Open Letter From The AAUP-Utica Leadership About Retrenchment at Utica University

Yesterday, the AAUP-Utica Leadership issued an open letter in response to the retrenchment notices sent by Utica University on Tuesday, September 9, 2025.

We urge all students, staff, faculty, alumni, and community members to read it, as it provides important context for how we reached this point.

To echo the last line of our letter, in this difficult time, we stand united with our colleagues, our students, and our community. 

In solidarity,

The AAUP-Utica Governing Board, Negotiation Team, Grievance Officers, Board of Trustees Guests, and Hearing Committee Members

8-10-25 AAUP-Utica Open Letter About RetrenchmentDownload

AAUP-Utica President Responds to Utica University’s Announcement to Eliminate 15 Majors

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Utica University’s outgoing president, Laura Casamento, and the outgoing Board of Trustees Chair, Bob Brvenik, announced their recommendation today to eliminate 15 majors as well as their recommendation that 8 more majors and 1 program be revised or else perhaps risk being eliminated.

This announcement comes amid a grievance that the AAUP-Utica filed on January 10, 2023 over the University’s failure to follow proper shared governance procedures as specified in the AAUP-Utica’s Collective Bargaining Agreement.

The AAUP-Utica is currently awaiting Provost Pfannestiel’s response to Step 2 of the Grievance Procedure as outlined in the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

The AAUP-Utica President, Leonore Fleming, responds to the University’s “Red Wednesday” Announcement in the following video message sent to Utica University bargaining unit members: