It Takes a Village to Provide Academic Excellence In and Outside the Classroom

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Creating an environment of academic excellence in which students thrive and flourish, realize their fullest potential, and discover new opportunities for growth does not happen by accident. It takes a village of committed faculty to develop a supportive culture of learning, both in and outside of the classroom.

Yet, we are aware non-instructional faculty are being attacked and may be regarded as administrative, professional and technical staff. This nothing new. We’ve been there before.

That’s why your faculty collective bargaining agreement, negotiated by UHPA’s Negotiating Committee, protects all classifications of faculty: “The performance of teaching duties, research, and service extends beyond classroom responsibilities and other direct student contact duties.”

All faculty members are important and necessary parts of a finely-tuned engine that run the organization. Our membership is composed of instructors, researchers, specialists, librarians, extension agents and lecturers. Collectively, we provide all of the teaching, research, service, and support for the entire 10-campus system and community-based learning centers across the state. Together, we all help support and maintain the University and contribute significantly to UH’s standing as one of the country’s recognized R-1 universities.

Protecting Diverse Classifications of Faculty

Your contract states:

“Instructional activities encompass more than just classroom teaching. Other aspects of instruction include, but are not limited to: academic and thesis advising, supervision of instructional activities such as cooperative work experiences, practica, internships, and practice; instructional management, tutoring; curriculum and course development; and creation of teaching and instructional materials, and supervision of laboratory activities. Also, included in the work associated with instruction are the implementation of instructional systems and strategies, distance learning technologies, and student evaluation and assessment.

Faculty workload is not limited to instruction. It may include disciplinary research, scholarly activities, or creative endeavors; service to the academic community, the government, the private sector, and other public interest groups; outreach programs; student advising and counseling; equipment and facilities development and maintenance; and information systems development and implementation, including professional librarian services, or serving as a program coordinator.”

What Does Your Contract Mean?

The definition of “instructional activity” in your contract translates into a positive, comprehensive educational experience for students. Imagine what it would be like if students did not have the expert support from our librarians to access and evaluate appropriate resources for research. Imagine if a student did not have the proper guidance from advisors to determine how to successfully plot their careers. And where would students be without the encouragement and support from counselors to persevere and graduate?

A Proven Barrier of Protection

It is no secret or surprise that not everyone fully appreciates the diversity of faculty roles and responsibilities to effectively function as a whole. This is why UHPA and all faculty must continue to band together to advocate for all of our members in all classifications.

Standing together with other faculty under UHPA’s banner has proven to be the best strategy to protect our members, so that we can, in turn, support our students and the communities in which we operate. As the exclusive bargaining representative for Unit 7 faculty over the past 47 years, UHPA has always been there to look after the best interests of all faculty, and is committed to continuing to be there for the entire village of faculty members.

Agreement reached over Covid-19 impacts on promotion, tenure and renewal.

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Agreement reached with President and Governor over Covid-19 impacts on promotion, tenure and contract renewal 

Last week the University of Hawaii Professional Assembly (UHPA) finalized a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with President David Lassner and Governor David Ige on addressing the possible negative consequences and impacts the unanticipated switch to on-line instruction due to COVID-19 may have on tenure, promotion, and contract renewal.  

Agreement result of combined efforts

These concerns were raised by UHPA Faculty Members who are serving on Temporary Work Group which was a combined effort of the UHPA and UH Administrators to discuss health and safety issues, as well as making sure Faculty Members received the required support, services, resources, etc. to help with the transition to on-line instruction and other conditions as they have arised.  The Faculty Members recognized how adverse and negative the Spring 2020 semester could have in the areas of tenure, promotion, and contract renewal processes which are based on face-to-face evaluations, peer evaluations, student evaluations, application deadlines, research endeavors, and other related measures.  

