November 2022

National Center's 50th Annual Conference: March 26-28, 2023

Registration Coming Soon

On March 26-28, 2023, the National Center will be holding our 50th annual conference in New York City at Hunter College. Links for registration and hotel accommodations will be coming soon.

The theme of the 2023 annual conference will be Collective Bargaining in Higher Education Looking Back, Looking Forward, 1973-2023.

Below is a list of currently confirmed conference panels and panelists:

Panel: The 50-Year History of Collective Bargaining at Hofstra University with Herman Berliner, Lawrence Herbert Distinguished Professor, Provost Emeritus, Hofstra University, Peter C. Daniel, Professor of Biology, Hofstra University, Bernard J. Firestone, Professor of Political Science, Hofstra University, Estelle S. Gellman, Professor Emerita, Hofstra University, Elisabeth Ploran, Associate Professor of Psychology, Hofstra University, and Liora Pedhazur Schmelkin, Distinguished Professor Emeritus, Hofstra University.

Panel: Cultivating a Collaborative Culture in a Climate of Semi-Permanent Austerity with Nicholas DiGiovanni, Partner, Morgan, Brown & Joy, Chief Negotiator, University System of New Hampshire, Patrick Dolenc, Professor of Economics, Keene State College, Chair of Keene State College faculty union bargaining team, Kimberly Harkness, Executive Assistant to the Provost and former Director of Human Resources, Keene State College, and Emile Netzhammer III, Chancellor, Washington State University, Vancouver, former Provost at Keene State College.

Panel: Yesterday and Today: Experienced Administrators Reflect on Collective Bargaining in Higher Education with Margaret E. Winters, Former Provost and Professor Emerita French and Linguistics, Wayne State University, Theodore H. Curry, Associate Provost and Associate Vice President for Academic Human Resources Emeritus, Professor Emeritus, School of Human Resources and Labor Relations, Michigan State University, and Letitia Silas, Executive Director, Labor Relations, University of California, and Michael Eagen, Associate Provost for Academic Personnel, University of Massachusetts – Amherst.

Panel: Yesterday and Today: Experienced Faculty Leaders Reflect on Collective Bargaining in Higher Education with Gary Rhoades, Professor and Director, Center for the Study of Higher Education, University of Arizona, Jeffrey Halpern, former President, Rider University AAUP, and Charles Toombs, President, California Faculty Association (panel in formation).

Panel: Collective Bargaining and Building Relationships During the COVID-19 Crisis with Melissa Sortman, Director, Faculty and Academic Staff Affairs, Michigan State University, Kate Birdsall, President, UNTF and Associate Professor, Michigan State University, Daniel L. Fay, Assistant Professor, Askew School of Public Administration and Policy, Florida State University, and Adela Ghadimi, PhD Candidate, Askew School of Public Administration and Policy, Florida State University.

Panel: Non-Discrimination Contract Clauses in Higher Education: Substance and Procedures with Erin Ward, PhD Student in Sociology, CUNY Graduate Center, Anu Biswas, Graduate Student, CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies, Melanie Kruvelis, Graduate Student, CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies, and Ana Avendano, Professor, CUNY School of Law, Moderator.

Panel: Past, Present, and Future of Graduate Student Employee Unions with Bob Muehlenkamp, first TAA President, Julie Schmid, Executive Director, AAUP, Candi Churchill, Executive Director, United Faculty of Florida, Emily Schkeryantz, Organizer, UAW Local 1596, Danielle Dirocco, Organizational Specialist, NEA, Cassidy Wagner, Vice President for Communication, Coalition of Graduate Employees, AFT Local 6069, and Joseph van der Naald, PhD Candidate in Sociology, Graduate Center, CUNY, Moderator.

Panel: Collective Bargaining and Governance: In Harmony or In Conflict? with Amitabha Bose, President, NJIT Professional Staff Association/AAUP, Fadi Deek, former Provost & Senior Executive Vice President and Dean of the College of Science and Liberal Arts, NJIT, Rene Castro, CSU, Dominguez Hill, Carl Levine, Levy Ratner, and Christopher Sinclair, Secretary/Treasurer, AAUP, Moderator.

