Dr. Jodi Whitted, assistant professor educator at the School of Social Work, has been a member of UC since fall 2022 and a member of AAUP from her start of joining the faculty. Whitted recently took a leave of absence to serve as the State Representative for District 28 for an 8-month term. She was unable to seek election into the position permanently due to gerrymandering of districts but continues to be involved in politics. She will begin a term on Madeira City Council on December 1st.

When asked about her decision to join AAUP, Whitted cites her family’s history, stating that “my grandparents frequently discussed… working in the coal mines. My great grandparents immigrated to this country and took those jobs, even with poor pay and poor access to healthcare. Hearing their stories and thinking about the conditions faced by working class people are some of my first memories identifying social injustice,” Whitted stated. “The right to unionize is a cornerstone of our democracy and crucial in the protection of workers’ rights.” Whitted said that her grandparents’ discussions about unions led her to study the history of the social work profession’s attempts to unionize and to her academic interest in political social work. During the past year, we have seen the impact of politics on academia and Whitted states, “At a time when political vitriol is a real threat to so many in academia, AAUP has led the charge in opposing this legislation. We will continue to see attacks on higher education and union membership and protections are important now more than ever.” Additionally, Whitted adds that “As an AAUP member, you are afforded protections under the collective bargaining agreement that you might not otherwise have.”

Whitted observed that the union movement can be mysterious for faculty who did not grow up in a union-supportive environment as she did. She suggests that faculty who are unsure about joining AAUP do some quick and simple research or reach out to their associate to find out more about the benefits of joining. She approached the UC AAUP office herself last fall when she was struggling to understand her own rights and found the staff supportive, responsive, and knowledgeable. “I am forever grateful to them,” she said. “If it weren’t for my involvement with AAUP and the collective bargaining agreement, I don’t know if I would be in my position today.”

Whereas the Trump administration has proposed a Compact for Excellence in Higher Education (hereafter “the Compact”) with the quid pro quo of increased federal funding in return for agreeing to a list of policies;

Whereas the Compact has several provisions that would undermine academic freedom and the independence of universities, including ideological litmus tests in admissions and hiring, restrictions on students’ freedom of expression and assembly, mandates to disproportionately fund students in the “hard” sciences, and pledges to abolish departments and programs that are perceived as being contrary to “conservative ideas” by discussing the existence of systemic inequity;

Whereas the Compact was initially offered to nine institutions of higher education, but was later opened to all institutions in a social media post by President Trump; and

Whereas the national AAUP, AFT, and the Ohio Conference AAUP have made clear statements of opposition to the Compact;

Be it therefore resolved that the AAUP-UC Chapter declares its strong opposition to the Compact;

Be it further resolved that the AAUP-UC Chapter calls on President Pinto and the Board of Trustees to reject the Compact publicly; and

Be it further resolved that the AAUP-UC chapter encourages the UC Faculty Senate to consider a similar resolution.

AAUP-UC Chapter Files Unfair Labor Practice Charge Against UC Administration

May 21, 2025

On May 21^st, the AAUP-UC Chapter filed Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) charges against the University of Cincinnati Administration for its failure to bargain in good faith and its interference with, restraint, or coercion of UC Faculty in the exercise of their rights guaranteed under current Ohio law. The ULP charges were filed with the State Employment Relations Board (SERB) by attorneys from the law firm Herzfeld, Suetholz, Gastel, Leniski and Wall.

The duration and outcome of the Unfair Labor Practice process is up to SERB, and could take some time, but in the meantime AAUP-UC will continue to bargain in good faith with the Administration to protect the rights of faculty under the contract. This action also provides a platform for other actions that the Chapter leaders and members will discuss in the coming weeks.

Our hand was forced to file the ULP when, on April 18^th, University of Cincinnati Leadership directed the Administration’s bargaining team to revoke its agreement with the AAUP-UC—in place since the first bargaining session on February 26^th—to work expeditiously to reach a successor Agreement that would be in place prior to the June 26^th effective date of Ohio Senate Bill 1 (SB1).

As Chapter members are probably aware, SB1 is the far-reaching legislation that subjects Ohio’s public colleges and universities to legislative micro-management, contains more than 100 unfunded administrative mandates, content bans, restrictions on collective bargaining rights, eliminates the long-standing right to strike, and targets already marginalized populations on campuses. In rushing through SB1, the Republican majority—including Governor DeWine—ignored the will of the people and pushed through a bill that is intended to undermine Ohio’s public system of higher education. This bill will destabilize our colleges and universities, drive away top talent, and ultimately hurt Ohio’s economic future.

The agreement on expedited negotiations between UC and the AAUP was beneficial for both parties, as it would: keep in place existing policies and procedures for a vast majority of UC’s faculty; protect several rights that SB1 strips away; maintain stable labor relations between UC and the AAUP, which have steadily improved over the past decade; and stem a possible exodus of UC’s highly-qualified faculty to other states where tenure and academic freedom are not under assault.

University Leadership has since tried its hand at revisionist history, claiming there was a miscommunication with the AAUP-UC about the point at which it would continue to negotiate the impacts of SB1. But the reality on the ground at the bargaining table belies such revisionism. Topics impacted by SB1 continued to be negotiated well after SB1 passed the Senate, then the House, and was signed by Governor DeWine. The much more logical and likely reason behind University Leadership’s betrayal of UC faculty occurred just one night before, on April 17^th, when Senator Cirino (the architect behind SB1) threatened to pull funding from Ohio public universities that didn’t preemptively comply with SB1.

Make no mistake. Blame ultimately lies with a University Leadership that has, at every turn, shown its willingness to sacrifice student rights and safety, faculty rights, tenure, academic freedom, free speech, and association rights in an attempt to appease politicians at the State and Federal levels. Whether that is SB1, the so-called “Dear Colleague” letter from the Trump Administration targeting DEI, putting students at risk through thoughtless bathroom signage, or ICE targeting international students with a campaign of fear and intimidation by abducting students off the streets or on campuses, University Leadership has acquiesced well before they were legally obligated to. Its misguided belief that remaining “neutral” on SB1 and other State and Federal attacks on higher education would appease the powers that be enough to protect their state funding will, once again, prove futile at the expense of the moral and ethical foundations of public higher education. As Archbishop Desmond Tutu so eloquently expressed, “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.”

That is why the AAUP-UC Chapter must take steps to vigorously and loudly object to the University’s dangerous acquiescence. In its joint statement “Against Anticipatory Obedience,” AAUP National’s Committee on College and University Governance, and its Committee A on Academic Freedom and Tenure, wrote that “The Trump administration and many Republican led state governments appear poised to accelerate attacks on academic freedom, shared governance, and higher education as a public good. They will attack the curricular authority of the faculty on a number of fronts, including professors’ ability to undertake ‘teaching, research, and service that respond to the needs of a diverse global public.’ It is the higher education community’s responsibility not to surrender to such attacks—and not to surrender in anticipation of them.”

While it is frightening how widely and quickly these attacks are occurring, it is unconscionable that University of Cincinnati Leadership is anticipatorily surrendering to them. There is still time to reach an agreement that protects, at least for the next three years, several fundamental rights of faculty at UC. With the filing of the Unfair Labor Practice charge, we are urging University Leadership to reconsider its decision. The AAUP-UC Chapter—at the bargaining table, at the State Employment Relations Board, on our campus, in our cities, and in our State—will continue to vigorously and loudly oppose these attacks.

In solidarity,

The AAUP-UC Bargaining Team and Executive Council

Thank you to the many, many of you who attended the AAUP-UC townhall on Friday. It was the highest attended virtual town hall to date. It obviously demonstrates that faculty are aware of and apprehensive about SB #1.

Leadership at UC and across the state is activating. Look for more communications and calls to action. Below is a summary of the bill and more importantly links that you can use to contact the governor, the state legislature, and other action steps.

Powerpoint Presentation:  town hall Jan 31 2025

Summary 

What is new in SB 1 vs. SB 83? 

• Strike ban
• Expanded bans on DEI (but no definition of DEI)
• Explicit funding threats if GA determines institutions failed to meet requirements (but no process for determination)
• Required “American civic literacy” course now includes focus on “American economy and capitalism” and requires Adam Smith’s Wealth of Nations
• New provision eliminating programs that don’t graduate more than 5 students annually over a three-year period
• Feasibility study for 3-year degree programs

SB 1 reprises the SB 83 attacks on faculty 

• Prohibits collective bargaining over evaluations and retrenchment
• Ridiculously broad definition of retrenchment
• Imposes one-size-fits-all annual review process statewide
• Allows administrators to call for a “post-tenure review” – i.e., termination review – at any time beyond annual reviews.
• This effectively ends meaningful tenure protections
• Requires syllabi to be posted with faculty contact info, dates, and location
• Exposes faculty and students to harassment and physical danger
• “Intellectual diversity” language opens faculty to frivolous charges, and provides no due process protections

What are we doing to fight this? 

