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May 2025 Newsletter

William A. Herbert, Executive Editor

Daniel Cronin, Student Editor

Jenna Salem, Student Editor

In this month's newsletter we provide videos and pictures from our annual conference that was held in March and information about our 2026 Conference Call for Proposals.

We also report on recent union certifications at Ohio University, Georgetown University, CSU Sacramento, and Barnabas Medical Group, P.C., along with representation election outcomes at the School of Visual Arts, the SUNY Research Foundation, and Nazareth University. The newsletter also includes information concerning a scheduled representation election at Johns Hopkins University involving post-doctoral scholars and recently filed petitions to represent faculty at Western New Mexico University and research assistants at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign.

Lastly, the newsletter includes links to articles from the most recent volume of the Journal of Collective Bargaining in the Academy.

2026 Conference Call for Proposals

The National Center has issued a Call for Proposals seeking proposals for panels and interactive workshops for our 53rd annual conference that will take place on March 22-24, 2026 in New York City.

The theme of the conference will be Uniting for Political and Workplace Democracy.

We welcome proposals for diverse panels and workshops that include labor and administrator representatives to discuss subjects relevant to the conference theme including higher education unionization, collective bargaining, and labor relations.

We strongly encourage proposals that include newer and diverse speakers, moderators, and facilitators.

We also encourage proposals from authors of recently published books relevant to the theme of the conference. 

Those interested in proposing a panel or workshop should upload an abstract by August 29, 2025 to 2026 Conference Abstract Dropbox.

To be considered, the abstract must include a title and description along with a list of invited or confirmed participants with their titles, affiliations, and contact information. For proposed Interactive workshops, the abstract should identify a proposed experienced facilitator to lead the workshop. The abstract should also state how the proposed panel or workshop will ensure diversity of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives.

Questions concerning the call for proposals should be emailed to msavares@hunter.cuny.edu.

Video Recordings from the 52nd Annual National Conference

We thank the speakers, moderators, and conference attendees for a very successful 52nd National Center annual conference that we held in March.

The theme of the conference was Unity in Defense of Higher Education and Collective Bargaining. The full conference program can be downloaded here.

The success of the conference would not have been possible without the support and assistance of Hunter College President Cantor, the National Center Board of Advisors, along with the staff at Roosevelt House, the CUNY Graduate Center, and our conference staff and volunteers.

Below are links to recordings of the welcoming remarks and select presentations from the conference. We thank the Roosevelt House Public Policy Institute staff and Hunter College student videographers for their assistance.

Welcoming Remarks with William A. Herbert, Executive Director, National Center for the Study of Collective Bargaining in Higher Education and the Professions, Hunter College, CUNY, Manoj Pardasani, Interim Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs, Hunter College, CUNY, Malini Cadambi-Daniel, Executive Director, Professional Staff Congress-CUNY, AFT Local 2334, Ahsan Ali, Senior Director of Labor Relations, Tufts University, and Jessica Baker, Hunter College student and National Center Intern.

Keynote Presentation: Unity in Defense of Higher Education and Collective Bargaining with Randi Weingarten, President, American Federation of Teachers, Lynn Pasquerella, President, American Association of Colleges and Universities, and Adrienne Lu, Senior Reporter, The Chronicle of Higher Education, Moderator.

Research Panel: Presentation on the 2024 Directory of Faculty Contracts and Bargaining Agents in Higher Education with Jacob Apkarian, Associate Professor, Sociology, York College, CUNY, Joseph van der Naald, PhD Candidate in Sociology, Graduate Center, CUNY, Susan Kelly, President, Microsearch Corporation, Mary Taber, Director of Research, UUP, Commentator, Dana Fleming, Associate General Counsel, Tufts University, Commentator, and Malini Cadambi-Daniel, Executive Director, Professional Staff Congress-CUNY, AFT Local 2334, Moderator.

Panel: Current Immigration Issues in Higher Education with Miriam Feldblum, co-founder and Executive Director, Presidents Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, Cianna Freeman-Tolbert, Whiteman Osterman & Hanna LLP, and Channing Cooper, Deputy Director, AFT Legal Department, Panelist and Moderator.