Panel: Title IX: Its Past, Its Present, and Its Future with Karen R. Stubaus, PhD., Vice President for Academic Affairs, Rutgers University and Alexandra Matish, J.D. Associate Vice Provost for Academic and Faculty Affairs and Senior Director, Academic Human Resources, University of Michigan (panel in formation).

Panel: Medical Training and Collective Bargaining: Histories and Challenges with Dr. Srinivas Pentyala, Professor & Director of Translational Research in Anesthesiology & SARAS Coordinator; Faculty in Orthopedics & Rehabilitation, Urology, Health Sciences, Physiology & Biophysics, Stony Brook School of Medicine, Dr. Samuel Marquez, Department of Pathology, SUNY Downstate School of Medicine, David Dashefsky, Director of Strategic Campaigns, CIR-SEIU Healthcare, and Sara Slinn, Associate Professor, Osgoode Hall Law School, York University, Moderator.

Panel: Labor and Anti-Discrimination Rights at Religiously-Affiliated Institutions with Gerald J. Beyer, Associate Professor of Christian Ethics, Villanova University (panel in formation).

Panel: History of Full-time and Part-time Contingent Faculty Unionization since the Early 1990s with Joseph P. McConnell, Morgan, Brown & Joy, Anne McLeer, Director of Higher Education and Strategic Planning, SEIU Local 500, Andrew Cantrell, Field Service Director, Illinois Federation of Teachers, and Katherine H. Hansen, Gladstein, Reif & Meginniss, LLP, Moderator (panel in formation).

Panel: Past and Present of Negotiated Contingent Faculty Job Security: Labor Perspectives from the University of California and the University of Michigan with Mia McIver, UC-AFT President, Kirsten Herold, President, Lecturers' Employee Organization, AFT Local 6244, Eric Beuerlein, Vice President, Lecturers' Employee Organization, AFT Local 6244, and Alissa G. Karl, Vice President for Academics, United University Professions, Moderator (panel in formation).

Panel: Looking Back, Looking Ahead: State and Federal Higher Education Financing Over the Past Half-Century with F. King Alexander, Faculty Fellow, College Promise Foundation & Senior Faculty Fellow, Education Policy Center, University of Alabama, Sophia Laderman, Associate Vice President, State Higher Education Executive Officers Association, Fred Floss, Professor, SUNY at Buffalo & Co-Director, Center for Economic Education, and Thomas Harnisch, Vice President for Government Relations, State Higher Education Executive Officers Association, Moderator.

Panel: Economic and Other Factors Impacting Enrollment Trends, 1973-2023 with James Castagnera, Adjunct Professor of Law, Drexel University, former Associate Provost/Legal Counsel for Academic Affairs, Rider University, Brad Litchfield, Assistant Provost for Finance and Administration, Academic Affairs, Rider University, Karina Salazar, Assistant Professor, College of Education, University of Arizona, and Melanie Carter, Associate Provost & Director of the Center for HBCU Research, Leadership, and Policy, Howard University.

Panel: Annual Legal Update with Amy L. Rosenberger, Willig, Williams & Davidson, Monica C. Barrett, Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLC, Henry Morris, Jr., Partner, ArentFox Schiff LLP, and Aaron Nisenson, Senior Legal Counsel, AAUP, Panelist and Moderator.

Panel: Salary Equity in Higher Education with Johanna E. Foster, PhD., Associate Professor of Sociology, Helen Bennett McMurray Endowed Chair of Social Ethics, Department of Political Science and Sociology, President and former Chief Negotiator, FAMCO AAUP-AFT, Monmouth University and Ann Seaton, Wellesley College (panel in formation).

Panel: Exploring the Retirement Income Equity Gap with Brent Davis, Economist, TIAA Institute, Anne Ollen, Programs & Operations, TIAA Institute, and Alison Hirsh, Assistant Comptroller for Pensions and Senior Advisor, Office of the New York City Comptroller (panel in formation).

Panel: Public Service Loan Forgiveness: Labor-Management Cooperation for Campus and Community Benefits with Jeri O’Bryan-Losee, Secretary-Treasurer, United University Professions (panel in formation).

Updates about panel and panelists, along with registration and hotel information, will be announced in future newsletters and on our website.

Become a Conference Sponsor or Program Advertiser to Celebrate the National Center's 50th Anniversary and Support Our  Research

2023 Conference Sponsorships

To help celebrate the National Center’s 50^th anniversary, we encourage higher education institutions, unions, law firms, organizations, and companies to become a sponsor of our 2023 annual conference. 