• OCAAUP is engaged in legislative meetings
• Assisting legislative allies in prep for hearings
• Labor union coalition is with us
• Communications asking faculty members to contact legislators and Governor (links below)
• Preparing amendments to be offered
• We will keep you updated on opportunities

Helpful Links: 

• OCAAUP’s Synopsis of the Bill 

• OCAAUP’s “Take Action” page with helpful information 

• Article in the Ohio Capital Journal about the Bill 

• Action Network page to send emails to Gov. Dewine 

• Action Network page to send emails to Ohio House and Senate 

What Can You Do? 

• Call Gov. DeWine’s Office, and your House and Senate Reps. Email is good, but calls are more effective.

• Talk to your friends, family, and community about why this is bad for Ohio

• Write an Op Ed or Letter to the Editor

• Stay engaged, and don’t give up!

• And if you are not yet an AAUP member, join today! 

By now, most of you have probably heard something about SB1/HB6, the reappearance of last year’s SB83. Unfortunately, the Senate is looking to fast-track this anti-higher ed bill, which re-presents many of the worst iterations of SB83. There is much in this bill. It is a threat to higher education in Ohio. A summary of this long and ominous legislation follows, but first we must emphasize that we are going be fighting this with all our collective resources. Here are a few areas to learn more and get involved:

To make sure all UC faculty are informed and heard, we will be holding a virtual Town Hall on Friday, January 31 at 11:00am via Zoom.

The Ohio Conference of the AAUP will also be holding a training and information session on Thursday at 7pm

1 – Undercutting of tenure and job security: While Senator Cirino continually says that he is not against tenure, this bill provides several different measures which would effectively eliminate the protections and due process of tenure. Their mandates for post-tenure review, their takeover of Annual Performance Reviews (including providing specific questions which MUST be asked on student evaluations), and their vague and dangerous definitions under the Retrenchment category all make it possible for tenured faculty to be fired with little to no avenue for appeal. Of specific concern is that the legislation “Allows a department chair, dean of faculty, or provost to call for PTR at any time and for cause for a faculty member who has a documented and sustained record of significant underperformance.” Post-tenure review can lead to termination. For more on this, please read item #15 on the bill synopsis at the link below.

2 – Prohibitions on Collective Bargaining Subjects: The legislation prohibits workload, evaluations, tenure, and retrenchment as collective bargaining subjects. It also adds full time higher ed faculty to the list of state employees who are banned from striking.

3 – Retrenchment: The legislation defines retrenchment as “a process by which a state institution of higher education reduces programs or services, thus resulting in a temporary suspension or permanent separation of one or more institution faculty, to account for a reduction in student population or overall funding, a change to institutional missions or programs, or other fiscal pressures or emergencies facing the institution.” To be clear here, if enrollment drops by one student, the college or university can decide to close programs and terminate the faculty teaching in those programs. And, as is detailed above, the policies and protocols outlining retrenchment will be removed from the Collective Bargaining Agreement, so faculty would have no say in this process.

4 – Changes to Curriculum and workload: The mandate that every university must teach an American Civic Literary class (and must teach the texts the legislation mandates) will necessarily lead to changes in all curriculums across the university. This is also one of many unfunded mandates.

5 – Public posting of Syllabi: Requires course instructors to post syllabi on a publicly accessible website. Websites must include the following: instructor’s qualifications, instructor’s contact information, instructor’s course schedule, course syllabus for each course instructor is teaching. This allows anyone access to faculty’s contact information, which leads to all kinds of obvious concerns about safety and the like.

There is much more in this lengthy bill, so, again, please see the synopsis from the OCAAUP for a detailed description of it all.

To repeat information that was at the beginning of the communications, AAUP-UC will be holding a virtual Town Hall on Friday, January 31 at 11:00am.

The Ohio Conference of AAUP will also be holding a training and information session on Thursday at 7pm.

This may feel understandably overwhelming, but the fight isn’t over yet. Please email and call your House and Senate members, as well as Gov. DeWine’s office (details below). These actions do make a difference!