February 9, 2023, 4:00PM, Office of the President at Utica University:
AAUP Utica/AFT 6786 President Leonore Fleming and Vice President Douglas Edwards, accompanied by a number of Utica University Faculty and Librarians, deliver the “Save Utica! Stop the Cuts!” Petition, that had gathered over 1302 signatures at the time of delivery. Nine letters from local, regional, and national associations were also delivered to Anthony M. Villanti, Special Assistant to the President and Secretary to the Board of Trustees.
“As president of the AAUP-Utica, I beg the Utica University President and the Board of Trustees to read these documents, to listen to these diverse voices, and think critically about the points that are being raised. We ask not just to be heard, but to be provided answers.”
– AAUP-Utica President Leonore Fleming
“The administration and the board have bypassed clearly established curricular processes in the union’s collective bargaining agreement, the Faculty Senate Bylaws, and established Curriculum Committee procedures, announcing on January 18, 2023 the proposed elimination of 15 majors and significant and mandatory modifications of eight others.”
– New York State Conference of the AAUP
Letters in the delivery to the University President and Board of Trustees Include (click the links to read the letters in their entirety):
- Hamilton College AAUP Chapter
- New York State Conference of the AAUP
- American Philosophical Association
- American Sociological Association
- American Anthropological Association
- Philosophy instructors and members of the Central New York Community
- National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification
- American Therapeutic Recreation Association
- Utica University Alum Ben Mehic’s Opinion column in the Daily Sentinel from Jan. 25, 2023
The Utica University Faculty, Librarians and Students are so thankful for the support from the 1300+ people who signed the “Save Utica! Stop the Cuts!” petition as well as the support from the nine organizations who wrote and sent in letters.
“Utica University describes itself as an institution that provides ‘outstanding educational pathways’ and values ‘Intellectual growth, creativity, and scholarship in the pursuit of knowledge… Freedom of expression and civil discourse… [and] Ethical behavior and integrity.’ It would be difficult to argue that Utica University is living up to these values or fulfilling its commitment to a comprehensive liberal arts education were it to eliminate its philosophy major.”
– American Philosophical Association
AAUP Utica 