You are getting this message from the Steering Committee of the Campaign for the Future of Higher Education because you have attended CFHE events or expressed support for the principles of CFHE. As you know, the goal of CFHE member organizations has been to change the national conversation about higher education by including more voices in the debate, especially those of faculty, staff, students, parents, and others from the communities surrounding our campuses. Toward that end, CFHE has authored research and working papers on a variety of topics and is actively looking for additional ways to reach out beyond just the ranks of faculty and staff. We are writing to ask our supporters for help in getting the word out about a new project, a short video based on a series of working papers we recently released. read more >

At the 25 public universities with the highest-paid presidents, both student debt and the use of part-time adjunct faculty grew far faster than at the average state university from 2005 to 2012, according to a new study by the Institute for Policy Studies, a left-leaning Washington research group. read more >

Our new contract was ratified on the very day we were prepared to strike. We can take pride in our efforts and there are so many people to thank, including all of you. Please follow the link below the bargaining update to the 13-15 Collective Bargaining Agreement and remember...our work is never finished. We have to remain strong and keep ourselves at the ready for our next steps. read more >

The finalized Collective Bargaining Agreement for 2013-2015 has been released read more >

Announcements: Join PSU-AAUP in Portland's May Day March, May 1, 4 pm Shemanski Park Please join Together 4 PSU (PSU-AAUP, students, staff & part-time faculty), connecting with the community to "Fight for the Future of 'Portland's University'" We'll pass out stickers as marchers start to leave the park, then join the march! PSU-AAUP Reimburses Members for Graduation Regalia Rental! Contact PSU Office Coordinator Tita Compere, tita@psuaaup.net read more >

Focus Shifts to Deeper Changes and Reclaiming ‘Portland’s University’ read more >

The PSU-AAUP Executive Council - Ted Donlan, Bob Liebman, Anh Ly, Karen Kennedy, Mary King, Ron Narode, Eva Nuñez, Judy Patton, Patricia Schechter, Bob Schroeder, and Leanne Serbulo - voted yesterday to recommend Sunday's Tentative Agreement to members for ratification as our contract for 2013-2015 read more >

Even as their spending on instruction, research and public service declined or stayed flat, most colleges and universities rapidly increased their spending on sports, according to a report being released Monday by the American Association of University Professors. read more >

Organization & Strike Threat Get Unprecedented Gains! - Keep Contract Protections for P & T Guidelines, Past Practices - Big Shift in Number, Certainty & Length of Fixed Term Contracts - Advancement Path for APs - Raises Tied to Seniority - Retain Contract Protection for AP "Positions" - Meaningful Planning for Academic Quality - Cost of Living Increases 2.5% and 2.5%, Mid-Year as for Others - 1.5% Across the Board Faculty Comparator Adjustment - 8% Promotion Increases - Travel Fund Doubled, Faculty Enhancement Fund up 30% - Post Tenure Review Will NOT result in Changed Job Description - No Retaliation Against AAUP Members for Union Activity read more >

This message - sent at 2 am - appears to have been diverted into people's Spam folders or blocked altogether. This message was resent at 6:32am. Late this afternoon, the PSU-AAUP attorneys sent notice to the Oregon Employment Relations Board and PSU Admin that we are ready to strike, starting Weds, April 16th at 6 am. read more >

A letter sent to President Wiewel last week on behalf of 25 Department Chairs at PSU. They simply state that quality public higher education is their top priority and that the highly skilled and superb faculty of PSU would be almost impossible to replace during a strike. read more >

Funders begin to bring the heat to Wiewel for failure to settle a fair contract. A family that funds a trust for the PSU Library filed a letter to Pres Wiewel in support of AAUP. read more >

New Offer Fails to Meet PSU-AAUP Student-Centered Priorities Portland, OR: Spring term began today at Portland State University with the possibility of a faculty strike still looming. The faculty union, the PSU chapter of the American Association of University Professors (PSU-AAUP), and the Administration continue to be significantly apart after a year of negotiations. read more >

GOOD NEWS: Eight hundred people participating in a Strike Authorization Vote, 94% voting to authorize, changed the dynamic at the table. BAD NEWS: The Admin Offer Still - Guts Protections for the P & T Guidelines and Unwritten Work Policies - Fails to Provide an Advancement Path for APs - Leaves Too Many Fixed-term Faculty in Short-Term Contracts - Rejects Better Planning for Academic Quality - Fails to Keep 90% of us whole with respect to inflation, for academic year - Allows all Summer Session Budget and Pay Cuts - Refuses Bigger Promotion Raises - Etc, Etc, Etc read more >

The newest letter of support is from AFSCME Local 2505 read more >

More than 60 AAUP members attended a Spring Break Strike training. read more >

News: Update on Mediation read more >

On Austerity Chopping Block, Students & Faculty Occupy University Facing mass lay-offs and program slashes, University of Southern Maine faculty and students demand 'human right to education' read more >

News 1. Nearly 800 PSU-AAUP Members Participated in Strike Authorization Vote - 94% Voted YES 2. Admin Response: SPIN + Questionable Threats - More Coming! 3. What Might we Gain by Striking, or Coming Close to a Strike? 4. A Plan to Win! read more >

PSU Faculty and APs made history, today and yesterday, turning out in huge numbers to authorize the PSU-AAUP Bargaining Team to call a strike if they see no other way to obtain a decent contract. read more >