Exemplary decision making via the collective bargaining process

“The Temporary Work Group epitomizes the intent of Hawaii’s collective bargaining law, by providing for joint decision-making; having employees granted a right to share in the decision-making process; and having a venue to exchange ideas and information with administrators to help the government become more effective and responsive in these unprecedented times.”  Christian Fern, UHPA Executive Director

Highlights of the MOU

  1. Faculty Members employed during the Spring 2020 semester may elect to extend their probationary period for an additional year, but not to exceed eight (8) years;
  2. Faculty Members expected to undergo contract renewal in the Fall 2020 semester may elect to extend their contact and postpone their contract renewal by one year; and
  3. Faculty Members or Lecturers holding multi-year limited term contracts in Spring 2020 who are up for contract renewal and who are not being paid via extramural funds will be extended for one (1) additional year.

The temporary work group consists of Faculty Members and UH Administrators and has continued to meet on a weekly basis since Spring Break.  

Download a PDF copy of the signed Memorandum of Understanding

 

Tenure and Promotions: UHPA’s Supporting Role

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Congratulations to all University of Hawai‘i faculty who have recently been tenured or have been promoted!

UHPA recognizes your hard work and diligence. Your commitment to academic excellence is admirable and you deserve to celebrate this important milestone in your professional career.

It’s Based on Your Contract

The success of these faculty is based on the foundation established by UHPA in the UHPA-BOR Agreement. It’s important to point out that this is not a state statute. Unlike many other states, tenure is only possible because of the UHPA-BOR Agreement, not statute. The UHPA Negotiating Team makes sure that policies and procedures for tenure, promotion and contract renewal evaluations and recommendations are always included in the faculty contracts. View an entire section of the contract dedicated to this subject.

Did You Know…

Here are some other safeguards in the faculty contract to ensure you receive a fair assessment when you are being considered for tenure or a promotion.

  • The majority of bargaining unit faculty members must approve the policies and procedures of each respective department or division within the University of Hawai`i. UHPA must also approve any amendments.
  •  The written procedures for a department or division must include a secret ballot for final votes on faculty members being considered for tenure or contract renewal, and the faculty member who is voting must be a tenured Bargaining Unit 07 member.

Share This with Your Colleagues

Others in your department or division may not be aware of the role UHPA plays in establishing the framework for tenure and promotion. Please share this with information with them, and if they are interested in becoming a UHPA member to support themselves and fellow faculty, please direct them to this instant online membership form.

View the list of faculty who have been tenured or promoted.

Unprecedented Actions to Reduce Teaching Equivalencies (TE) at Kapiolani CC

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UHPA was notified by Chancellor Pagotto of a significant cut in Teaching Equivalencies (TE) for Spring 2020 due to fiscal problems at Kapiolani CC. These reductions affect a large number of faculty members and is without precedence. TE’s constitute work responsibilities that are part of your compensation and conditions of work. These reductions may impact delivery of instruction and support for students along with diminished employment for some employees. The impact of these measures is not fully known.

UHPA was not consulted before the implementation of TE reductions nor did Chancellor Pagotto request negotiations on changes in compensation and working conditions that are impacted by the action being taken.

UHPA considers this a very serious matter and is preparing to take the necessary steps to ensure that faculty members are protected from harmful employer actions that undermine your job security, compensation and working conditions.

UHPA has requested that the UH System administration intervene immediately to address the fiscal situation and stop the unilateral reduction of TE’s. Further this requires the employer and UHPA to meet and negotiate on these matters. The employer needs to meet its legal obligations.

Faculty Rights to Privacy Violated

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UHPA is actively pursuing measures to protect faculty members from Legislator information requests that breach the privacy of personnel files. Numerous information requests have been received from Senator Kim that target individual faculty members in a manner that UHPA contends surpasses what is allowed by the collective bargaining agreement and Chapter 92F of The Uniform Practices Act.

UHPA has a pending grievance and is in discussions with the University on establishing standards for release of information which protects the privacy of faculty members

The information requests are raising the spectre of legislative intrusion into work load and faculty evaluation. Both the exercise of academic decision making by faculty members and University autonomy are undermined by the collection of data with little restrictions on use.

