UUP Oneonta
Hello Fellow UUP Members,
Please join us for “The Latest on AI and Our Work: A UUP Virtual Forum.” We’ll hold sessions on March 9 and March 16 for UUP members to hear about major recent developments in AI that impact us. You can register here, and are invited to share the flyer below with UUP colleagues:
All UUP members are welcome to attend.
In solidarity,
Alissa
The crucial role SUNY’s College of Environmental Science and Forestry plays as a national leader in protecting the environment, conducting climate change research and training the next generation of environmental leaders is the topic of a March 3 virtual panel discussion.
The discussion, titled “Anti-Science, the Environmental Crises and the Crucial Role of ESF,” will be held from noon to 1:30 p.m. via Zoom. UUP, the ESF Chapter and the National Wildlife Federation are sponsoring the event, which is free.
UUP President Fred Kowal will moderate the panel discussion. The panelists are:
Registration is required. Click HERE to register:
“Benefits Worth Falling For” UUP’s Know Your Negotiated Benefits webinar is scheduled for Tuesday, February 10th at Noon.
Learn all about UUP’s extensive benefits package and other discounted services.
Please use this link to register:
https://forms.gle/R1fqsVeaCHDtJAa5A
Doreen Bango
Director of Member Benefits/Fund Administrator- UUP
Dear Colleagues,
Over 12 million people in the United States are struggling to make their monthly student loan payments, and millions more see economic and personal opportunities pass as they prioritize paying down their debt. Does this sound like you or someone you know?
Many of these people may qualify for free federal programs that can help reduce their monthly payments and eventually lead to student loan forgiveness, but these lifeline programs are significantly under-enrolled. In an effort to help our members get access to these programs, United University Professions and the American Federation of Teachers are proud to host a Student Debt Clinic which will provide information on how to enroll in Income-Driven Repayment plans and Public Service Loan Forgiveness.
We will be offering virtual Members Only Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Clinics on the following dates:
Wednesday, March 11, 2026 from 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM via Zoom
Wednesday, March 25, 2026 from 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM via Zoom
To attend one of the virtual Members Only Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Clinics, you must pre-register here: http://go.aft.org/StudentDebtClinicRSVP
From the “student debt clinic” drop down menu, please select the UUP clinic that you are interested in attending – they are labeled “UUP [Virtual Student Debt Clinic] [date] [time].” In the affiliate field, type in the full name of our local (United University Professions), and it will autofill after a few keystrokes.
Registration is first-come, first-serve, and we must cap attendance for a single clinic at 125 participants to ensure that we are able to provide maximum assistance to attendees. Registration will close 48 hours prior to the virtual clinic. Webinar login information will be provided prior to the clinic to all who register. [If you can’t make one of these virtual clinics, don’t worry – we’re planning on offering them every payday. If you want to help host a chapter-specific virtual clinic, please let us know!]
Managing your student loan debt is the first step in taking on the inequities which plague our system of higher education, and we look forward to seeing you at the virtual Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Clinic and working together to find a collective solution to the problems of student debt and college affordability!
Register now!
Jeri
She / Her / Hers
Jeri O’Bryan-Losee, MA, MS, MSEd
United University Professions
Statewide Secretary-Treasurer
Check out and RSVP for our February and March chapter meetings and events below!
February Chapter Meeting (Feb 11)
WHEN: Wednesday, February 11, 2026 at 12 PM
WHERE: Le Cafe, Morris Complex
RSVP: https://forms.gle/BfQ1hDCEwd84zUms9
LRS Workshop: Maximizing Your Contractual Leave Benefits
WHEN: Tuesday, February 17, 2026 at 12 PM
WHERE: Craven Lounge, Morris Complex
RSVP: https://forms.gle/3HfYT4pyASe6cwK77
DEI Session: The Gender Divide (Mar 3)
WHEN: Tuesday, March 3, 2026 at 12 PM
WHERE: Craven Lounge, Morris Complex
RSVP: https://forms.gle/477ofny85q1pxjKd9
March Chapter Meeting (Mar 11)
WHEN: Wednesday, March 11, 2026 at 12 PM
WHERE: Le Cafe, Morris Complex
RSVP: https://forms.gle/M9baygmYG8a7QQoR6
LRS Workshop: Civility in the Workplace (Mar 26)
WHEN: Thursday, March 26, 2026 at 12 PM
WHERE: Le Cafe, Morris Complex
RSVP: https://forms.gle/qTHoQQ2BKRbq9Qee7
To view our full events calendar, head on over to: https://uuphost.org/oneonta/events/
Dear Colleagues,
The No Kings Coalition has launched rolling rapid-response trainings leading up to the next nationwide mobilization on March 28th. As a partner, we’re sharing opportunities to plug in immediately. We had a tremendous turnout for the last No Kings Action all across New York. We’re aiming for even more people engaged in the battle to save our democracy.
Additionally, I invite you to join the next Eyes on ICE: Document and Record training on February 5th at 8 PM! This comprehensive training will provide concrete tools to protect our communities and push back against abuse by federal agents. RSVP HERE for link:
As we build toward the March 28th mass mobilization, now is the moment to train, organize, and strengthen our networks. Please share this opportunity widely and encourage others to get involved. Engage your colleagues, family, friends, and neighbors on how to be active in this fight.
We will share more information on how to connect with the March 28th actions through UUP soon. If you have additional actions or coalition resources to share, send them to Mary Becker, UUP Organizing & Outreach Administrative Assistant (mbecker@uupmail.org), and we will help amplify them.
Save the date: March 28. Join the training. Act now.
Dear Colleagues,
I’m sure that you are as concerned as I am regarding the events in Minneapolis and elsewhere over the past several weeks. We are certainly in an era which presents deep dangers to our democracy. Government agents have been given free reign to assault and detain people in our country without cause or justification. Most notably, we have witnessed the murder of an innocent woman by ICE agents who will not be held accountable for their actions.