Through a conference sponsorship you will demonstrate support for the National Center’s continuing labor-management mission, programing, and research agenda.

Major Supporting Partner: $15,000

Benefits:

Complimentary registration for 3 conference attendees and a 50% reduction for a fourth;

Your organization’s logo and link to your site on the National Center website;

Opportunity to make introductory remarks at the plenary or mid-day greetings;

Your organization’s name referenced in our monthly newsletter;

Inclusion of a one-page display ad in the conference program;

Listing as a major supporting sponsor of the annual conference, webinars and conference receptions.



Supporting Partner: $10,000

Benefits:

Complimentary registration for 2 conference attendees and a 50% reduction for a third;

Your organization’s logo and link to your site on the National Center website;

Your organization's name referenced in our monthly newsletter;

Inclusion of a one-page display ad in the conference program;

Listing as a supporting sponsor of the annual conference, webinars and conference receptions.

Participating Sponsor: $5,000

Benefits:

Complimentary registration for one conference attendee;

Your organization’s logo and link to your site on the National Center website;

Your organization's name referenced in our monthly newsletter;

Inclusion of a half-page display ad in the conference program;

Listing as a participating sponsor of the annual conference, webinars and conference breaks.

Basic Sponsor: $2,500

Benefits:

Complimentary registration for one conference attendee;

Listing as a sponsor on the National Center website;

Your organization’s name referenced in our monthly newsletter;

Inclusion of a one-quarter display ad in the conference program;

Listing as a basic sponsor of the annual conference, webinars and conference breaks.

Introductory Sponsor: $1,500

Benefits:

Complimentary registration for one conference attendee;

Listing as a sponsor on the National Center website;

Your organization’s name referenced in our monthly newsletter;

Inclusion of a one-quarter display ad in the conference program;

Listing as an introductory sponsor of the annual conference, webinars and conference breaks.

2023 Conference Program Advertisements

Another important way to celebrate the National Center’s 50^th anniversary and demonstrate support for our mission and research is for your institution, union, law firm, organization or company to place an advertisement in our 2023 conference program.

Full-page advertisement:       $ 1,500

Half-page advertisement:       $    750

Quarter-page advertisement: $    275

Please email us with any questions at: national.center@hunter.cuny.edu

Rutgers University: Disciplinary Reassignments Subject to Arbitration

Rutgers University, NJPERC Decision No. 2023-17

On November 22, 2022, the New Jersey Public Employment Relations Commission (NJPERC) issued a procedural decision rejecting a request by Rutgers University to restrain the arbitration of a grievance filed by AAUP challenging the alleged disciplinary reassignment of a music professor for misconduct.

The agency concluded that the record revealed that "the grievant’s reassignments were predominately disciplinary in nature and, therefore, legally arbitrable. The record shows that Rutgers reassigned the grievant from orchestra directing positions he had held for many years.... Those reassignments occurred immediately following the conclusion of the grievant’s unpaid disciplinary suspension in the Spring 2021 semester, which followed misconduct allegations and an investigation that placed him on administrative leave for the 2019-2020 academic year." The agency also cited the fact that the university failed to identify a specific educational or operational justification for the grievant's involuntary reassignment.

Broome Comm. Coll.: Arbitrator Decision Upheld in Faculty Discipline

Matter of SUNY Broome Community Coll. (Faculty Assn. of SUNY Broome Community College) 2022 NY Slip Op 06051 (A.D. 3d Dept., 2022)

On October 27, 2022, a New York intermediate appellate court affirmed a lower court decision, which had denied a petition by SUNY Broome Community College to vacate an arbitration award sustaining a grievance by a professor challenging a disciplinary suspension without pay. 

With respect to the question of procedural arbitrability, the appellate court found that the arbitrator had not erred in finding that the union’s failure to strictly comply with the initial steps of the grievance process was not fatal because the contract did not mandate strict compliance and the college was on actual notice of the grievance.

On the merits, the appellate court found no basis for setting aside the arbitrator’s decision that the college had violated the contract by suspending the faculty member without pay pending resolution of disciplinary charges. The contract provision at issue was silent on whether a suspension pending charges was to be with or without pay and there was evidence presented to the arbitrator demonstrating a past practice of suspensions with full pay.

