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Welcome to the Monthly AAUP Newsletter!
As our chapter has grown to more than fifty voting members and close to two hundred on the listserv, the Executive Committee has decided to regularize our communications. We are excited to provide you with a monthly newsletter sent out at the end of each month, August–November and January–May.
If you have an announcement you’d like to be included in this newsletter, please send it to aaup.mizzou@gmail.com.
Message from the Chapter President
Greetings,
I want to alert you to two important upcoming events that will kick-off our work for the months (and indeed years) ahead. The first is the election of new officers and executive committee for our chapter. Last month we solicited nominations for all the relevant positions, and the candidates that emerged from this process are: For Chapter President, Steve Karian (English), for Vice President, Martha Kelly (School of Languages), For Secretary Rose Metro (Education), and For Treasurer, Jim Van Dyke, (School of Visual Studies). In this newsletter, you will find the link to a survey that invites you to nominate yourself or someone else for one of these positions before the final ballot is prepared. Please note however, that only dues paying AAUP members can vote and be nominated, and all nominees must have agreed that they are willing actually to serve in the position for which they are nominated.
With regard to the Executive Committee, eight individuals have been nominated so far: Chuck Munter (Education), Noah Heringman (English), Rabia Gregory (Religious Studies), Charlie Nilon (CAFNR), Sam Cohen (English), Srirupa Prasad (Women and Gender Studies), Seth Howes (School of Languages) and Ted Koditschek (History). Our Bylaws call for an Executive Committee of seven to twelve members, and experience shows that it is essential that the number of active participants be at the higher end. So, we badly need at least three or four additional confirmed nominations and/or self-nominations for our chapter to remain fully effective.
The second important upcoming event is our first Chapter Meeting of the Spring 2023 Semester, which will be held by Zoom on January 25th at 5:00 PM (see below for zoom link). At this meeting we will announce the final ballot for the leadership election, which will itself be held online by Qualtrics poll, which will remain active for three days immediately following the meeting. The bulk of the meeting-time, however, will be devoted to a discussion of what our chapter has accomplished over the past two years, and where we need to be going during the next two years. Brief presentations by myself and Steve Karian will kick off the discussion. However, because we need to hear from you, the chapter members, the largest bloc of time will be devoted to open discussion and (possibly) break-out rooms, as we try to identify and refine our understanding of the challenges ahead.
I look forward to seeing all of you virtually on January 25th.
Best wishes and Happy New Year
Ted Koditschek
Professor Emeritus
Department of History
University of Missouri
President MU-AAUP
Upcoming in our AAUP Chapter
Our first chapter meeting will be held at 5 pm on Weds Jan 25. The Zoom link is here. (Meeting ID: 991 0324 8945, Passcode: 634166, +13126266799,,99103248945# US Chicago)
AAUP Chapter Elections Survey
Please fill out this survey to nominate additional people for the positions of President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Executive Committee Member and to let leadership know about your priorities for our advocacy in the coming year.
ICYMI
Questions about the UM system’s Pension Plan
Emeritus faculty Art Jago wrote a series of editorials questioning whether UM’s pension benefits are guaranteed.
At the December 15 Faculty Council Meeting, President Choi claimed that Jago was not correct and that the pension system was “guaranteed”; UM officials assert it has “sound fiscal management”; FC will continue to ask questions to learn more.
President Choi Promises Faculty Council to Promote Shared Governance
Also at the December 15 Faculty Council meeting, Choi responded to a AAUP survey conducted earlier in the year in which faculty members expressed concerns with unannounced changes to the CRRs.
Choi affirmed the importance of shared governance and promised to hold forums when substantive changes would be made in the future.
The AAUP will be following up to seek specifics and to make sure that these promises are fulfilled.
Our Work in Context–National Stories with Local Relevance
In June 2022, the AAUP merged with the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and thus became affiliated with the AFL-CIO. With this merger come additional resources to support AAUP members.
In September the AAUP launched an investigation of 33 faculty and staff dismissals at Emporia State University, two days after the Kansas Board of Regents voted to suspend tenure. One faculty member who criticized the policy was fired. More here.
Partly in reaction to these dismissals, faculty and academic staff at University of Kansas (Lawrence & Edmonds) formed a union affiliated with the AAUP and AFT in October 2022. We congratulate these colleagues and we look forward to seeing the fruits of their efforts.
Rutgers AAUP-AFT has been supporting strikes as graduate students seek extensions on research and faculty seek fair contracts and competitive salaries.
The University of Georgia voted to institute a new post-tenure review policy that brought AAUP censure and faculty opposition as it abolished tenure. The policy is currently being upheld.
Get Involved
Join AAUP's national organization
Get this newsletter regularly (if it was forwarded to you) by aaup.mizzou@gmail.com (this also works for general inquiries)
Check out our AAUP chapter’s website
Sincerely,
Mizzou AAUP Executive Committee
President: Ted Koditschek
Interim Secretary: Rose Metro
Treasurer: Nate Hofer
Other Members: Sam Cohen, Marjorie Dorimé-Williams, Rabia Gregory, Noah Heringman, Seth Howes, Steve Karian, Martha Kelly, Kristin Kopp, Noel Kopriva, Rose Metro, Chuck Munter, Charles Nilon, Srirupa Prasad
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