SIUC Faculty Association

Fall 2021 COVID Impact Bargaining Agreement

The Impact Bargaining agreement about class room procedures and Faculty rights is posted under the Current Contract tab. Thanks to the FA Bargaining Team (Anne Fetcher, Sam Pavel, and Jeff Punske) for their hard work on this agreement. If you have any questions or would like additional information, please contact a member of the Team. Here’s to a safe and productive semester.

President Fletcher’s Remarks to the BoT 7/15/21

Statement to Board of Trustees July 15, 2021 (available as read on BoT website)

Good afternoon. For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Anne Fletcher. I am a Professor in the School of Theatre and Dance. I have been at SIUC for 20 years. I am here today in my capacity as President of the SIUC Faculty Association.The Faculty Association works with administration in settling and even preventing grievances, implementing the Collective Bargaining Agreement, navigating reorganization, and more. We are currently in collective bargaining. Employing Interest Based Bargaining, the joint team’s relationship remains open and friendly. I urge you to take the opportunity to build into the FY 2022 budget meaningful salary increases for Faculty. Except for Promotion and Tenure, Faculty have received in total a 2% increase in salary across the last decade. Salary compression has become acute. Morale is extraordinarily low. While I recognize that “feelings are not facts”, Faculty perception is that we are simply not a priority. Faculty numbers have decreased by at least half in my time here, currently totaling approximately 425. Arguably, the student body has shrunk proportionately. However, in terms of class preparation, office hours, committee assignments, recruitment and retention, and other service activities, work has increased. There are fewer Faculty to complete daily operational tasks. Students and Faculty, teaching and learning, are the heart and soul of a university. We hope that SIUC will recognize Faculty and stand committed to the people who have committed themselves to SIUC.Thank you for your time.

August 2021 Newsletter

April Newsletter

February Newsletter

January Newsletter

Check out the latest Newsletter from President Fletcher.

SIUC Faculty Association / GA United

Joint letter to IEA concerning Representative Mike Bost

Time Sensitive Items and Voting

FA Newsletter 9-28-20

Three time-sensitive items have arisen. The FA needs your thoughts. If you have concerns related to the first two items, please respond a.s.a.p.

1. Many of you have received instructions concerning the modalities of classes for Spring 2021 (filtered down from the Provost to Deans to Chairs). Communication has been inconsistent at best. Some Faculty have received the entire unedited directive from the Provost. Some have received requests from their chairs simply asking for a description of what their classes will look like in their given modalities. Some have received what appear to be directives asking for “justifications” or “class plans” and/or a quick response. Some have (as of Friday) have received nothing. Please reach out to the Faculty Association if you are confused or, more importantly, if you feel the request you received may infringe on your academic freedom.
2. The provost is soliciting “in-put” re: an “opt-in” on the part of students for PASS/FAIL again this semester. We need your in-put by Oct.2.

A number of issues arose from this practice when it was implemented last spring, among them:

• Some students exercising the pass/fail option failed to get a letter grade on their record that they might have needed in the future.

• The pass/fail option set up students to fail to meet the achievement thresholds they needed to satisfy degree and prerequisite requirements.

• Programs were pressured to accept pass grades that did not meet degree or certification requirements.

• The pass/fail policy eliminated minimum grade requirements that should have been applied for a course to serve as a prerequisite in the future. 

Please reach out to your DRC member and/or to me or another member of the FA leadership with your concerns (afletcher849@gmail.com)

It’s time to vote on the new contract!

• You will soon receive a copy of the new contract (with changes indicated), a list of “talking points” that outline significant changes, and instructions for “drive-thru” voting on ratification. Voting will take place on October 5 (time and place forthcoming). ONLY FA MEMBERS CAN VOTE! Now would be a good time to join the union if you are not already a member! New member form will be available at voting. The FA website can be accessed (siucfa.org), although it remains “a work in progress.” Thanks for all you do!

In solidarity,

Anne Fletcher

President, SIU Faculty Association