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Week 3 Legislative Update from Tom Auxter, UFF President

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The 2012 Legislative Session: Week Three

1. Are privatized on-line courses the wave of the future? Both chambers are touting the benefits of on-line courses as a way to achieve dramatic reductions in university and college budgets in the future. Legislative leaders actually say that we can create on-line courses once and then use them repeatedly to collect tuition and avoid instruction costs in the future. They are slow to acknowledge the expenses of revising on-line courses each year to reflect changes in research results, and in texts and materials available to students, as well as the expenses of remaining in constant contact with students in answering questions and evaluating their work. If these factors are acknowledged, it cancels out cost savings.

If we ignore these considerations, the academic quality of the offerings will be sacrificed. Such on-line offerings are not real academic courses that serve student needs. If legislators adopt this on-the-cheap model of distance education, we can expect a nightmare.

What will the nightmare be like? A clue can be found at the end of the House higher education budget. There is $2.5 million allocated (“student access pilot project”) to Western Governors University, a private entity without classrooms (charging $6000 per year), which is designated by all Western states as an on-line university with credits acceptable in public higher education institutions in those states. In other words, credits for a baccalaureate degree can come from a private company with no actual faculty interacting with and evaluating students in meaningful ways.

I have spoken with faculty from these states in meetings of our affiliates (AFT and NEA), as well as in meetings of the national Campaign for the Future of Higher Education. They testify to the loss of quality in this approach in which universities and colleges accept credits toward a degree from a private “higher education institution” (without an authentic faculty) that pretends to serve legitimate academic needs.

In Florida, this camel just stuck its nose under the edge of our tent. Unless faculty contact their senators now, we can expect the same result in our future.

2. What kind of higher education budget are we facing? The House released a budget this week. (The Senate budget has not been published.) The approach is to cut appropriations and expect tuition increases to make up the differences in funding lost.

3. Should Florida deny faculty and professional employees the right to serve in the legislature? In SB 1560 Senators John Thrasher and Don Gaetz propose taking away from faculty the right to serve in the Legislature — claiming it is a conflict of interest for faculty to vote on bills that favor their own institution. (The bill is silent on possible conflicts by bankers, insurance executives, lawyers, doctors, engineers, and other professionals who often chair committees that craft legislation, and regardless of their possible conflicts of interest, sometimes even use their expertise to prevent damaging mistakes from becoming law.) University and college employees will join convicted felons as the only Floridians barred from serving in the Legislature.

If you accept silencing faculty in the legislative process, this is the time to be silent. If you object, now is the time to ask a senator to vote No when it comes to the floor.

4. Please call their capital and district offices. We are only contacting senators because that is where we have a chance to stop destructive bills. Click on this link and enter your zip code to find your senator. Their contact information is in the attached file. http://www.flsenate.gov/Senators/Find

5. What kind of message can faculty give to make a difference? Say your name and state that you live in the district. State that you want in leave a message for your senator to Vote against SB 1560 Vote against more cuts in higher education.

It is the volume of calls (not the quality of an explanation) that makes the difference. Politeness counts. It takes 30 seconds.
(Emails are not read or in some cases blocked.)

Important: Do not use university or college equipment to call legislators or to forward messages to other faculty. Use a private phone or computer.

