Greetings AAUP-CSU Members and Supporters,
As we enter another academic year that likely will involve budget cuts and we prepare for the transition to the next CSU system chancellor, momentum is building on campus to push for collective bargaining rights, more transparency from the Board of Governors, and increased representation of AAUP-CSU on faculty council standing committees. Now is the time to make our voices heard. Keep reading to learn how you can get involved!
[Take Action] [Stay Informed] [Get Support] [Join AAUP-CSU]
Take Action
Students and Faculty Collect Postcards with Comments for the Board of Governors
For the second year in a row, AAUP-CSU and ASCSU joined forces to collect student, faculty, and staff comments on postcards to be shared at this week’s Board of Governors meeting.
After the passage of a resolution supporting the postcard initiative and affirming the importance of student and faculty collaboration in elevating the concerns of our constituencies, ASCSU joined AAUP-CSU in distributing postcards and tabling on the plaza. Students, faculty, and staff share several key priorities, including asking the Board of Governors for increased transparency on the CSU System budget and pushing for increased representation on key Board committees and voting rights for the Board’s faculty representatives.
CSU community members were free to write any concerns they had on postcards. This initiative provides an important mechanism for elevating the individual concerns of our students, faculty, and staff to all members of our governing board.
Public Comment at the Board of Governors Meeting
On Thursday, October 1 at 9:00a.m. the CSU Board of Governors will be meeting in the Longs Peak room of the Lory Student Center. There is a brief public comment period at the beginning of the meeting, and we urge faculty to join us to articulate your concerns directly to the Board. Arrive at 8:45 to sign up. The public comment period will begin shortly after the meeting starts. Individual comments will be limited to approximately 1 minute (the exact time allotted depends on how many people sign up to give comments). We recommend coming with 30-60 seconds of planned content. Keep it concise and clear. Let the Board know that faculty are invested in and attentive to their work.
AAUP-CSU General meeting | Monday, October 5, 4:00-5:00pm | Eddy 104, followed by happy hour in Ramskellar to identify concerns.
We gather monthly to plan actions, discuss concerns, and build solidarity. All are welcome (faculty, staff, students, and community members). You don’t need to be an AAUP member to attend our meetings, and we have a way for you to get involved even if you only have a couple hours per month to spare.
Stay Informed
Book Club!
The Center for the Study of Academic Labor (CSAL) invites faculty to join a book club – style discussion of Dirty Knowledge: Academic Freedom in the Age of Neoliberalism by CSU English Department Chair Julia Schleck. The book challenges traditional ideas of academic freedom and considers how universities can protect diverse, critical scholarship amid growing political, financial, and market pressures. Julia plans to attend and participate in the conversation. The discussion will take place on October 29 from 4:00–5:30 p.m. in TILT 104. The first 20 participants to sign up may request a complimentary copy of the book, sponsored by CSAL. We hope you will join us for an engaging conversation with colleagues. Sign up by following the link: CSAL Book Discussion Sign-Up: Dirty Knowledge – Fill out form
The book may also be purchased here: https://a.co/d/00YLk9kN
Get Support
AAUP works for you!
Read the AAUP’s report on academic freedom and collective bargaining.
Check out AAUP’s collection of reports, articles, and books on a variety of topics in AAUP’s Issues in Higher Ed page. Use their research to advocate for faculty and students on our campus!
Membership has its benefits! Check out the resources available to national AAUP members, including webinars, toolkits, a subscription to Academe, and benefits from the American Federation of Teachers.
