UUP Cobleskill Chapter

Dear UUP members,

Please circulate this message to your colleagues.

Special UUP March for Science T-shirts and mugs can be purchased at the links below. Orders must be received by April 9 to ensure delivery before the April 22 march. All net proceeds from sales will benefit the March for Science, including follow-up activities.

Special thanks to Dr. George Robinson, our colleague in the Department of Biological Sciences at SUNY Albany, for our UUP shirt slogan: Make America Smart Again

UUP shirts:
Drop-down menu offers short-sleeved & long-sleeved shirts, crew neck sweatshirts and hoodies:
http://marchforscienceshop.com/UUPshirt

UUP mugs:
http://marchforscienceshop.com/uup-mugs

UUP is an official partner in the March for Science. Details are being finalized about events members can participate in. In addition to the Washington March there will be satellite marches in locations around New York State and in other states.

UUP will not be organizing or subsidizing bus transportation, but we are asking chapters to help facilitate carpool arrangements.

Stay tuned for an announcement about the launch of UUP’s March for Science web page, which will provide information about march locations, a form to register to attend a march event, and information about ordering UUP March for Science signs.

Please direct any questions to UUP VP for Academics Jamie Dangler at jdangler@uupmail.org; 1-800-342-4206.

In Solidarity,
Fred

On Friday, April 7, the SUNY Faculty Advisory Council on Teaching and Technology (FACT²) is holding a symposium in Albany titled Virtual and Alternative Labs for the STEM subjects. We are invited to “participate in the conversation about the value and assessment of virtual labs.”

UUP will subsidize member attendance by covering registration, travel, and parking costs.  To receive the subsidy, members must register for the conference through UUP via the registration form at this link:

http://uupinfo.org/committees/pdf/teached/SUNYFACT2signup.pdf

If you already registered through the SUNY registration site and want to receive the subsidy, contact Lynn Alderman at UUP Headquarters: lalderma@uupmail.org, 1-800-342-4206.

FACT² Symposium Program:
http://www.cvent.com/events/fact2-symposium-2017/agenda-8dbe6452c372406aa2421848a5304eb9.aspx

In addition, I will present member input on the use of simulated labs during the following symposium panel: All Things Considered: A Look at Both Sides of Online Labs.

I welcome comments and suggestions for my presentation from UUP members who have experience with and/or information about the use of simulated labs. Please consider e-mailing me with your comments or to set up a phone conversation to discuss your experiences with simulated labs.

Here are some questions to consider:

1. Have you used simulated labs in your courses? If so, what kind of courses (e.g., course level; elective courses, courses for majors)?

2. Are there benefits to using simulated labs?
3. Are there drawbacks to using simulated labs?
4. Are there specific conditions/circumstances under which use of simulated labs works best?
5. Are there specific conditions/circumstances under which simulated labs should not be used?
6. Are you aware of graduate programs that do not accept student coursework when simulated labs are used?
7. What issues should SUNY (and faculty members/departments) consider in discussions about whether and how extensively simulated labs should be used?

Sincerely,
Jamie Dangler, PhD
Vice President for Academics
United University Professions
jdangler@uupmail.org
1-800-342-4206

Dear Colleagues,

UUP has signed on as an official partner for the April 22 March for Science. We will send a small delegation to the Washington march and will encourage members to participate in satellite marches around New York State. Plans are underway to have UUP officers or other designees speak at each NYS satellite event. UUP March for Science T-shirts and signs will be available for members. Details will be communicated as plans are finalized, so please stay tuned.

Further information is available on UUP’s website at the following link.
http://uupinfo.org/communications/uupdate/1617/170316.php

Questions should be directed to Jamie Dangler, UUP VP for Academics, at jdangler@uupmail.org; 1-800-342-4206.

In Solidarity,
Fred

Dear Colleagues:

At a meeting yesterday, the New York State Board of Regents voted to adopted significant changes to the state’s teacher certification exams and process. They adopted all of the recommendations put forth by the state edTPA Task Force, which included representatives from UUP.

Details about the changes are posted at the following link on the UUP web page:

http://uupinfo.org/communications/uupdate/1617/170313.php

I would like to recognize the hard work UUP’s Vice President for Academics Jamie Dangler has done to bring about this result.  Her commitment to our colleagues in teacher education programs throughout SUNY has been exemplary.

In Solidarity,
Fred

Dear UUP members,

PLEASE SHARE THIS WITH COLLEAGUES.

On Friday, April 7, the SUNY Faculty Advisory Council on Teaching and Technology (FACT²) is holding a symposium in Albany titled Virtual and Alternative Labs for the STEM subjects. We are invited to “participate in the conversation about the value and assessment of virtual labs.”

UUP will subsidize member attendance by covering registration, travel, and parking costs. To receive the subsidy, members must register for the conference through UUP via the registration form at this link:

http://uupinfo.org/committees/pdf/teached/SUNYFACT2signup.pdf

If you already registered through the SUNY registration site and want to receive the subsidy, contact Lynn Alderman at UUP Headquarters: lalderma@uupmail.org, 1-800-342-4206.

FACT² Symposium Program:
http://www.cvent.com/events/fact2-symposium-2017/agenda-8dbe6452c372406aa2421848a5304eb9.aspx

In addition, I will present member input on the use of simulated labs during the following symposium panel: All Things Considered: A Look at Both Sides of Online Labs.