Tom Auxter, President
United Faculty of Florida

Last Name First Name Party District District Phone Capital Phone
Alexander JD Rep 17 (863) 679-4847 (850) 487-5044
Altman Thad Rep 24 (321) 752-3138 (850) 487-5053
Benacquisto Lizbeth Rep 27 (561) 753-2440 (850) 487-5356
Bennett Michael S. ”Mike” Rep 21 (941) 727-6349 (850) 487-5078
Bogdanoff Ellyn Setnor Rep 25 (954) 467-4205 (850) 487-5100
Braynon Oscar Dem 33 (305) 654-7150 (850) 487-5116
Bullard (L) Larcenia J. Dem 39 (305) 668-7344 (850) 487-5127
Dean Charles S. ”Charlie” Rep 3 (352) 860-5175 (850) 487-5017
Detert Nancy Rep 23 (941) 480-3547 (850) 487-5081
Diaz de la Portilla Miguel Rep 36 (305) 643-7200 (850) 487-5109
Dockery Paula Rep 15 (863) 413-2900 (850) 487-5040
Evers Greg Rep 2 (850) 689-0556 (850) 487-5000
Fasano Mike Rep 11 (727) 848-5885 (850) 487-5062
Flores Anitere Rep 38 (305) 270-6550 (850) 487-5130
Gaetz (D) Don Rep 4 (850) 897-5747 (850) 487-5009
Garcia (R) Rene Rep 40 (305) 364-3100 (850) 487-5106
Gardiner Andy Rep 9 (407) 428-5800 (850) 487-5047
Gibson Audrey Dem 1 (904) 359-2553 (850) 487-5024
Haridopolos Mike Rep 26 (321) 752-3131 (850) 487-5056
Hays Alan Rep 20 (352) 742-6441 (850) 487-5014
Jones (D) Dennis Rep 13 (727) 549-6411 (850) 487-5065
Joyner Arthenia Dem 18 (813) 233-4277 (850) 487-5059
Latvala Jack Rep 16 (727) 556-6500 (850) 487-5075
Lynn Evelyn J. Rep 7 (386) 238-3180 (850) 487-5033
Margolis Gwen Dem 35 (305) 571-5777 (850) 487-5121
Montford Bill Dem 6 (850) 653-2656 (850) 487-5004
Negron Joe Rep 28 (772) 219-1665 (850) 487-5088
Norman Jim Rep 12 (813) 265-6260 (850) 487-5068
Oelrich Steve Rep 14 (352) 375-3555 (850) 487-5020
Rich Nan Dem 34 (954) 747-7933 (850) 487-5103
Richter Garrett Rep 37 (239) 417-6205 (850) 487-5124
Ring Jeremy Dem 32 (954) 917-1392 (850) 487-5094
Sachs Maria Lorts Dem 30 (561) 279-1427 (850) 487-5091
Simmons David Rep 22 (407) 262-7578 (850) 487-5050
Siplin Gary Dem 19 (407) 297-2071 (850) 487-5190
Smith (C) Christopher ”Chris” Dem 29 (561) 650-6801 (850) 487-5112
Sobel Eleanor Dem 31 (954) 924-3693 (850) 487-5097
Storms Ronda Rep 10 (813) 651-2189 (850) 487-5072
Thrasher John Rep 8 (904) 727-3600 (850) 487-5030
Wise Stephen R. Rep 5 (904) 381-6000 (850) 487-5027

UFF-FSU Update, January 20th, 2012

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UFF President Tom Auxter provides an update on legislative developments affecting Florida higher education in a document available at:

https://uff-fsu.org/art/WhatWeFaceNow18January2012.pdf

Collective bargaining continues today at 2pm at the FSU Training Center.

This week’s “University Welfare” report to the FSU Faculty Senate, focused on Senate-related NTTF issues, is available at:

https://uff-fsu.org/art/fs20120118.pdf

Email Migration Alert!

FSU IT folks have alerted us that as a result of the upcoming Jan. 25th final stage of the email migration process, certain FSU email addresses, possibly including the address by which you are subscribed to UFF-FSU lists, will no longer work.  If in the next few weeks you begin to sense that you have not heard from the UFF-FSU Chapter lately, please email to me with the current address you would like to use for your subscription.

Best regards,

Jack Fiorito ([email protected]), President

UFF-FSU Chapter

January Update

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Happy New Year! Hope you had a refreshing break. Volunteers and UFF staff have continued to work for FSU faculty these past few weeks, as indicated in part in the balance of this update.

1. At the “Ledge.” President Barron has noted that the initial state budget discussions have NOT included plans for large cuts to higher education, and that is an improvement over the last several years. Yes, that is arguably a sad statement about the sorry climate for higher education in Florida, given the underfunding reflected in continuing “brain drain” losses of our colleagues to better-funded institutions, and in many other ways such as growing class sizes. With the Speaker of the House opening this session blasting what he perceives as mediocrity (could that have something to do with funding?), hundreds of bills filed, and our current political leaders’ track records on ideas for improving higher education, it is difficult to be optimistic. Stay tuned.

2. Collective Bargaining: Faculty and Administration/BOT teams met for their first 2012 session on Tuesday and agreed to take up Non-Tenure Track Faculty reclassification project issues and revisions to the Salary Plan for Professors as their first agenda items in upcoming sessions. Other agenda items carried over from 2011 bargaining include faculty performance evaluations, promotion, tenure, and benefits. The teams are scheduled to meet most Fridays for the remainder of the semester. Salary issues will of course be on the agenda once again as well.

3. We’re pleased to announce success in two grievances filed on behalf of Salary Plan for Professor (SPP) applicants who were initially denied SPP raises (9%). Both grievants were represented by the UFF (at no cost — membership has its benefits!) and our Grievance Chair (Dr. Lee Stepina) was able to persuade the Administration that SPP awards were merited in both cases.