Research Panel: Work Stoppage Across the Educational Continuum: K-12 to Higher Education with Jacob Apkarian, Associate Professor, Sociology, York College, CUNY and National Center Affiliated Researcher, Melissa Arnold Lyon, Assistant Professor of Public Policy, Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy, University at Albany, SUNY, Daniel Iskhakov, National Center Graduate Research Fellow, and Rhiannon M. Maton, Associate Professor, Foundations and Social Advocacy, SUNY Cortland and National Center Visiting Scholar, Panelist and Moderator.

Panel: Artificial Intelligence: Changing the Bargaining Landscape with Jeffrey M. Hirsch, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Geneva Yeargan Rand Distinguished Professor of Law, University of North Carolina School of Law, Alec Thomson, President, National Council for Higher Education, NEA, Nicholas L. Collins, ArentFox Schiff LLP, and

Arthur Pearlstein, Arbitrator and Mediator, Moderator.

Book Discussion: Organizing Professionals: Academic Employees Negotiating a New Academy with author Gary Rhoades, Professor and Director, Center for the Study of Higher Education, University of Arizona, Richard Gomes, Staff Representative, AFT New Jersey, Jennie Shanker, Staff Representative, AFT New Jersey, Laura Murphy, Dutchess Community College, Dan Echikson, Organizer, ACT-UAW Local 7902, and Ryan Quinn, Reporter, Inside Higher Ed, Moderator.

Panel: Administrator Responses to Campus Protest: Lessons from History with Ellen Schrecker, Professor of History (retired), Yeshiva University, member Committee A on Academic Freedom and Tenure, AAUP, Paul Ortiz, Professor of Labor History, Cornell ILR, Jelani Favors, Author of Shelter in a Time of Storm: How Black Colleges Fostered Generations of Leadership and Activism, Henry E. Frye Distinguished Professor, Department of History and Political Science and Director, Center of Excellence for Social Justice, North Carolina A&T State University, and Dale Kapla, Senior Associate Provost, Northern Michigan University, Moderator.

Photographs from the 52nd Annual National Conference

(l-r) National Center Visiting Scholar Karen Stubaus and Hunter College President Nancy Cantor.

(l-r) AACU President Lynn Pasquerella and AFT President Randi Weingarten during keynote presentation.

ArentFox Schiff Associate Nicholas L. Collins discussing AI and collective bargaining.

(l-r) Morgan, Brown & Joy's Joseph P. McConnell and Hofstra University's Provost Emeritus Herman A. Berliner during panel discussion on negotiating over tenure.

Book discussion panel with (l-r) University of Arizona Professor Gary Rhoades,

AFT New Jersey Staff Representatives Richard Gomes and Jennie Shanker, ACT-UAW Local 7902 Organizer Dan Echikson, Dutchess United Educators' Laura Murphy, and Inside Higher Ed Reporter

Ryan Quinn, moderator.

(l-r) Tufts University Associate General Counsel Dana Fleming and UUP's Director of Research Mary Taber during their commentary about the National Center's 2024 Directory of Faculty Contracts and Bargaining Agents in Higher Education.

California Faculty Association President Margarita Berta Avila during a panel discussion on antiracism and social justice Issues and working conditions as

Negotiable Subjects.

(l-r) Former JCCC Faculty Association President and Lead Negotiator Deborah H. Williams, United Faculty of Florida-Tallahassee State College President Martin Balinsky and Oakland Community College Vice Chancellor for Human Resources Andre’ L. Poplar discussing the selection of bargaining team members and dealing with rogue team members.

The National Center's extraordinary group of conference staff and volunteers: (l-r) Amy Jeu, Kim Middleton, Winnie and Greg Johnson, and National Center Administrator Michelle Savarese.

(l-r) CSU Assistant Vice Chancellor for Collective Bargaining, Joseph Jelincic, California PERB General Counsel J. Felix De La Torre, CSUEU Statewide President Catherine Hutchinson, and

CSUEU SDSU Student Leader Kajily Brooks, part of a panel on The New Wave of Campus Student Workers.

Panel on the Fundamentals for Labor Management Committees in Higher Education with (l/r)

SUNY Associate Vice Chancellor and Chief Counsel for Employee Relations Liesl K. Zwicklbauer,, NY GOER Assistant Director Phyllis Volpe, and NYS-

CSEA Partnership's

Stephanie Burkes and

Daniel Shook.

