Why is membership in our AAUP Advocacy Chapter important?

The more faculty our AAUP chapter represents, the stronger our collective faculty voice. Membership in the chapter also gives you voice and vote in chapter matters.  For more, see Why AAUP at LC? 

How can I become an AAUP member?

You can join online via https://www.aaup.org/membership/join . When you sign up, indicate you want to be a member of the Lewis & Clark College chapter.

Why do we need an AAUP advocacy chapter alongside opportunities for faculty representation on college committees?

Faculty governance works within the scope of representation and authority delegated by the college administration. In many domains, faculty are relegated to an advisory capacity with limited power to have input into critical institutional processes. As a complement to the advisory role assigned to faculty in various areas of governance, an active advocacy organization can help incorporate faculty perspective more effectively in a wide range of practices and policies that impact our situation. An AAUP advocacy chapter can also help to move expeditiously and inclusively on faculty issues and concerns whose consideration is often prolonged within faculty governance processes.  

What is the relationship between the AAUP chapter and the existing organs of faculty governance?

AAUP advocacy chapters commonly work towards strengthening faculty governance, empowering faculty representation, assisting in data collection and analysis, and otherwise collaborating with committees. We seek to build strong and reciprocal relationships with faculty committees in areas of common interest to faculty. Here are some perspectives on the relationship between the AAUP and faculty governance. 

What other roles can an AAUP advocacy chapter play?

An AAUP advocacy chapter can function as a collective forum for identifying and coordinating faculty issues and concerns otherwise neglected within the faculty governance structure . In this capacity, a chapter can support individuals while also considering broader patterns that affect a wider range of faculty. An AAUP chapter can also help Lewis & Clark faculty benefit from resources and support provided by the national organization of the AAUP. 

How will the chapter determine issues and priorities for faculty advocacy?

Issues and priorities will be determined democratically by all chapter members. Open meetings and communications will provide regular opportunities for agenda setting, input, and decision-making . We also seek input from the faculty as a whole and will publicize attendant opportunities throughout the year. 

What has independent faculty organizing and advocacy accomplished so far?

The establishment of an AAUP advocacy chapter at Lewis & Clark builds on the momentum of several successful, independent faculty-driven initiatives:

• Faculty successfully organized to promote salary faculty equity across the CAS faculty. These initiatives fostered open and transparent discussions of what kinds of equity should be prioritized, what kinds of data should be analyzed, and what kinds of solutions might be considered. One result of faculty organizing and advocacy has been the creation of a CAS equity fund for tenure-track faculty to address faculty whose salaries have been disproportionately affected by a variety of factors such as year of hire and tenure. 

• Faculty successfully organized to give greater voice to non-tenure faculty. The AAUP planning group sponsored a successful motion at the CAS faculty meeting to grant governance voting rights to faculty-with-term. 

• Faculty organizing has contributed to building solidarity with other exempt and union employees at Lewis & Clark college. We have been inspired and supported the creation of a Staff Council and gratefully recognize the support of the LCCSSA and Teamsters unions at Lewis & Clark. 

How much does membership cost?

The AAUP membership fee is scaled by your income and ranges from $6.25/month to $28/month. We also have a chapter dues on a self-adjusted sliding scale, suggested $25-30 per year. This amount will help us pay for administrative costs (e.g., our domain name and other operating costs) as well as costs associated with forums, gatherings and recruitment events.