Higher Education

By Daniel J. Julius

Recent events in Wisconsin and elsewhere across the nation have raised the question of whether collective bargaining will remain a viable process for faculty at higher-education institutions.

Ostensibly to react to a budget crisis, a new Wisconsin governor successfully introduced legislation abrogating the right of organized public employees to bargain collectively. As a result, public employers, including universities, are not obligated to bargain.

Despite the anti-union climate in some states, academic leaders should continue to honor collectively negotiated agreements, even if they see an opportunity not to do so. Maintaining relationships with faculty unions, rather than being tempted to redraw the labor and human-resources map, is important because of the core reasons faculty choose to unionize—the chaos that could ensue if relationships end, and the potential advantages unionization brings to administrators who understand the process.

Read full article at http://chronicle.com/article/Faculty-Unions-a-Labor-of/128102/

Officials with the American Federation of Teachers New Jersey, the state conference of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), and the Health Professionals and Allied Employees said Thursday that in addition to its effect on tuition and aid, Christie's budget would result in fewer faculty and programs, less research, and larger classes.

Already, they said, New Jersey ranks near the bottom nationally in state funding for higher education.

Rutgers communication and information professor Dan O'Connor, president of the New Jersey AAUP, questioned Christie's decisions regarding higher education when he "is banking $640 million in unspent state revenue to create the largest budget surplus in 30 years."

Read full article at http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20110710_Anxiety_in_N_J__over_college-...

Tuesday, July 05, 2011, 7:12 AM
The Associated Press

Most of the presidents of New Jersey's 19 county colleges get allowances for cars and homes on top of their salaries.

But some of their extras have been rolled back in recent years.

An Associated Press analysis of contracts given to the state's community college presidents finds the average salary is more than $180,000.

Read full article at http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/07/nj_county_college_presidents_a....

James Castiglione, president of the Kean Federation of Teachers, said the faculty union has been warned for years the administration was not being transparent and accreditation may be in jeopardy.

"This is a big deal," said Castiglione, an associate professor of physics. "It’s a fairly serious action that they are taking here."

The professors will work with the administration to meet the Middle States requirements, Castiglione said.

Kean University, Essex County College issued warnings after failing reviews
Tuesday, July 05, 2011, 9:19 PM
By Kelly Heyboer/ The Star-Ledger

Two of New Jersey’s largest public colleges — Kean University and Essex County College — could lose their accreditation for failing to measure student progress or their own institution’s effectiveness.

Read full article at http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/07/kean_unviersity_and_essex_coun....

Additionally, Castiglione is quoted in the Chronicle of Higher Education at http://chronicle.com/article/Middle-States-Commission/128114/ (full article for subscribers only)

"The Kean Federation of Teachers has long pushed the administration to respect process, to honor faculty expertise, to be transparent and open in its dealings, and to provide faculty and staff the resources to do their jobs so as to avoid this type of outcome," said James A. Castiglione, president of the federation, which is the full-time faculty union. "The KFT is prepared to work collaboratively with the administration so that the warning is removed for the best interests of the institution."

Thursday June 30, 2011, 8:10 AM
BY LESLIE BRODY
STAFF WRITER
The Record

Bergen Community College board members and employees would no longer be entertained on President G. Jeremiah "Jerry" Ryan's expense tab, but alcohol would still be a permitted charge, under a proposal Ryan says he is presenting to the trustees.

Ryan, asked by the board to address a range of faculty complaints about his expenses and leadership, said he also is recommending that his yearly expense account be trimmed to $35,000, from $50,000. He said he hopes public attention will shift away from recent news articles about his entertainment bills as the college gears up for a $15 million, three-year campaign to raise money for scholarships and other projects.

Read full article at http://www.northjersey.com/news/education/124759979_College_chief_offers...

Friday, July 01, 2011, 5:44 AM
Kelly Heyboer/ The Star-Ledger

For years, New Jersey college students have complained that they were paying some of the highest tuition rates in the country.

Now, new federal data confirms that, with several local colleges — including New Jersey Institute of Technology, the College of New Jersey, Rowan University and Drew University — being rated among the costliest in the nation.

The U.S. Department of Education released a series of lists today highlighting the colleges with the highest tuition, total costs and price increases. The new data, which will be updated every year, is designed to hold schools more accountable for rapidly rising tuition.

Read full article at http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/06/universities_in_nj_some_of_the....

Timothy D. Slekar

Head of the Division of Education, Human Development and Social Sciences, Penn State Altoona

When they were recently asked whether the current administration is seeking to privatize public education, a couple of PA State Senators used the term "selective dismantling" in discussions with school board members and superintendents in Delaware County.

In my last two blogs, I have used Pennsylvania as a case study to help illustrate how market-based reformers are trying to destroy our community-based public school system by pushing voucher bills that will divert money from public schools to private schools (Remember, Pennsylvania is not unique. Look at Florida, Wisconsin, Ohio, New Jersey, Michigan, and Indiana. Same tactics, different state.).

Read full article at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/timothy-d-slekar/pennsylvania-selectively-...

Wednesday June 1, 2011, 8:55 PM
BY LESLIE BRODY
STAFF WRITER
The Record

More than 100 Bergen Community College faculty and staff members attended a board of trustees meeting in Paramus on Wednesday to protest the leadership of President G. Jeremiah “Jerry” Ryan.

Many wanted him fired, saying he was autocratic and had failed to heed their views.

In a May 24 emergency union meeting, faculty members voted to express “no confidence” in Ryan and called for his ouster. The vote was 92 in favor and 26 against, with three abstentions. About a third of the faculty participated.

The vote followed a story in The Record last month that detailed how Ryan charged nearly $30,000 a year on his expense account in meals, travel, golf and other items.

Read full article at http://www.northjersey.com/news/education/education_news/060111_Faculty_...