. J. BECK 10/21/2021 11

Say what? AAUP is here? J. BECK 10/21/2021 12

RIT Chapter • We are an Advocacy chapter at RIT, not a Collective Bargaining chapter. • We meet once a month. You may have seen our meeting announcements • We have a strong contingent of around eight faculty that participate and rotate on the board. Another number of faculty come in on occasion when able. • Membership is requested, but not required (unless on the board). • We do not include names in minutes to avoid any incrimination. And much of a meeting can be agreed to remain confidential. J. BECK 10/21/2021 13

Next meeting: 4/5 Thurs. 11 -12, GAN 7 B-2258 Questions? Thank You! J. BECK 10/21/2021 14