Donovan v. Southern New Hampshire University, Case No. 2022-015 (N.H. S.Ct. 2022)

On November 2, 2022, the Supreme Court of New Hampshire affirmed the grant of summary judgment dismissing a wrongful termination lawsuit by Associate Dean of Faculty for Mathematics Melissa Donovan against Southern New Hampshire University. In the lawsuit, Donovan alleged she was constructively discharged by the university because of her refusal to alter grades of two students. In affirming the dismissal, the state appellate court concluded that Donovan's refusal to comply with the university's grading decision did not implicate the public policy exception in New Hampshire to the at-will doctrine.

Washington State University: UAW Certified to Represent GA Unit

Washington State University, WPERC Case No. 135073-E-22

On November 9, 2022, the Washington Public Employment Relations Commission issued an interim certification of United Automobile, Aerospace, and Agricultural Implement Workers of America Local 4121 (UAW Local 4121) to represent a bargaining unit of graduate assistants at the Washington State University. The certification was issued following a card check by the agency.

The following is the newly certified bargaining unit of graduate assistants represented by UAW Local 4121 at the Washington State University:

Included: All employees enrolled in academic programs and employed by the Washington State University in the following classifications: Graduate Teaching Assistant; Graduate Staff Assistant; Graduate Project Assistant; Graduate Veterinary Assistant; Tutor, Reader and/or Grader in all academic units and tutoring centers; Graduate Research Assistant, and any other student employees whose duties and responsibilities are substantially equivalent to those employees in the described positions.

Excluded: Students who have incidental or no service expectancy imposed upon them by the employer, casual employees, confidential employees, supervisors, employees covered under chapter 41.76 RCW, employees included in any other bargaining unit, and all other employees.

Worcester Polytechnic Institute: UAW Certified to Represent GA Unit

Worcester Polytechnic Institute, NLRB Case No. 01-RC-30367

On November 3, WPI Graduate Workers Union- International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace, and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW) was certified by the National Labor Relations Board to represent a bargaining unit of 535 graduate assistants at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. The certification was issued following an election, in which the graduate assistants voted 379-15 in favor of union representation.

The following is a description of the newly certified bargaining unit represented by the UAW at Worcester Polytechnic Institute:

Included: All graduate students enrolled at Worcester Polytechnic Institute who are employed to provide instructional services, research services or administrative services in academic departments. These include Teaching Assistants (such as teaching assistants, PLAs, GLAs, readers, tutors, and graders), all Graduate Assistants and all graduate Research Assistants (regardless of funding sources) employed by the Employer.

Excluded: All undergraduate students; graduate students not employed by the Employer, graduate students who are employed outside of academic departments (e.g. Physical Education, Recreation & Athletics), non-graduate student office clericals, managers, guards and supervisors as defined in the Act.

Northwestern University: Petition Filed to Represent Graduate Assistants

Northwestern University, NLRB Case No. 13-RC-307313

On November 17, 2022, United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE) filed a petition seeking to represent a bargaining unit of 3500 graduate assistants at Northwestern University.

The following is a description of bargaining unit sought in the UE petition:

Included: Graduate Students enrolled in Northwestern University degree programs who are employed to provide instructional and research services, including graduate assistants, research assistants and scholarship (taxable) employees.

Excluded: All other employees; undergraduate students; graduate students not seeking Northwestern degrees, including visiting students; office clericals; managers; guards and supervisors as define in the Act.

Mount Holyoke College: UCFW Certified to Represent Resident Advisors

Trustees of Mount Holyoke College, NLRB Case No. 01-RC-304231

On November 9, United Food and Commercial Workers Union, Local 1459 (UCFW Local 1459) was certified by the National Labor Relations Board to represent a bargaining unit of 78 resident advisors at Mount Holyoke College. The certification was issued following an election, in which the graduate assistants voted 65-0 in favor of union representation.

The following is a description of the newly certified bargaining unit represented by UCFW Local 1459 at Mount Holyoke:

Included: All undergraduate students enrolled at Mount Holyoke College who are employed by the College as Resident Advisors and/or Residential Fellows.

Excluded: All non-student employees, confidential employees, office clerical employees, managers, and guards and supervisors as defined by the Act.