4. We are still trying to obtain adequate information on December’s merit bonuses. The initial report from the FSU Administration (see https://uff-fsu.org/art/FacultyMeritBonusesDecember2011.xlsx) is problematic in several regards. We are also multiple faculty members’ complaints.

5. DRAFT consultation minutes are available from our Dec. 15th meeting with President Barron, Provost Stokes, and other Administration representatives. The draft minutes appear to have garbled the discussion in a few places, so please keep that in mind if you review those DRAFT minutes (https://uff-fsu.org/art/PresidentConsultation12-15-11MinutesDRAFT.pdf).

6. In case you missed it, an interesting editorial referencing FSU faculty salaries appeared in yesterday’s Tallahassee Democrat. See https://uff-fsu.org/art/tdedit20120112.pdf.

Best regards,

Jack Fiorito, President

UFF-FSU Chapter

P.S. Support the team that works for you! If you are a UFF member, thank you. If not, join today and help build a stronger voice for FSU faculty. See www.uff-fsu.org for more information.

 

Report on University Welfare for Faculty Senate, December 7th, 2011

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Collective Bargaining

We’ve had just one bargaining session since the last Senate meeting.  In contrast to most of our weekly sessions since May, which have focused on the Administration/BOT’s desire to revise performance evaluation procedures, we addressed academic freedom (Article 5), domestic partner benefits, and revisions to the Salary Plan for Professors (Article 25).  At UFF urging, we have a session scheduled for tomorrow at 2pm in UCA 6200 to review issues in the Non-Tenure Track Faculty reclassification project.  All faculty members are welcome to attend that session.

The merit bonus determination process is moving forward.  We are unfortunately hearing of some implementation procedures that appear to be at odds with our Memorandum of Agreement, and we are investigating.

Consultation

UFF representatives will meet with President Barron and Provost Stokes on December 15th.  The merit bonus implementation will probably be on our agenda.

At the Ledge

Recent encouraging words from Governor Scott about education funding may present a case of a silver lining preceding a dark cloud.  We certainly welcome the Governor’s belated realization that education investments are critical to Florida’s future.  How the budget is funded is of course a concern.  I can note, however, that the UFF is paying attention to both sides of the aisle in the Florida Legislature.

Upcoming Events

  • Tomorrow, Thursday, December 8th, 2pm in the “HR Suite” at UCA 6200, faculty and administration bargaining teams will review issues in the draft agreement on Non-Tenure Track Faculty (NTTF) reclassification.
  • Thursday, December 15th, 12:30 pm.  Lunch with Jeff Wright and Pat Dix, FEA, in the Askew Student Life Center (SLC) Rooms 101A-D.  Tentative topic:  “It Could Be Worse (And How Faculty Can Make It Better).”  Lunch is free to UFF members and guests, $12 for others.  RSVP to me ([email protected])

Questions?   Thank you for your time, and Happy Holidays to all!

Special Message from Tom Auxter

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The Fate of Higher Education Hangs in the Balance:
Florida Legislature 2012

The next legislative session starting in January could decide once and for all whether Florida will have a viable system of higher education in the future. The leadership, with the support of the Governor, is ready to introduce changes so radical that it would take decades to reverse the damage done to public universities and colleges. This is the last chance for right-wing forces (before redistricting possibly shifts the balance of power in the 2012 election) to pass legislation to convert Florida higher education into a “Texas style” business operation, destroy faculty rights, and dramatically cut funding.

If they succeed, we will see an end to academic life as we know it. As a result of huge budget cuts, students will be processed through diploma mills and have little contact with faculty. Without a collective bargaining contract, faculty will lose job security and be subject annually to “at will” decisions by supervisors — depending only on whether the supervisors want to keep them after the State severely cuts their budgets for instruction.

Can we prevent this outcome? Our best hope lies in persuading the Florida Senate to defeat these drastic measures. We need to show the more moderate senators, who constitute a swing vote, that we are ready to support them if they defend the quality of higher education.

We desperately need to raise PAC funds to make this work. We do not use membership dues for campaign contributions. The only way we can raise enough money to do this is if members write checks to “UFF-PAC” now.

Please mail a check for $100 (if possible), or whatever you can afford, by December 1st. Send it to: UFF, 306 East Park Avenue, Tallahassee, Florida 32301.

The fate of higher education in Florida hangs in the balance.

Tom Auxter
UFF President