|
October 7, 2024
Dear William Paterson Faculty and Staff,
As we near the middle of the semester, I want to share an important reminder that no classes are scheduled on our Wellness Days, which will take place this year on Thursday and Friday, Oct. 17-18. On Thursday, Oct. 17, we will convene faculty and staff for a focused day on how we can support student wellness, as well as our own. The full program for Oct. 17 can be found at this website. The morning features virtual opportunities, while the afternoon is filled with great in-person activities, and a free lunch will be available in between. I encourage you all to come and participate in the name of personal and community wellness!
As faculty members are aware, AFT Union Members will soon be asked to take part in Committee Elections. AFT President Sue Tardi and I are happy to have been able to bring back some of the items the faculty graciously paused to protect jobs, such as sabbaticals, promotions, and range adjustments. While we have had encouraging enrollment numbers for this Fall semester and the budget deficit has improved, we still have a way to go before we reach a balanced budget. Dr. Tardi has made it very clear to me that Assigned Released Time (ART) is the next item that the Union wishes to bring back and has demanded to bargain the issue, and we will, of course, honor the Union’s request to bargain. I do believe these negotiations will be cumbersome due to the complexities of the issues, in terms of scope, criteria, and budgetary impact. Therefore, we have agreed not to seat an ART Committee at this time. However, should we reach agreement, we will then seat a committee outside of the standard election cycle. I thank the Faculty for your patience as we work through this complex and important issue at the bargaining table.
An important reminder that the State Health Benefits Program (SHBP) Open Enrollment period is here and will end on October 31, 2024. This is passive enrollment, meaning that If you make no changes, your current medical elections will carry over to the next plan year. However, while the medical plans remain the same, there are important changes to the dental plans, so I encourage you to log into your myNewJersey account and sign up for informational webinars to ensure that you are enrolled in the plans that best meet your needs for the coming year.
Looking ahead to later in the month, please join us at historic Hinchliffe Stadium in Paterson for a special game, as William Paterson football takes on Montclair State on Saturday, Oct. 26, at 12:00 p.m. The beautifully restored Hinchliffe Stadium is located in the heart of Paterson, the city where our University was founded, and we aim to be a loud and colorful presence in the stands. So, put on your black and orange and come out to cheer on our Pioneers! More information about the stadium, parking, and other details can be found at its website.
| 