Barnard College: Resident Advisors Vote for OPEIU Representation

Barnard College, NLRB Case No. 02-RC-305306

On November 18, 2022 NLRB Region 2 tallied the ballots in an election involving a petition filed by Office and Professional Employees International Union Local 153 (OPEIU Local 153) to represent a unit of resident advisors at Barnard College. In a unit of 58 resident advisors, 47 voted in favor of representation and 2 voted against.

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

Included: All full-time and regular part-time Resident Assistants employed by the Employer at its facility located at 3009 Broadway, New York, NY 10027.

Excluded: All other employees including confidential employees, guards, managers, and supervisors as defined by the Act.

Tufts University: OPEIU Local 153 Files to Represent Resident Advisors

Tufts University, NLRB Case No. 01-RC-307294

On November 17, 2022, the Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) Local 153 filed a petition with the NLRB to represent a unit of 143 resident advisors at Tuft University.

The following is a description of the bargaining unit sought by OPEIU Local 153 in the petition:

Included: All Resident Assistants employed by the Employer.

Excluded: All confidential employees, guards, and supervisors defined by the Act.

On November 22, 2022, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed into law a bill amending the New York State Employment Relations Act to mandate the New York Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) to establish an electronic filing system to expedite the processing of petitions and complaints under that state labor relations law. The legislation will also require PERB to create a publicly accessible decision index. The legislation is a reflection of PERB's expanding private sector jurisdiction that includes farm workers.

Earlier this year, the National Center filed comments with PERB, in response to the agency's proposed rule making, urging PERB to adopt an electronic filing system, which had been stalled for many years due to the lack of sufficient allocated resources.

The National Center is pleased to welcome Karen Stubaus as an Affiliated Researcher to focus on racial and gender equity in higher education. Karen is Vice President for Academic Affairs at Rutgers University and a member of the National Center's Board of Advisors. Her responsibilities at Rutgers include a broad array of academic, budgetary, and strategic matters across the university's three geographical campuses in New Brunswick, Newark, and Camden, as well as for Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences.

On December 7, 2023 at 6 p.m.-7:30 p.m., the New York City Labor and Employment Relations Association (LERA) Chapter will present a panel discussion titled Legal and and Agency Updates from the NLRB, PERB, and OCB. The panel will provide an in depth look at the latest developments, significant decisions, cases to watch, and the most pressing issues at each agency.

Speakers:

John D. Doyle, Jr., Region 2 Director, National Labor Relations Board

William M. Conley, Director, Office of Conciliation, Public Employment Relations Board

Mariam Manichaikul, Chief Mediator and Regional Director, Brooklyn Office, PERB

Steven Star, Deputy Chair and General Counsel, New York City Office of Collective Bargaining

Moderator:

William A. Herbert, National Center Executive Director and Distinguished Lecturer, Hunter College, City University of New York

Location:

This event will take place at American Arbitration Association located at 150 East 42nd Street, 17th floor in Manhattan

CLE: There will be complimentary 1.5 CLE credits offered.

Registration:

The event is compliments of NYC LERA for members and non-members alike. Though registration is complimentary for everyone, it asks that you complete the booking form below and submit to reserve your seat.

Register by submitting your booking here:

https://lerachapter.org/nyc/events/legall-and-agency-update-2022

The National Center's 2022 annual conference on April 11-13, 2022 was a major success. We thank all the panelists, moderators, and attendees for their participation.

We are grateful to TIAA, SEIU, AAUP, AFT, NEA and NCHE for sponsoring the conference, to the organizations, law firms, and businesses that purchased conference program advertisements, and to the individuals who made donations.

Below are links to video recordings of conference presentations along with links to panel descriptions, panelists bios, and reading material. Click here for the full conference program.

Welcoming Remarks from Jennifer J. Raab, President, Hunter College, CUNY, Theodore H. Curry, Professor of Human Resources and Labor Relations, Michigan State University, Christopher Simeone, Director, Department of Organizing and Services, AAUP, and William A. Herbert, Executive Director, National Center for the Study of Collective Bargaining in Higher Education and the Professions, Hunter College, CUNY.