York College Associate Professor of Sociology and National Center Affiliated Researcher Jacob Apkarian presenting research findings from the National Center's 2024 Directory of Contracts and Bargaining Agents in Institutions of Higher Education with co-author CUNY Doctoral Student in Sociology and Affiliated Researcher Joseph van de Naald (seated).

52nd Annual National Conference Sponsors

National Center Newsletter Sponsor

Support the National Center by Purchasing the

Commemorative 52nd Annual Conference T-Shirt

To help support the National Center's mission, research and program, we encourage you to purchase a Commemorative 52nd Annual Conference t-shirt. The shirts are USA made, printed in a union shop, and 100% cotton. To order your t-shirt, click here. Direct any questions to: msavares@hunter.cuny.edu.

Ohio University: AAUP-AFT Certified to Represent FT Faculty Unit

Ohio University, OSERB Case No. 2024-REP-0035

On May 7, 2025, the Ohio State Employment Board (OSERB) issued an order adopting a report by an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) rejecting post-election objections filed by Ohio University and certifying United Academics of Ohio University, AAUP-AFT to represent a unit of 795 full-time tenured, tenure-track, and non-tenure-track faculty at the university.

The university's objections were filed following the March 24, 2025 tally of ballots which demonstrated that the faculty voted 453-189 in favor of representation by United Academics of Ohio University, AAUP-AFT.

In its objections, the university argued that the election should be set aside because United Academics of Ohio University, AAUP-AFT had allegedly engaged in improper conduct by holding two pre-election meetings, which current union members were required to attend and that was open to other faculty who joined the union at the meeting. In addition, the university argued a new election was warranted because of problems that arose in the delivery of the mail ballots.

In its order, OSERB sustained the ALJ’s rejection of both university arguments. The ALJ found that the two meetings held by United Academics of Ohio University, AAUP-AFT were well within its statutory rights and the meetings were not likely to have changed anyone’s vote. Moreover, despite the polling difficulties, 82% of eligible employees voted in the election with 70% voting in favor of representation.

The following is a description of the new faculty bargaining unit at Ohio University represented by United Academics of Ohio University, AAUP-AFT:

Included: At all campuses of Ohio University, all full-time Tenured or Tenure-Track Faculty (Professor, Associate Professor, and Assistant Professor), all full-time Non-Tenure Track Instructional Faculty (Professor of Instruction, Associate Professor of Instruction, and Assistant Professor of Instruction), and all full-time Non-Tenure Track Clinical Faculty (Clinical Professor, Associate Clinical Professor, and Assistant Clinical Professor), not otherwise excluded.

Excluded: All faculty in the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, all faculty in the College of Health Sciences and Professions (except for full-time faculty in the Department of Social Work, Department of Social and Public Health, and Department of Interdisciplinary Health Studies), all part-time faculty, all visiting faculty, all instructors, all special appointments, all adjuncts, all librarians, and all faculty participating in an early retirement program; all supervisors, confidential employees, and management level employees; all ranks of presidents, all ranks of provosts, all ranks of deans, all school-level directors, all department chairs, all Administrators, and heads of schools; all faculty holding multiple appointments where one appointment is also in an excluded category; and all other employees.

Note: according to a media report, Ohio University commenced a lawsuit last week in state court seeking to challenge OSERB's order and certification of United Academics of Ohio University, AAUP-AFT.

School of Visual Arts: Faculty Vote for UAW Representation

School of Visual Arts, NLRB Case No. 02-RC-361937

The faculty at the School of Visual Arts in New York City voted 568-167 in favor of SVA Faculty United-UAW representing a unit of 1,206 faculty and instructors, according to a May 20, 2025 NLRB tally of ballots.

The following is a description of the at-issue faculty bargaining unit at the School of Visual Arts:

Included: All faculty members at the School of Visual Arts, including all instructors.

Excluded: All other employees of the Employer, including Chairs, office clericals, confidential employees, managers, guards, and supervisors, as defined in the Act.

Western New Mexico University: NEA Petitions for FT Faculty Unit

Western New Mexico University, NMPELRB Case No. 311-25

On May 13, 2025, Western New Mexico University Faculty-NEA filed a petition with the New Mexico Public Employee Labor Relations Board seeking to be certified to represent a unit of approximately 108 full-time faculty employed at Western New Mexico University.

The following is a description of the proposed bargaining unit at Western New Mexico University as set forth in the Western New Mexico University Faculty-NEA petition:

Included: As defined in the Faculty Handbook, full-time employees of Western New Mexico University holding the contractual faculty rank of lecturer, instructor, assistant professor, associate professor, or professor, who teach six or more semester hours per semester, including library faculty. The unit includes faculty on limited terms and remote appointments.

Excluded: Employees who are on: Adjunct-rank contracts, Emeritus faculty, College Deans, University Librarian/Director, Vice Presidents or above in the management structure.

Georgetown University: SEIU Certified to Represent Clinical Law Fellows

Georgetown University, NLRB Case No. 05-RC-363188

On May 9, 2025, SEIU Local 500 was certified to represent a unit of 31 clinical law fellows at Georgetown University Law Center. The certification followed a May 20, 2025 tally of ballots demonstrating that the clinical law fellows voted 18-3 in favor of SEIU Local 500 representation.

The following is a description of the new clinical law fellow bargaining unit at Georgetown University:

Included: All full-time Clinical Law Fellows employed by the Employer at Georgetown University Law Center’s clinics located at 600 New Jersey Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20001, and 500 First Street NW Washington DC 20001.

Excluded: All managerial employees, confidential employees, guards, and supervisors as defined in the Act.

Barnabas Medical Group: AAUP-AFT Certified to Represent Clinical University Practitioners Bargaining Unit

Barnabas Medical Group, P.C., NLRB Case No. 22-RC-361865

On May 7, 2025, AAUP-Biomedical and Health Sciences of New Jersey, Local 6775, AFT, AFL-CIO was certified to represent a unit of 157 clinically focused university practitioners employed by Barnabas Medical Group, P.C. at its New Brunswick, New Jersey acute care hospital, and its other New Jersey facilities.

The certification followed a April 29, 2025 tally of ballots, which demonstrated that the clinical physicians voted 66-21 in favor of representation by AAUP-Biomedical and Health Sciences of New Jersey, Local 6775, AFT, AFL-CIO.

The following is a description of the new bargaining unit at Barnabas Medical Group, P.C.:

Included: All full-time and regular part-time Clinically Focused University Practitioners employed by the Employer at its New Brunswick, New Jersey acute care hospital, and its other New Jersey facilities.

Excluded: All voluntary faculty physicians, business office clerical employees, managerial employees, guards, registered nurses’ other professional employees and supervisors as defined by the Act, and all other employees.

Johns Hopkins University: Post-Doc Representation Election Scheduled

Johns Hopkins University, NLRB Case No. 05-RC-364341

The NLRB has scheduled an in-person election on June 4, 5, and 6 concerning a petition by Johns Hopkins Postdoctoral Researchers Organized-UAW to represent a unit of approximately 1,600 postdoctoral researchers who work at Johns Hopkins University.

The following is a description of the at-issue voting unit:

Included: All full-time and regular part-time postdoctoral researchers who provide services to the Employer, including Postdoctoral Fellows and Postdoctoral Research Fellows, who were employed by the Employer during the payroll period ending April 30, 2025.

Excluded: All other employees, Clinical Fellows, Clinical-Research Postdoctoral Fellows, non-professional employees, guards and supervisors as defined in the Act.

SUNY Research Foundation: Research Project Assistants Vote

for CWA Representation at SUNY Binghamton

Research Foundation for the State University of New York,

NLRB Case No. 03-RC-363813

On May 20, 2025, the NLRB tallied the ballots in an election concerning a petition by the Communications Workers of America (CWA) seeking to represent a unit of approximately 292 full-time and part-time research project assistants employed by the private sector SUNY Research Foundation at SUNY Binghamton. The tally demonstrated that the research assistants voted 72-2 in favor of CWA representation.

The following is the description of the new unit at the SUNY Research Foundation:

Included: All full-time and regular part-time Research Project Assistants employed by the Employer at the State University of New York at Binghamton.

Excluded: Guards, clerical employees, confidential employees, and supervisors as defined by the Act, and all other employees.

University of Illinois UC: AFT Files to Represent Research Assistants

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IELRB Case No. 2025 RS-0035C

On May 9, 2025 the Graduate Employees’ Organization, AFT/IFT Local 6300, AFL-CIO (GEO) filed a petition with the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board to represent a unit of 3,704 research assistants at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). Currently, GEO already represents a unit of teaching assistants, graduate assistants, and pre-professional graduate assistants on the UIUC campus.

The GEO petition proposes adding the following titles to its current bargaining unit:

Included: Research Assistants who are graduate students in good standing and either hold a total appointment between .25 FTE and .67 FTE or who receive a tuition and fee wavier from the assistantship appointment.

Excluded: Research Assistants who are supervisors, managerial employees, confidential employees or short-term employees as defined by the Act.

Nazareth University: Professional Unit Votes for AFT-NEA Representation

Nazareth University, NLRB Case No. 03-RC-362796

On May 15, 2025, the NLRB tallied the votes in an election concerning a petition by Nazareth United Professionals, NYSUT AFT/NEA/AFL-CIO to represent a unit of 143 professional employees of Nazareth University in Rochester, New York. The ballot demonstrated that the professional employees voted 77-40 in favor of representation by Nazareth United Professionals, NYSUT AFT/NEA/AFL-CIO.

The following is a description of the at-issue bargaining unit:

Included: All part-time and full-time professional office employees of Nazareth University at its facility located at 4245 East Ave, Rochester, NY, in the following job classifications: Accounts Payable Manager, Admissions Counselor, Alumni Engagement Officer, Assistant Director Academic Advising, Assistant Director Campus Operations & GTC Manager, Assistant Director for Community Engagement and Career, Assistant Director for Diverse Student Support Services, Assistant Director for Study Abroad Programs, Assistant Director for Wellness Outreach & Education, Assistant Director of Academic Success, Assistant Director of Accessibility, Assistant Director of Annual Fund Programs, Assistant Director of Employer Relations, Assistant Director of Enrollment Operations, Assistant Director of Social and Digital Media, Assistant Director Hillel Advisor and Interfaith Programs, Assistant Director Weider Community, Assistant Director in the Financial Aid Department, Assistant Director in the International Education Department, Assistant Director in the Marketing and Communications Department, Associate Director of Annual and Leadership Giving, Associate Director of Graduate Admissions, Associate Director of Major Giving, Associate Director of Outreach, Associate Director of Student Engagement & Leadership, Business Coordinator & Project Manager, Data Analyst, Designer Print & Web Production, Developer of Web and Mobile Technologies, Donor Relations and Communication Manager, Engineer Enterprise & Network Solutions, Head of Ill/Serials Services, Instructional Technology Specialist, IT Business Analyst, Learning Experience Designer Expansive Naz Strategic Program, Librarian Reference, Manager of Student Employment, Mid-Atlantic Regional Admissions Counselor, Muslim Student Association Advisor, Network Security Engineer, Senior Career Coach, Senior Enterprise & Network Solutions Engineer, Senior Financial Analyst, Senior Graphic Designer, Systems Librarian, Title III Learning Specialist, and Transfer Admissions Counselor.

Excluded: All per diem employees; all temporary employees; all employees in the Campus Safety Department; all employees in the Human Resources Department; all employees in the Athletics Department; all faculty employees; all adjunct faculty employees; all instructional employees, teachers, and lecturers; all student employees; all Vice Presidents and Presidents; all Associate Deans and Deans; all Associate Provosts and Provosts; all Assistant Coaches and Coaches; all Athletic Trainers and Assistant Trainers; all students; all Directors not listed in the classifications permitted to vote subject to challenge; all healthcare providers not listed in the classifications permitted to vote subject to challenge; all guards; all managers; all managerial employees; all confidential employees; all nonprofessional employees; all supervisors as defined by the NLRA; and all other employees.

Note: The parties agreed that individuals in the classifications of Clinical Experiences & Partnerships Program Director, Director for Diversity and Inclusive Excellence Education, Director for Equity and Access in Experiential Education, Director of Academic Support Services, Title III Project Director, Mental Health Therapist, Licensed Practical Nurse, Nurse Practitioner, and Registered Nurse may vote in the election but their ballots will be challenged since their eligibility has not been resolved. No decision has been made regarding whether the individuals in these classifications or groups are included in, or excluded from, the bargaining unit. The eligibility or inclusion of these individuals will be resolved, if necessary, following the election.

CSU: Sacramento State Private Employees Vote for SEIU Representation

Associated Students, Inc. of Sacramento State, NLRB Case No. 20-RC-363045

On May 21, 2025, the NLRB certified the California State University Employees Union (CSUEU)-SEIU to represent a unit of 165 full-time and regular part-time private sector employees working on the campus of California State University, Sacramento.

The certification followed the May 7, 2025 ballot tally, which demonstrated that the employees voted 57-18 in support of representation by CSUEU-SEIU representation.

The following is a description of the new bargaining unit represented by CSUEU-SEIU:

Included: All full-time and regular part-time Accountant I, Accounting Assistant, Accounting Assistant II, Accounting Specialist. Administrative Assistant 1, Associate Teacher, Bike Mechanic, Bike Shop Technician, Challenge Center Apprentice, Challenge Center Facilitator, Challenge Center Team Lead, Children’s Center/Cook, Civic Engagement Coordinator, Classroom Assistant, Classroom Assistant II, Classroom Assistant III, Classroom Lead, Communication & Outreach Coordinator, CSSA Liaison, Customer Service Associate, Customer Service Representative, Election Officer, Events & Productions Assistant, Food Pantry Assistant, Front Desk, Government Administrative Assistant, Graphic Artist, Graphic Designer, IT Technician (Desktop Support). Jr. Accountant, Kitchen Student Assistant, Legislative Affairs Coordinator, Maintenance Student Assistant, Marketing and Outreach Specialist, Music & Productions Assistant, Office Associate I, Office Student Assistant, Outdoor Trip Leader, Program Coordinator, Promotions & Events Coordinator, Sales Assistant, Student Representative 2, Student Representative 3, Team Community Service Events, Volunteer & Program Coordinator, Youth Camp Counselor employed by the Employer on the campus of California State University Sacramento

Excluded: Accountant II, Bike Shop Coordinator, Event Coordinator, Food Pantry

Coordinator, Head Teacher, Sales Manager/Specialist, all other employees, aquatic center employees, and supervisors as defined by the Act.

Journal of Collective Bargaining in the Academy, Volume 16

Last month, Volume 16 of the National Center's Journal of Collective Bargaining in the Academy was published. The Journal is an open-access, peer-reviewed, online periodical advancing research and scholarly thought related to collective bargaining and other issues in higher education, and making relevant and pragmatic peer-reviewed research readily accessible.

From the Editors

JCBA's Origins, Evolution, & Future by Gary Rhoades and Karen Stubaus

Articles

Who Benefits from a Faculty Union During a Pandemic? by Mary Ellen Benedict, David McClough, and John Hoag

Faculty Views About Their COVID-19 Layoffs from a Public University in the US Midwest by Susan E. Ramlo

A Beautiful Mind Meets Harsh Reality: Practical Tips for Negotiators When Bargaining Strays from Ideal Conditions by Christopher C. Douglas, Ellen Grachek, Allyson Strickland, and Marie Waung

How Do Collective Agreements Stack Up? Implications For Academic Freedom by Tim Ribaric and Rahul Kumar

The Limits of Law: Lessons for Collective Bargaining by Eric J. Scarffe and Daniel Saunders

Practitioner Perspectives

"No Pay, No RAs": Resident Assistant Unionization Amidst University Backlash by Justin Weller

Navigating Harassment and Discrimination at University of California through UAW 4811's Abusive Conduct Contract Provisions by Sarah Arveson and Emily Weintraut

Graduate Student Labor Unions: Two Experienced Academic Administrators Share Their Views by Karen R. Stubaus

Research Notes

Every Grain of Sand: 2024 Changes to the Scope of Higher Education Unionization by William A. Herbert, Joseph van der Naald, and Jacob Apkarian

Book Review

Towards a Progressive Academy: Review of Organizing Professionals: Academic Employees Negotiating a New Academy by Rebecca Kolins Givan

The Journal co-editors are Gary Rhoades, University of Arizona, Karen Stubaus, National Center Visiting Scholar and former Vice President for Academic Affairs at Rutgers University, and Jacob Apkarian, York College, City University of New York. The Journal is supported in part by a generous contribution from TIAA and is hosted by the institutional repository of Eastern Illinois University, The Keep, a service of EIU's Booth Library.

The Journal is now accepting submissions for Volume 17 to be published in March 2026. Our authors customarily include college and university faculty and administrators, scholars, graduate students, union activists and leaders, and others interested in collective bargaining in higher education. Please see the Aims & Scope page for more information or contact the co-editors with any questions on possible submissions.

Download the National Center's Study on Anti-Discrimination Clauses in Higher Education Collective Bargaining Agreements

Last November, the National Center released a study titled Anti-Discrimination Clauses in Higher Education Collective Bargaining Agreements. 

Download the study here.

The study is based on research that led to the publication in September of our 2024 Directory of Bargaining Agents and Contracts in Higher Education.



The purpose of the study is to assist negotiators, labor representatives, and administrators in developing, amending, and implementing anti-bias contract provisions.

The study includes excerpted anti-discrimination text from 30 collective bargaining agreements negotiated by different nationally-affiliated unions and institutions at all levels of higher education from across the country involving tenured and tenure track faculty, non-tenure track faculty, postdoctoral scholars and academic researchers, and graduate student employees.

For each contract, the monograph includes the contract's anti-discrimination clause and the relevant negotiated procedure concerning enforcement when the contract does not permit, limits, or modifies the use of the standard grievance-arbitration procedure to enforce the anti-discrimination clause. In addition, the monograph includes a hyperlink to each contract to permit the contextualization of the excerpted provisions within the terms of the entire agreement.

KEY FINDINGS



• While most anti-discrimination clauses explicitly prohibit discrimination based on race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, and union activity, there are wide differences with respect to other protected categories.

• Over the course of time, anti-discrimination clauses have changed, reflecting the historical context during which they were negotiated. Examples of those changes over the years are prohibitions against discrimination based on civil union status, HIV status, and Vietnam-era veteran status.

• Recent contract clauses have expanded protections against discrimination to include caste; citizenship status; immigration status; ancestry; marital or parental status; status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking; gender expression; gender identity; genetic information; height; weight; arrest record; military status; veteran status; or unfavorably discharged from military service. Only one contract has an anti-discrimination clause limited to prohibiting discrimination based on union activity.

• Certain contracts expand upon sex as a protected category to explicitly address sexual harassment and sexual misconduct, as well as faculty-student relationships. The most detailed definitions of sexual harassment, with special procedures for investigating and remedying sexual harassment complaints under Title IX and anti-discrimination clauses, are in contracts involving postdoctoral scholars and graduate student employees.

• A significant difference among the contracts is the agreed-upon means of enforcement. Some contracts permit discrimination claims to be processed under the regular grievance-arbitration procedure. Others modify those procedures for handling discrimination issues and some agreements exclude alleged violations of the anti-discrimination clause from the grievance process. Lastly, some parties have opted to condition the arbitration of a discrimination grievance on the employee waiving her or his rights to pursue statutory discrimination claims in court or other external forums.

Download the National Center's 2024 Directory of Bargaining Agents and

Contracts in Institutions of Higher Education

Last September, the National Center published our 2024 Directory of Bargaining Agents and Contracts in Institutions of Higher Education on the scope of higher education unionization involving faculty, postdoctoral scholars, and graduate and undergraduate student employees.

The 2024 Directory includes data and analysis concerning over 900 collective bargaining relationships in higher education through January 1, 2024, and hyperlinks to 813 recent contracts in higher education. Click here to download 2024 Directory

KEY RESEARCH FINDINGS



• The faculty union representation rate was 27% as of January 1, 2024, with a total of 402,217 unionized faculty across 29 states and the District of Columbia;
• California, New York, and New Jersey have the highest number of unionized faculty;
• The total number of unionized faculty grew by 7.5% since 2012;
• Represented faculty at the private non-profit institutions grew by 56%, relative to a 4% growth in the public sector, since 2012;
• As of January 1, 2024, there were 10 bargaining units of exclusively postdoctoral scholars with a total of 11,471 employees and two academic research units with a total of 6,132 employees.
• The graduate student employee union representation rate was 38% at the beginning of 2024 with over 150,000 employees in 81 bargaining units;
• Graduate student representation increased by 133% since 2012 with 60% of that growth at private non-profit higher education institutions;
• As of January 1, 2024, there were 19 exclusively undergraduate student employee units, with a total of 3,515 represented employees.