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See Free Exchange on Campus, working to preserve the free exchange of ideas.

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UPDATE

 

 

Read the May 2edition of the IFT Legislative Update Funding reform legislation pushed

>> See also: IFT Legislative Tracker for news of interest to higher education

IBHE Friday Me

Read the IBHE's The Friday Memo for May 2.

Read the IBHE's News Digest

Read the May 2 News Update


Read the April 21 Friday Alert from the Alliance for Retired Americans


Resources Available

 

 

AAUP Releases Annual Report on Faculty Salaries “Where Are the Priorities?” — After a short-lived recovery in 2006–07, faculty salaries are lagging behind inflation again this year. Yet the salaries paid to head football coaches, presidents, and other top administrators do not seem to reflect an economic downturn. See the American Association of University Professors info.

Walk the Walk: Be an activist

• Use union hotels Get listings of union hotels and job actions at the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees Union (HERE) web site. JUST CLICK

• Buy a union-made car, at the UAW web site. JUST CLICK

• Look for all kinds of other services and products, like a union printer, musician or contractor, among others check on the Chicago Federation of Labor web sit. JUST CLICK

Free Exchange on Campus; Fighting for the free exchange of ideas on campus


NEWS

 

 

ILschools

Hynes, WIU talk about cuts in funding -- With colleges and universities continuing to struggle without proper government funding, Illinois Comptroller Dan Hynes made a visit to Western Illinois University to discuss the impending $4.8 million cut to WIU's state funding.  (Macomb Journal, May 6)

UIS holds first Lavender Graduation May 5— The University of Illinois at Springfield hosted its first Lavender Graduation ceremony for graduating lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, and questioning students, along with their families, friends, and allies.

Appeals court rejects Chief Illiniwek suits -- A state appellate court has upheld the dismissals of a pair of lawsuits that claimed the University of Illinois broke state law when it eliminated its controversial Chief Illiniwek mascot. (Springfield State Journal-Register, May 6)

At College, a High Standard on Divorce — Of all the reasons a beloved professor could be leaving Wheaton [IL] College, where he has taught for the last 20 years, the one for Kent Gramm’s departure is peculiar: He is getting divorced, the college demands an explanation, and he refuses to give one. (New York Times, May 5)

Illinois and Speedy Professors Settle Differences Over Ethics Test (Chronicle of Higher Education, May 4)

Two SIU professors reach settlement with state over ethics exam -- (The Decatur Herald & Review, April 30)

JJC renovation could raise tuition, taxes (The Daily Herald, April 30)

ILnews

Third try at leasing lottery Blagojevich administration says latest plan is the best -- After two failed attempts to privatize the Illinois Lottery, Gov. Rod Blagojevich is taking another stab at it with a revamped plan aimed at pumping billions of dollars into construction projects. (Springfield State Journal-Register, May 4)

Former CEO of Chicago schools [Paul Vallas] open to running for governor (The Springfield State Journal-Register, April 30)

College Administration

Governing Boards Need More Expertise and Flexibility, Moody's Report Says (Chronicle of Higher Education, May 7)

Safety

A Mental Health and Public Safety Primer -- American Psychiatric Association symposium covers broad issues that have re-emerged since Virginia Tech. (Inside Higher Ed, May 6)

Campus Safety Task Force Report to the Governor (260-page pdf, IBHE, April 15)

Curriculum & Instruction

Solution to Financial Woes: More Classes?  -- Kean University considers extending its academic week to six days, a change that would require more instructors and has some professors up in arms. (Inside Higher Ed, May 7)

Tuition Rises as Spending on Instruction Slows -- (Chronicle of Higher Education, May 9)

U. of Phoenix Draws Big Names to Advisory Panel on New Center on Teaching Adults (Chronicle of Higher Education, May 5)

Intelligent Design as an Academic-Freedom Issue (Chronicle of Higher Ed, May 2)

Unusual Model for an Online College (Inside Higher Ed, May 1)

Character Education: Survey: Colleges Fall Short in Teaching Morals, Ethics (Chronicle of Higher Education, May 2)