Keynote Presentation by Montserrat Garibay, Senior Advisor for Labor Relations, Office of the Secretary, U.S. Department of Education in conversation with Kathleen Mulligan, Director of the National Labor Leadership Initiative, Cornell University, ILR School. Panelists Bios

Panel: The Future of Higher Education with Arthur Levine, The Great Upheaval: Higher Education's Past, Present, and Uncertain Future, Ann Kirschner, University Professor, City University of New York, Discussant, Adrianna Kezar, Endowed Professor and Dean's Professor of Leadership, USC, Director, Pullias Center, and Director, Delphi Project, Discussant, and Daniel Greenstein, Chancellor, Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, Moderator.

Panel Description and Panelists Bios

Panel: Reassessing and Reexamining the History of Higher Education with Elizabeth Tandy Shermer, Indentured Students: How Government-Guaranteed Loans Left Generations Drowning in College Debt, Cristina Viviana Groeger, The Education Trap: Schools and the Remaking of Inequality in Boston, Davarian Baldwin, In the Shadow of the Ivory Tower: How Universities Are Plundering Our Cities, and Ellen Schrecker, The Lost Promise: American Universities in the 1960s, and Suzanne Kahn, Managing Director of Research and Policy, Roosevelt Institute, Moderator. Panel Description and Panelists Bios. At our request, the panelists prepared the following bibliography for further study of the issues.

Panel: Contract Negotiations under COVID and Beyond with Margaret E. Winters, former Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, Wayne State University, Ricardo Villarosa, Wayne State University AAUP-AFT, Dominick Fanelli, Associate Director Labor Relations, University of Michigan, Kirsten Herold, President, Lecturers' Employee Organization, AFT Local 6244, and Homer C. La Rue, Labor Arbitrator, Mediator, and Professor of Law, Howard University School of Law, Moderator.

Panel Description and Panelists Bios; Reading Material

Panel: COVID and Higher Education: The Role of Unions and Arbitration Regarding Vaccine Mandates with Richard Bales, Professor of Law, Pettit College of Law, Ohio Northern University, Eve Weinbaum, Co-President, Massachusetts Society of Professors, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Michael Eagen, Associate Provost for Academic Personnel, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and Charles Toombs, President, California Faculty Association, Moderator.

Panel Description and Panelists Bios

Panel: Pandemic Organizing and Bargaining Lessons in Higher Education with Larry Savage, Chair, Department of Labour Studies, Brock University and Lauren Byers, United Faculty of Florida, Unit Service Director, Organizing Specialist, Barry Miller, Senior Policy Advisor on Labour Relations, York University, Discussant and Moderator.

Panel Description and Panelists Bios; Reading Material

Panel: Lessons Learned: Organizing and Collective Bargaining by Graduate Assistants During the Pandemic with Jacob A. Bennett, MFA, PhD, University of New Hampshire, Ben Serber, Higher Ed Organizer, North Dakota United and Past President, FSU Graduate Assistants United, Amy L. Levant, Assistant Director of Labor and Employee Relations, University of Illinois, Chicago, and Joseph van der Naald, Graduate Student Researcher, Program in Sociology, Graduate Center, CUNY, Moderator.

Panel Description and Panelists Bios

Panel: Limiting the Use of Student Evaluations in Contracts: Challenges in Vision and Enforcement with Steven Newman, former President, Temple Association of University Professionals, Temple University, Ian Sakinofsky, Professor of HR Management, Ryerson University, Laura Murphy, Dutchess United Educators, Alexandra Matish, Associate Vice Provost for Academic and Faculty Affairs, University of Michigan, and Timothy S. Taylor, Arbitrator, Scheinman Arbitration and Mediation Services, Moderator.

Panel Description and Panelists Bios; Reading Material

Panel: Federal Funding, Inequality, and Higher Education: Politics and Policy-Making with Adam Harris, staff writer at the Atlantic, National Fellow at New America, and author, The State Must Provide: Why America’s Colleges Have Always Been Unequal — and How to Set Them Right, Rebecca S. Natow, Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership & Policy, Hofstra University and author, Reexamining the Federal Role in Higher Education: Politics and Policymaking in the Postsecondary Sector, and Sosanya Jones, Associate Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, Howard University, Moderator.