I welcome comments and suggestions for my presentation from UUP members who have experience with and/or information about the use of simulated labs. Please consider e-mailing me with your comments or to set up a phone conversation to discuss your experiences with simulated labs.

Here are some questions to consider:

1. Have you used simulated labs in your courses? If so, what kind of courses (e.g., course level; elective courses, courses for majors)?

2. Are there benefits to using simulated labs?
3. Are there drawbacks to using simulated labs?
4. Are there specific conditions/circumstances under which use of simulated labs works best?
5. Are there specific conditions/circumstances under which simulated labs should not be used?
6. Are you aware of graduate programs that do not accept student coursework when simulated labs are used?
7. What issues should SUNY (and faculty members/departments) consider in discussions about whether and how extensively simulated labs should be used?

Sincerely,
Jamie Dangler, PhD
Vice President for Academics
United University Professions
jdangler@uupmail.org
1-800-342-4206

Colleagues,

As many of you already know, a women’s Walk Out/Strike Day or “A Day Without a Woman” is scheduled to take place on March 8th. Once again, I have to issue a warning about UUP bargaining unit members taking part in such actions. Utilizing wording you have all seen before:

UUP members who participate in any such action, which would constitute an illegal strike under New York State Civil Service Law, could be subjected to loss of two days’ pay for one day of action. In addition, anyone on a term appointment could be subjected to Article 19 disciplinary action, up to and including termination. Employees on temporary appointments are at-will employees and could be terminated immediately.

At the same time, I fully understand the desire of our members to be a part of actions to express our resistance to the most regressive parts of the Republican agenda coming from DC. So, let me make the following two recommendations for steps people can take:

1. Avoid spending money — a buyers’ strike — with exceptions for local, women- and minority-owned businesses.
2. Wear PINK in solidarity with those struggling for gender equality. That would include the now legendary pussy hats!

I welcome other ideas that could be useful for all of us to incorporate in our resistance on the 8th. Also, let’s all get involved in the March For Science, talking place across the country on April 22. More information to follow on that!

In Solidarity,
Fred

Greetings UUP Member

To In-District Advocates:

Thank you for taking the time to visit your Legislator on behalf of UUP’s statewide Legislative Agenda.

When you see your Legislator, please share with her or him the Talking Points on the attached materials:

• Renewed Investment in SUNY’s State Operated Campuses
  • Restore SUNY Operating Aid
  • Address SUNY’s Critical Shortage of Full-Time Faculty
  • Pass Legislation to increase Accountability and Transparency of SUNY’s Research and Campus Foundations
• Renewed Investment in SUNY’s EOP/EOCs
• Fund SUNY’s Educational Opportunity Program (EOP)
• Fund SUNY’s Educational Opportunity Centers (EOCs)
• Create a School-to-Career Pipeline to Recruit Teachers
• Support SUNY Hospitals and Health Sciences Centers
• Restore SUNY State Hospital Subsidies
• Authorize a New Hospital Bonding Program
• Reinstate State Payment of Hospital Employee Fringe Benefits and Debt Service
• Preserve SUNY Hospital DSH Funding

Please call if you have questions.

Thank you for your work on behalf of our University, our Students and our Patients.

In Solidarity,

Eileen

*************************
Eileen Landy, Ph.D.
Statewide Secretary
United University Professions
518-640-6600

Dear UUP Members,

Several weeks ago, word began to spread, from a variety of sources, of a planned nationally organized strike day. The event is planned for this Friday, February 17th. The action is being coordinated by Strike4Democracy and is being publicized as a “National Day of Action to Push Back Against Assaults on Democratic Principles.” I have been informed that some members are considering ways to support and participate in this protest. After consulting with our legal staff, I feel it is necessary to write to present several very important facts that must be understood.

UUP members who participate in any such action, which would constitute an illegal strike under New York State Civil Service Law, could be subjected to loss of two days’ pay for one day of action. In addition, anyone on a term appointment could be subjected to Article 19 disciplinary action, up to and including termination. Employees on temporary appointments are at-will employees and could be terminated immediately.

Participation in any such action (a strike or other concerted stoppage of work or slowdown by public employees) is barred by New York State Civil Service Law (a/k/a, the Taylor Law). Since the law stipulates that employees who take concerted action by walking out of their professional obligation to protest working conditions meets this definition, it is imperative to make clear that UUP does not endorse or encourage our members’ participation in this event. Should they take part, they could well face the punishment of a loss of two days’ pay for the day used for the action, as well as other possible consequences as indicated above.

Under New York State law, no public employee or employee organization can instigate, encourage, or condone a strike or a similar action. If UUP were to be found to have encouraged a strike, we would face legal action potentially leading to the loss of agency fee.

While I support our sisters and brothers in their quest to push back against assaults on democratic principles, we cannot support, encourage or condone this particular action. We will be continuing the work we started with the Women’s Marches in January, as UUP will be involved extensively with the Science Marches on April 22. More information on those actions to follow.

In the meantime, please understand the seriousness of this situation. As President of UUP I am duty-bound to insure that our union abides by the law. To do otherwise is to endanger the union I was elected to lead, as well as the 42,000 members whom we serve.

In Solidarity,
Fred Kowal, President
United University Professions