AAUP-Utica President, Vice President, and numerous faculty and librarians deliver petition and letters condemning proposed cuts to University President and Board of Trustees

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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):

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

Utica University Program Elimination News Round Up

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Catch up on what’s been going on at Utica University since the announcement on January 18, 2023 by Utica University’s outgoing president, Laura Casamento, and the outgoing Board of Trustees Chair, Bob Brvenik, to eliminate 15 majors as well as their recommendation that 8 more majors and 1 program be revised or else perhaps risk being eliminated.

Click the images below to read the following news stories:

PLEASE SIGN OUR THE PETITION HERE and PLEASE SHARE IT! WE’RE ALMOST AT 1000 SIGNATURES!

Download the January 25, 2023 Faculty Senate Censure of the Board of Trustees Here or read it below:

Censure of the Board of Trustees 1-25-23Download

AAUP-Utica Files Grievance Over University’s Failure to Follow Proper Shared Governance Procedures

On January 10, 2023, AAUP-Utica filed a formal grievance over the University’s failure to follow the procedures of the Faculty Senate by-laws as specified in Article 7, GOVERNANCE, Section 7.1, Faculty Senate Committees, of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. This grievance is in accordance with Article 16 GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, specifically, Step 2.

It is the position of the AAUP-Utica that the contract requires that the Curriculum Committee consider matters related to the curriculum of the University. This includes the current Academic Program Review Recommendations and any and all proposals to design, redesign or eliminate programs or majors.

Additionally, the Curriculum Committee’s Function and Authority is stated clearly in the Faculty Senate Bylaws:

Function and Authority: shall receive, consider and/or initiate all requests for, or studies of, new or revised curriculum changes, including the general education program, majors, minors, special programs, courses, course credit, descriptions, numbers, titles, methods of instruction, graduation requirements and all standards and policies pertaining to the same; consider what changes are academically wise, financially practicable and within the mission of the College; and report and recommend the same to the Faculty Senate.

Download the January 10 Grievance Letter or read the full letter below:

1-10-23-aauputica-grievanceDownload