The Spending Side of the Equation (Inside Higher Ed, May 1)

Labor Department Audit Faults Accountability of Job-Training Grant Recipients (The Chronicle of Higher Education, April 30)

Faculty

Professors Fight 'Academic Freedom' Bills That Question Science in 4 States (Chronicle of Higher Education, May 6

Character Education: Survey: Colleges Fall Short in Teaching Morals, Ethics (Chronicle of Higher Education, May 2)

Teacher fired for refusing to sign loyalty oath (Los Angeles Times, May 2)

Is Phyllis Schlafly Worthy of an Honorary Doctorate? (Inside Higher Ed, May 5)

When Equity Official Takes Anti-Gay Stance. After column by U. of Toledo's chief HR official saying gay people select their orientation, she is placed on leave. (Inside Higher Ed, May 5)

Students

Major drug bust on campus -- After undercover operation, authorities arrest 75 San Diego State U. students on drug-related charges. (Inside Higher Ed, May 7)

Student-Loan Market: Another Bubble? (The Wall Street Journal, May 7)

Older students are hot new thing on California college campuses (Sacramento Bee, May 7)

Playing tag with tuition -- OP-Ed -- (Rocky Mountain News, May 7)

Mysterious Multiplication of Copyright Complaints Spike (Inside Higher Ed, May 6)

College admissions process pushes many students to brink of depression -- (Chicago Tribune, May 6)

Value of college tuition is called into question -- As college tuitions continue to climb, a study released recently fuels concerns about whether the investment in higher education by families and taxpayers translates into better results. (USA Today, May 1)

The spending side of the equation: New analysis -- Across sectors of higher education, only a minority of spending by colleges supports direct instructional costs, according to a report being released today as part of an effort to reframe the debate over college costs. (Inside Higher Ed, May 1)

Tuition Makes Up a Growing Share of College Budgets While Spending on Instruction Has Slowed (Chronicle of Higher Education, May 1)

USA Today Ends Student Award Programs -- USA Today is suspending its popular programs recognizing students at four-year and two-year colleges, largely due to budgetary constraints. (Chronicle of Higher Ed, May 2)

Higher education, zero tuition Kentucky's Berea College calls itself 'the best school money can't buy' (Chicago Tribune, May 5)

Weak dollar leads to higher study abroad costs (USA Today, May 3)

Some veterans find their GI benefits fall short Education a big reason to enlist, but many struggle to pay for college (Houston Chronicle, May 3)

Climbing costs go beyond tuition Fees and book bills add up for CU [University of Colorado] students (The Boulder Daily Camera, May 4)

Unusual Model for an Online College (Inside Higher Ed, May 1)

Tuition Makes Up a Growing Share of College Budgets While Spending on Instruction Has Slowed (Chronicle of Higher Education, May 1)

The labor movement

A Resounding Win for Adjuncts at Henry Ford (FACE Blog, May 7)

Adjuncts at Wayne State U. to Vote on Contract -- Part-time faculty members at Wayne State University have reached a tentative agreement on their first [American Federation of Teachers] contract with the institution. (Chronicle of Higher Education, May 6)

Nurses Survey Shows Poor Working Conditions, Concerns about Patient Care (AFT Leadernet, registration required, May 6)

Bill in Congress Would Let TA's Organize at Private Colleges -- A bill introduced in Congress by the chairmen of the education committees of the Senate and House of Representatives would take the political mystery out of whether graduate assistants at private colleges have the right to form labor unions. (Chronicle of Higher Education, May 2)

U.S. Jobs Down 20,000 in April. --(AFL-CIO Now Blog, May 2)

Rich/Poor Income Gap Widening To Chasm Evidence Shows Impact On Those At Lower End Of Wage Scale Continues To Grow (CBS News, May 3)

NEA Higher Education Almanac -- Salaries, liberal education, bargaining, funding and much more. (National Education Association)

Health care & pensions

Caregivers' Resources -- Find help providing care, government benefits, legal matters and end-of-life issues. (USA.gov)

Retirement -- A special section of the New York Times dealing with money and time that retirement will bring you. (The New York Times, April 21)

States Look to Rein In Private Medicare Plans -- State officials say they are still receiving complaints of high-pressure sales tactics that have led some beneficiaries to sign up for unsuitable policies. (New York Times, May 5)

Caregivers' Resources -- Find help providing care, government benefits, legal matters and end-of-life issues. (USA.gov)

Medicare Rights Center -- Ask Marci: (Medicare Rights Center)

Health Care and Elections -- This Kaiser Public Opinion Spotlight on Health Care and Elections examines recent public opinion data and historical trends to give insight into the potential role health care might play as an election issue.

AFTnews

Joel Klein, Randi Weingarten blame each other for ed cuts -- Joel Klein said the teachers union (an AFT affiliate, United Federation of Teachers) - and policies that keep instructors from their classrooms - bear some of the blame for next school year's budget cuts. (New York Daily News, May 7)

USnews

Colleges must commit to halting tuition hikes -- Education Secretary Margaret Spellings' Commission on the Future of Higher Education raised the issue of affordability and access in its 2006 report. (Detroit News, April 30)

An Education in Bailouts -- Taxpayers will soon own a multibillion-dollar portfolio of student loans. And a leading Member of Congress promises that this pretty bundle of debt comes to you with no cost and no risk. President Bush apparently agrees. (Wall Street Journal, May 5)

Colleges must commit to halting tuition hikes (Detroit News, April 30)

Against Odds, New Orleans Schools Fight Back (The New York Times, April 30)


 

Attack on One;
Attack on All

Under Attack

Lifting the Veil on Richard Berman -- Richard Berman doesn't care about your kids, your health, your workplace, or your schools. He cares about money. Period. (American Rights at Work)

American Rights at Work: Lifting the Veil on Richard Berman (American Rights at Work)

Teachers Union Facts: Shining a Bright Light on the Michigan Education Association

AFT: AFT Members Push Back on Anti-Union Campaign -- More than 1,000 AFT members have flooded media outlets objecting to the virulent anti-teacher ads orchestrated by the Center for Union Facts, which rolled out its "Teachers Union Exposed" national campaign earlier this month. (AFT, March 20)

AFT: Teachers Under Attack. Make Your Voice Heard. If you have seen this campaign and wish to send a letter to national media, Click here.

AFT LeaderNet: AFT Members Speak Out about Attack on Unions -- "When you attack teachers unions, you attack the dedicated teachers who are devoting their careers to helping children succeed."

AFT Leadernet: Shameless Lobbyist Launches Distorted Campaign against Teachers

USAToday: Group has severance plan for 'worst unionized teachers'

New York Times: Educators or Kingmakers?

New York Times: Teaching Change

UPI

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CSU
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2006-10, as pdf
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2004-08 as pdf

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20005-08, 47 pp as pdf

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Congress Hotel ... On Strike for Equality!

Congress Strike

SAVE THE DATE

Thursday, June 12
Congress Hotel Strike
5th Anniversary Action
4:00-6:00 p.m.
in front of the Congress Hotel,
Congress & Michigan Ave.. Chicago


UPI Leaders appointed to Illinois task force
on higher education and the economy

Colleen Sexton Sue Kaufman

UPI Local 4100 President Sue Kaufman and the Education Issues Committee Chair Colleen Sexton are working with the Illinois Task Force on Higher Education and the Economy to develop an action agenda to assist higher education.

>> MORE on this story

>> MORE on the IBHE task force

Colleen Sexton
Sue Kaufman

IFT members rally in Springfield for Lobby Day

Several hundred IFT members made the trip to Springfield on Wednesday, April 30, to deliver the message to legislators that it's time to solve the state's growing fiscal crisis.

Among the key bills IFT activists lobbied was Senate Bill 2288 - a bill that would provide a two percent increase in the Illinois income tax, generating $7 billion for schools, construction, pensions and state health services. The bill's sponsor, Sen. James Meeks (D-Chicago), urged IFT members to push for SB 2288 passage during the Lobby Day briefing in Springfield.

Read this story from the Illinois Federation of Teachers.


2008 House of Delegates called 'one of the best'

>> See Photo Gallery NOW AVAILABLE

>> Resolutions and Action Table COMING SOON

>> Michael Bérubé's comments COMING SOON

Higher education rally draws hundreds to State Capitol

A higher education force converged on the State Capitol April 9 when hundreds of higher education faculty members, employees and advocates rallied in support of legislative efforts to provide more state funding to the state’s beleaguered colleges and universities. The Higher Education Legislative Coalition (HELC) was joined by state legislators, university presidents, and labor leaders who addressed the standing-room only crowd.

.>> Photo Gallery

>> Read entire story

>> See YouTube video of the highlights of speakers


Delman Testifies

Support SB 2288, Education Funding Tax Swap

Charles Delman testifies to members of the Illinois House during a series of hearings on the state budget. He outlined the union's support of Senate Bill 2288, Education Funding Tax Swap (Click).

>> For additional information and a schedule of locations and dates, click here.


Public Agenda Task Force to review state's educational needs: First meeting of planning group will examine study showing ‘prosperity gap’ by race and region in Illinois

The task force formed to map the future of Illinois higher education will hold its inaugural meeting March 20 to review a draft study of the state’s public needs that shows both economic strengths and ominous trends in jobs, educational attainment, and population growth.

>> Read the IBHE News Release

>> Download the 118-page Public Needs Report


Rally Day for the Higher Education Legislative Coalition is scheduled for Wednesday, April 9

>> See the IFT story


AFT supports budget resolution in U.S. House -- This resolution rejects President Bush's budget resolution and addresses the needs of working families. (AFT pfd)


Illinois Adjuncts Vote to Join Union -- Adjunct faculty at Lincoln Land Community College in Springfield are the latest educators to slow their treadmill lives, consider what the union could do for them and vote for representation by the Lincoln Land Community College Faculty Association/AFT. (FACEblog.org, March 6)


Illinois House to conduct regional budget hearings in March


CTBA Analysis of the Fiscal Year 2008 State of Illinois General Fund Budget -- The Center for Tax and Budget Accountability provides helpful info on the Illinois budget.


Heads Up: A National Campaign against Teachers Unions Kicks Off March 11 (AFT News Release, March 7)


Feb. 20 State of the State Address:

Higher Ed omitted from 'education funding

• UPI decries governor's budget for higher education -- "No one seriously believes that education stops at the 12th grade. Yet our Governor continues to stop the flow of funding at that 12th grade level, forcing our public colleges and universities to scrape by with funding that doesn’t even match 2003 levels," UPI President Kaufman said.

• Governor’s budget proposal doesn’t fix school funding problems Statement of IFT President Ed Geppert, Jr. -- "Under this budget proposal, higher education funding in FY09 would be less than it was in FY03."

• Gov. proposes stimulus program for parents (The Springfield State Journal-Register)

• Read the Feb. 15 IFT Legislative Update

• Budget 09 Overview - Illinois Republicans pulled together this 12-page synopsis of Gov. Blagojevich's budget.


'Campuses don’t need walls but coalitions of safety': Statement from UPI President Kaufman on the NIU tragedy (Feb. 15)

>> Virginia Tech Tragedy Provided Lessons for NIU This AFT story includes comments from Sandy Flood, president of the NIU / UPI chapter. Sandy helped write the NIU Emergency Guide.


McElroy Urges Congress to Reject Bush's Misguided Budget Proposal

AFT president Edward J. McElroy is urging Congress to reject the FY 2009 budget proposal released on Feb. 4 by President Bush and replace it with a plan that "better reflects the nation's values and priorities." Bush's proposal eliminates or cuts many key education programs and slashes Medicare and Medicaid by almost $200 billion. The budget provides inadequate increases to Title I and special education, yet diverts $300 million to a new, unproven national voucher program and adds more than $100 million to a flawed teacher pay plan (The Teacher Incentive Fund). (AFT.org. Feb. 4)


See UPI's Meetings, Events & Deadlines

>> If you have a comment about this calendar, email Kathy McConnell. Thanks.

>> See the Calendar


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