UIC United Faculty

April 13, 2021

Fighting for NTT Job Security

Unresolved Issues with NTT Renewal: UICUF has done much to improve NTT job security, but there is still a long way to go. The time is right to consider ways that NTT faculty can be made more secure without new negotiations or rewriting of any statutes. Join the Cause: We want to keep our members …

April 6, 2021

Meeting Recap and Survey Results

Membership Meeting Recap: Key themes from our meeting (slides can be viewed here) included confronting racism and violence in the UIC community, a bargaining update, NTT job security, and a strategy for ensuring campus safety through benchmarks and enforcement this fall. Survey Results: We have …

March 27, 2021

UICUF Spring Membership Meeting Next Wednesday 3:30pm

Membership Meeting: UICUF will hold its Spring Membership Meeting next Wednesday, 3/31/21, from 3:30-5pm. All members are welcome and should have received login info by email message us at UICUnitedFaculty@gmail.com if you didn't receive that info, or you wish to join the union. Meeting …

March 20, 2021

UIC Admin Punts on Reopening Concerns, Calls Halt to Bargaining

UIC Admin Side Steps Reopening Concerns: Chancellor Amiridis issued this statement in response to our open letter on reopening concerns, carefully avoiding addressing the problematic decision-making process on reopening, or any other specific issues raised. Labor Relations Halts Bargaining: In a …

March 19, 2021

Chancellor's Response on Reopening Concerns

Last week, we published an open letter outlining concerns our members have expressed over recently announced reopening plans published by the administration. In particular, we have heard frustration over the lack of transparency and inclusion in the decision-making process that seems to have …

March 13, 2021

Open Letter to Chancellor Amiridis on Announced Reopening Plans

Dear Chancellor Amiridis and Provost Poser, Monday’s email to students, staff and faculty, “ Fall 2021 Information for Undergraduate Students,” has raised many serious questions and concerns – and added substantial confusion as we are trying to plan for fall. A key concern and source of confusion …

March 6, 2021

Teaching Titles Now Available, Open Potential 3rd Rank

Teaching Professor Titles: As you may have read in a recent university announcement , UIC can now offer titles with “Teaching” modifiers to NTT faculty--an item we bargained hard for in our last contract, but which was held up pending changes to UI Statutes. Third Rank: The new titles open …

February 26, 2021

Fall Reopening Plans Dictated, Then Retracted

Policies Made, Then Retracted: 48 hours ago, UICUF began receiving documents outlining instructional methods (in-person v. remote) for a fall reopening. The Provost has since walked back these plans after being questioned by the Senate and the Union. No Consultation: The parameters described …

February 13, 2021

Remembrance and Recognition

Remembering Karen Lewis: Former CTU president and titan of the labor movement, Karen Lewis, passed away this weekend. CTU is holding a remembrance event followed by a religious service on zoom from 5-7pm tonight for all who wish to attend. CTU Reaches Reopening Agreement: After almost a year of …

February 6, 2021

Solidarity With Chicago Teachers for Community Safety

Chicago Teachers Union Fighting for Safety: CTU continues to push for safe reopening plans, and commitments to supporting the 80% of students who plan to remain remote even if schools reopen. Strike Possible Next Week: If the city reopens schools without negotiating on key safety parameters like …

January 30, 2021

Answering the Provost’s Question on Post-Pandemic Teaching

The Conversation is Already Happening: Did you know that the Provost has asked the deans to answer a series of questions about the bounds of pedagogical autonomy (i.e. who decides whether a class, office hour, advising session etc. should be online)? Faculty Must Be Included in Decision Making: …

January 22, 2021

Solidarity Saved My Department

A Solidarity Story: Last year Admin planned to outsource the vast majority of a key UIC program, the Tutorium for Intensive English. The program’s faculty pushed back, saving their program and their jobs, earning them last year’s UICUF John Shuler Award. In the video above, they share their story, …

January 15, 2021

Demand That Admin Honor Their Contractual Commitments

Welcome Back: 2020 presented a seemingly unending series of challenges, and since we’re eager to move forward with the new year, we plan to hit the ground running in 2021. Keep Admin Honest: It’s a busy time, but you can take action right now by signing our petition to keep admin honest about …

January 13, 2021

Demand That Admin Honor Their Contract Commitments

Welcome Back: 2020 presented a seemingly unending series of challenges, and since we’re eager to move forward with the new year, we plan to hit the ground running in 2021. Keep Admin Honest: It’s a busy time, but you can take action right now by signing our petition to keep admin honest about …

December 4, 2020

Announcing Virtual Union Office Hours W-Th 12-1pm

Virtual Office Hours: Starting next week UICUF staff and/or stewards will be holding virtual office hours via zoom every week, 12-1pm on Wednesdays and Thursdays. How They’ll Work: Just as with in-person office hours, union reps will be available for walk-ins. Just join the zoom meeting to ask …

November 20, 2020

UIC Town Hall Tonight 6pm and Member Meeting Recap

UIC Town Hall: UIC Student Government has invited faculty to join their Town Hall from 6-7:30pm TONIGHT with Chancellor Amaridis, Provost Poser, VCAS Coronado, and VCSA Tolliver. Admin Confirms No Changes to Spring Calendar: UICUF and the University Senate inquired as to possible calendar changes …

November 7, 2020

Democracy in Action

Vote Tallies Continue : Electing our next president is a process that does not end on Election Day, with votes still being counted in a number of key swing states. Every Vote Matters : With legal challenges already in play, it’s critical that we honor every vote by *counting* every vote, and …

October 30, 2020

Survey Says Workloads Have Increased

Workload Survey Results: Among other things, our workload survey has revealed that the vast majority of faculty are working more hours since shifting to remote, most reporting a 5+ hour/week increase. Get Out The Vote: People are voting in record numbers this year, and every vote counts, especially …

October 23, 2020

Virtual Member Meeting Nov. 18

Membership Meeting: Save the date for our 11/18 Remote Membership Meeting, 3-4pm. A zoom link will be sent to members closer to the meeting date. Workload Survey: Don’t forget to fill out our 5-question workload survey! We’ve already received great feedback about how workloads are changing due to …

October 17, 2020

Help Our Students Fight New Visa Restrictions

Proposed DHS Rules Will Harm Our Students: The proposed rules will severely limit visa durations and create significant if not insurmountable barriers to degree completion for current and future international students. Your Public Comment Can Make a Difference: Public comments are open until 10/26. …

NEWS: News