UUP stands for democracy and the rule of law. With these principles under assault, we have joined with other unions in condemning the actions of the Trump Regime and specifically ICE. As part of our resistance, we are sharing with you important information concerning ways that those of you who would like to can join in actions of peaceful resistance.
This Friday, January 23, please join me in showing solidarity with the Minneapolis AFL-CIO’s call for a general strike in Minnesota to oppose intensified ICE raids and to stand with immigrant workers and families everywhere.
On Friday, we encourage you to wear blue as a symbolic step of solidarity and share photos and videos on social media. We also encourage you to attend a local ICE OUT rally or march — details for Albany and NYC actions are below, and you can find other events here.
ICE Out for Good: Stand with Minneapolis
Where: North End of Union Square, NYC (4:30 PM step-off)
When: January 23 @ 4 PM
More information can be found via PSC here.
ICE OUT of ALBANY!
Where: NYS Capitol Building, State Street, Albany, NY 12210
When: January 23, 4 PM – 6 PM
More information can be found via Mobilize here.
If you plan to attend a rally outside of Albany or NYC, please share event info with Mary Becker at, mbecker@uupmail.org so we can help connect, coordinate, and amplify efforts. Additionally, as events unfold, as actions are scheduled, please share them with Mary Becker so that we can then provide all of us with the opportunity to take part.
These are deeply troubling times but we can create hope by our common resistance to the oppression that has been let loose in our nation.
In solidarity,
Frederick E. Kowal, Ph.D.
President
United University Professions
Dear Colleagues,
Over 12 million people in the United States are struggling to make their monthly student loan payments, and millions more see economic and personal opportunities pass as they prioritize paying down their debt. Does this sound like you or someone you know?
Many of these people may qualify for free federal programs that can help reduce their monthly payments and eventually lead to student loan forgiveness, but these lifeline programs are significantly under-enrolled. In an effort to help our members get access to these programs, United University Professions and the American Federation of Teachers are proud to host a Student Debt Clinic which will provide information on how to enroll in Income-Driven Repayment plans and Public Service Loan Forgiveness.
We will be offering virtual Members Only Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Clinics on the following dates:
Wednesday, February 11, 2026 from 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM via Zoom
Wednesday, February 25, 2026 from 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM via Zoom
To attend one of the virtual Members Only Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Clinics, you must pre-register here: http://go.aft.org/StudentDebtClinicRSVP.
From the “student debt clinic” drop down menu, please select the UUP clinic that you are interested in attending – they are labeled “UUP [Virtual Student Debt Clinic] [date] [time].” In the affiliate field, type in the full name of our local (United University Professions), and it will autofill after a few keystrokes.
Registration is first-come, first-serve, and we must cap attendance for a single clinic at 125 participants to ensure that we are able to provide maximum assistance to attendees. Registration will close 48 hours prior to the virtual clinic. Webinar login information will be provided prior to the clinic to all who register. [If you can’t make one of these virtual clinics, don’t worry – we’re planning on offering them every payday. If you want to help host a chapter-specific virtual clinic, please let us know!]
Managing your student loan debt is the first step in taking on the inequities which plague our system of higher education, and we look forward to seeing you at the virtual Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Clinic and working together to find a collective solution to the problems of student debt and college affordability!
Register now!
Jeri
She / Her / Hers
[My work day may look different than yours. Please do not feel obligated to respond to my emails beyond your work hours.]
Jeri O’Bryan-Losee, MA, MS, MSEd
United University Professions
Statewide Secretary-Treasurer
NYSUT Board of Directors, ED41
AFT PPC Member
All those in UUP are eligible to receive Public Service Loan Forgiveness.
Click here to register for an upcoming PSLF clinic: https://uupinfo.org/calendar/
Dear Chapter Members:
Please join me in spreading the word regarding our Beyond Med webinar.
Join us to learn more about an exclusive UUP Members only benefit regarding Beyond Med on Tuesday, February 3, 2026 at 12:00pm. There will be a chance to win gift cards!
As a UUP member you have discounts on elective and cosmetic services that other health plans leave out. You have access to a premier network of providers and virtual care or concierge at home available.
Services include, but are not limited to : Weight Loss + Rx, Fertility, Massage, Nutrition, wellness devices, holistic medicine and so much more
Register using this link: https://forms.gle/gzRrPkyYLXnnvWXDA
Thank you,
Doreen
Doreen Bango
Director of Member Benefits/Fund Administrator
518-640-6610
Please distribute widely to your membership regarding the January 2026 Pre-Retirement Workshops.
Dear Chapter Leadership and Members:
UUP’s popular monthly Pre-Retirement Workshops are scheduled for January 20th and January 22, 2026. The part 1 workshop will take place on Tuesday, January 20, 2026 at 12:00 pm which will cover Healthcare/Medicare.
The part 2 workshop will take place on Thursday, January 22, 2026, at 12:00 pm which will cover union benefits (dental & vision)
You may take these workshops as many times as you like as the information is rather complex especially with Medicare and feel free to have your spouse/partner attend with you. Also, you can take these two workshops in any order as they don’t depend on each other. For this and other UUP programing information go to the UUP Events Calendar https://uupinfo.org/calendar/
You will need to register for the workshops, and a Zoom link is sent the day before the workshop to the email address that you register under.
We do not record these workshops because of privacy concerns and because the information does change, and we want to make sure you have the most current information.
To register for the January pre-retirement workshop’s, use this link: https://forms.gle/oYe1ucdnpPRLu3QW6
In Solidarity,
Patrick Romain
UUP Membership Development Officer
518-640-6639