This is a growing area of UHPA activities designed to protect the ability of faculty members to meet their work responsibilities free from legislative intrusion.

UHPA Safeguards Your Intellectual Property: New Rights for Faculty Members

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UHPA knows that as a faculty member you have made significant investments to develop and expand your knowledge in your specific field of study. The original materials you create for your classes and other purposes are the result of years of research. You have no doubt become a subject matter expert and your work deserves to be protected from misuse or copyright infringement.

You can be reassured that you are protected from having your works misused. After two years of tough negotiations with UH administration, UHPA has successfully included new contract language that respects the rights of faculty members. Article XI Intellectual Property, Patents and Copyrights, now in effect for faculty members, spells out the terms and conditions for any work for hire by the University of Hawaii.

Works for hire for copyrightable materials must meet specified conditions that are defined in the contract and can be enforced through the grievance procedure. The new language allows copyrightable products—as well as patents—to be subject to shared revenue agreements. This was designed so that faculty can receive an equitable economic return on any of their work that may be sold. The contract contains an updated definition of copyright, and UHPA now receives copies of all work-for-hire agreements.

UHPA and UH is in the process of developing templates for work-for-hire agreements to ensure there is compliance with the contract terms and conditions. Watch for more details.

UHPA Stops Residency Requirements for Lecturers! Being a UHPA Member has Advantages!

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In June community college lecturers started receiving notices that because they did not reside in Hawaii they could no longer be hired to work for the community colleges. This action was taken unilaterally without regard to contractual rights of lecturers and the harm that could occur to instructional programs for Fall 2019. At risk were rights to long term rolling contracts, rights of assignments of 6 credits per semester, annual contracts, and health insurance benefits.

UHPA successfully prevailed in stopping the Community Colleges from implementing and imposing a change in conditions of employment for lecturers. Contrary to the misinformation that was circulating on some campuses there is no Hawaii law that requires hiring of only persons who reside in Hawaii. The University is exempt from state law that requires employees to be residents.

All Community College faculty members should receive notice from the employer that there is no residency requirement.

If you’re a UHPA member your support makes these wins possible!

UHPA Prevails in Obtaining Revised Contract Renewal Letters for Probationary Faculty

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UHPA filed a class grievance regarding the failure to properly inform probationary faculty of the contract renewal recommendations by the DPC and Department/Division chair by December 20, 2018 as provided by the collective bargaining agreement. This information can be critical to any faculty member who may be subject to non-renewal or has performance deficits that may raise concerns with a Dean or Vice Chancellor. The December date enables a probationary faculty member to determine what options may guide their future employment and ability to remain at the University of Hawaii.

Such defects in the process will be corrected for the 2019-2020 academic year. As a remedy
Faculty members who were improperly denied a contract renewal will be awarded a contract renewal. Faculty members who were renewed and received improper letters will be sent corrected letters which affirm their contract renewals.

Tenure and promotion datasets updated for 2018

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UHPA Members can access tenure and promotion data that includes 2016-2018 academic years.  Members can access both graphs and the tables producing those graphs published within a Google sheet.

UHPA Executive Director Kristeen Hanselman said, “Each year UHPA gathers information on faculty success in obtaining tenure, increased compensation with promotion, and completion of probationary periods thru contract renewal. These indicate that UH continues to replenish some tenured faculty positions and faculty members are successful in their career path. ”

This content is made available to UHPA Members only via our Google Drive files. If you’re not a member, signup is quick and easy via our online form.

 

Go to Tenure and Promotion page now

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

Faculty rating is highest of recent UH Manoa rankings

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The 2018-2019 CWUR World University Rankings report evaluated 18,000 universities worldwide.  Of those, UH Manoa ranked 306, 105 nationally, 245 in influence, 541 in citations and 574 in research output.  A detail not lost on us is that our UH Manoa faculty was ranked at 100, the highest of the ratings for the campus.  It’s nice to see great efforts and great results recognized by all. Congratulations UH Manoa Faculty!