Panel Description and Panelists Bios; Reading Material

Panel: Becoming JEDI: Labor-Management Strategy to Challenge Racism on Campus and Stem Community College Enrollment Decline with Courtney Brewer, Professor of Psychology, Executive Vice President, Faculty Association Suffolk Community College, Christina Vargas, Chief Diversity Officer and Title IX Coordinator, Suffolk County Community College, board member, ERASE Racism NY, Patty Munsch, Interim Vice President for Student Affairs, Suffolk County Community College, Jennifer Browne, Associate Dean for Curriculum Development, Suffolk County Community College, Lauren Liburd, Specialist, SCCC Foundation, Co-Chair Achieving the Dream Committee, and Cynthia Eaton, Professor of English, Secretary, Faculty Association Suffolk Community College, Moderator.

Panel Description and Panelists Bios; Reading Material

Panel: Collective Bargaining and Shared Governance: Findings from the 2021 AAUP Shared Governance Survey with Lynn Pasquerella, President, Association of American Colleges and Universities, Timothy Reese Cain, Associate Professor of Higher Education, University of Georgia, Hans-Joerg Tiede, Director of Research, American Association of University Professors, and Michael Loconto, Arbitrator and Mediator, Loconto ADR, Boston, MA, Moderator.

Panel Description and Panelists Bios; Reading Material

Panel: Achieving Pay Parity for Part-Time Faculty in Community Colleges with

Sandra Weese, Organizing Director, California Federation of Teachers, Ron McKinley, Vice Chancellor of Human Resources and Employee Relations, Peralta Community College District, Dyana Delfin-Polk, Peralta Community College District Board of Trustees, and Jennifer Shanoski, President, Peralta Federation of Teachers, AFT Local 1603, Moderator. Panel Description and Panelists Bios; Reading Material

Panel: An Update from NLRB and Public Sector Labor Relations Agencies on Higher Education Issues with Mark Gaston Pearce, Executive Director, Workers’ Rights Institute, Georgetown University Law School, and former National Labor Relations Board Chairman, J. Felix De La Torre, General Counsel, California Public Employment Relations Board, Ellen Maureen Strizak, General Counsel, Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board, and Jennifer Abruzzo, General Counsel, National Labor Relations Board.

Panel Description and Panelists Bios; Reading Material

Panel: Faculty Unionization and Collective Bargaining in the Philippines: Similarities and Differences with Benjamin Velasco, Assistant Professor, University of the Philippines, School of Labor and Industrial Relations, Rene Luis Tadle, Associate Professor, Philosophy, University of Santo Tomas and Lead Convenor, Council of Teachers and Staff of Colleges and Universities of the Philippines, Gerardo L. Blanco Associate Professor, Higher Education, Academic Director, Center for International Higher Education, Boston College, Shannon Lederer, Director of Immigration Policy, AFL-CIO, and Ashwini Sukthankar, Secretary/Treasurer, International Commission for Labor Rights. Panel Description and Panelists Bios

Panel: Higher Education Legal Update with Henry Morris, Jr., Partner, Arent Fox LLP, Monica Barrett, Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLC, Angela Thompson, CWA Special Counsel for Strategic Initiatives, and Aaron Nisenson, Senior Legal Counsel, AAUP, Panelist and Moderator. Panel Description and Panelists Bios; Reading Material

Job Posting: University of Massachusetts, Amherst,

Assistant Provost/Senior Director of Academic Labor Relations

Assistant Provost/Senior Director of Academic Labor Relations

(Hybrid Opportunity)

https://careers.umass.edu/amherst/en-us/job/516540/assistant-provostsenior-director-of-academic- labor-relations-hybrid-opportunity

Job no: 516540

Work type: Staff Full Time

Location: UMass Amherst

Department: Provost's

Office Union: Non-Unit Exempt

Categories: Human Resources, Administrative/Office Support, Legal Affairs

About UMass Amherst

UMass Amherst, the Commonwealth's flagship campus, is a nationally ranked public research university offering a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University sits on nearly 1,450-acres in the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts, and offers a rich cultural environment in a bucolic setting close to major urban centers. In addition, the University is part of the Five Colleges (including Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, and Smith College), which adds to the intellectual energy of the region.

Job Summary

Under the supervision of the Associate Provost for Academic Personnel, this position will work directly with senior leadership, deans, directors and department chairs in all aspects of collective bargaining and labor contract administration with the University’s faculty, graduate assistant and post-doctoral employee bargaining agreements. This position will have primary responsibility for at least one of these bargaining agreements.

