| Dear Faculty,
Yesterday the Faculty Senate and AAUP Joint Budget Committee released the Joint Budget Committee Report. The Report was initially in response to the Administration’s proposal to reduce faculty salaries in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. That proposal has since been withdrawn.
The purpose of the Joint Report is three-fold:
- to analyze the extent of Covid-19’s impact on UC’s budget,
- to identify possible strategies to preserve UC’s academic and research missions, and
- to evaluate the shared sacrifice across all units
We heartily thank the Committee members–Amber Peplow, Dan Carl, Sarai Hedges, and Steve Mockabee–for their deeply positive work. The Report is thorough and comprehensive, a clarion call for real and dramatic change in the university’s budget priorities and an urgent appeal to refocus on the core academic missions of teaching and research.
The Joint Report is not the end, of course, but represents instead the beginning of a campaign for meaningful change. As a next step, we’re asking Faculty to please share the Report on social media. Click here for a summary that can be easily posted to social media sites. Campaigning for meaningful change at UC involves students, parents, and the entire community. We need to make them part of the conversation, too.
AAUP-UC will be promoting the Report as part of the Fight for 51% campaign. A decade ago, 51% of UC’s budget was allocated to support the university’s teaching and research efforts. That percentage has been reduced over time to just 43% in 2020. A return to 51% will have a demonstrably positive impact on teaching and learning at UC, and we hope all Faculty will join us in the Fight for 51% campaign.
If UC doesn’t make fundamental changes to its funding priorities and budget, our university will find itself in a position similar to Wright State University.
Thank you again to the Committee. And thanks to all of you, in advance, for doing your part in promoting the Report.
In Solidarity,
Connie KendallTheado |