Essential Functions

• Supports labor negotiations with the faculty, graduate assistant and post-doc collective bargaining units. May serve as the principal negotiator in collective bargaining with one or more of these units.
• Works with the Provost, deans and others to develop the campus administration’s position and proposals for collective bargaining with academic labor unions representing faculty, graduate assistants and post- doctoral employees; designs bargaining strategies, keeps campus administrators informed about collective bargaining developments, provides training for individuals involved in collective bargaining.
• Provides advice and guidance to academic deans, directors, department chairs, administrators and others regarding the interpretation and application of relevant collective bargaining agreements and policies that govern academic personnel matters.
• Leads or serves as a member of the administration’s collective bargaining teams.
• Serves on labor/management committees.
• Communicates with campus and system human resources offices, union representatives, managers and employees to resolve workplace issues governed by collective bargaining agreements including conducting grievance investigations, making recommendations for resolution of grievances, and providing general guidance to senior university officials relating to academic personnel employee relations.
• Performs research and analysis of labor agreements and employment policies at other institutions to inform labor negotiation strategy and/or policy development. Compiles and analyzes data and creates reports.
• Works to create a diverse and inclusive workplace for all faculty, staff, and students. Ensures that all personnel practices are valid and reliable, and do not have adverse impact on minority groups.
• Maintains working knowledge of, and ensures adherence to, University, state, and federal human resources laws and policies as well as collective bargaining agreements.
• Understands responsibilities with respect to Title IX, Clery and other compliance requirements.
• Understands and contributes to implementation of departmental and institutional goals for achieving non-discrimination and creating a respectful, inclusive environment that is supportive of diversity.
• Collaborate with other campus offices (General Counsel, Equal Opportunity and Access, Human Resources, etc.) in responding to complaints of discrimination and harassment as well as developing policies and programs for prevention.
• Safeguards and maintains confidential personnel records and files. Uses access to sensitive and/or not yet public university related information only in the performance of responsibilities of position and exercises care to prevent unnecessary disclosure to others.
• Understands responsibilities with respect to conflicts of interest and behaves in ways consistent both with law and with university policy.
• May represent Academic Affairs Executive area on campus-wide committees.
• Undertakes special projects as assigned.
• Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certification, Licensure)

• J.D. or other related advanced degree.
• Five (5) or more years of professional experience, specifically in labor and employee relations and collective bargaining.
• Demonstrated knowledge of collective bargaining, labor contract administration and interpretation, regulations and guidelines that govern employment relationships.
• Excellent organizational skills and an attention to detail with an ability to resolve routine problems efficiently, effectively and independently in a timely manner.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with a demonstrated ability to interact effectively, communicate clearly and concisely to articulate ideas, and create and maintain harmonious relationships with a diverse population of staff, faculty, and students.
• Ability to work both independently and to be part of an effective team with a highly cooperative and collaborative work style.
• Ability to read, understand, apply, and explain rules, regulations, and policies/procedures related to duties. Ability to understand and follow complex oral and written instructions and create effective and efficient work processes.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to organize, prioritize and manage time and heavy workloads effectively.

Preferred Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certification, Licensure)

• Applicable work experience in higher education, including familiarity with employment policies and procedures in higher education.

Physical Demands/Working Conditions

Typical office environment.

Work Schedule

• Monday - Friday, 40 hours a week.
• This position has the opportunity for a hybrid work schedule, which is defined by the University as an arrangement where an employee’s work is regularly performed at a location other than the campus workspace for a portion of the week. As this position is non-unit, it is subject to the terms and conditions of the University of Massachusetts Board of Trustees Non-Unit (Professional/or Classified) Employee Personnel Policy.

Salary Information

• Salary will be commensurate with experience.

Special Instructions to Applicants

Along with the application, please submit a resume, cover letter and contact information for three (3) professional references. The search will remain open until filled.

UMass Amherst is committed to a policy of equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, age, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, disability, military status, or genetic information in employment, admission to and participation in academic programs, activities, and services, and the selection of vendors who provide services or products to the University. To fulfill that policy, UMass Amherst is further committed to a program of affirmative action to eliminate or mitigate artificial barriers and to increase opportunities for the recruitment and advancement of qualified minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and covered veterans. It is the policy of the UMass Amherst to comply with the applicable federal and state statutes, rules, and regulations concerning equal opportunity and affirmative action.

Advertised: Oct 27 2022 Eastern Daylight Time

Applications close: