{"id":68362,"date":"2022-10-14T10:59:06","date_gmt":"2022-10-14T15:59:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/?p=68362"},"modified":"2022-10-14T10:59:10","modified_gmt":"2022-10-14T15:59:10","slug":"sga-learns-about-fhsus-chapter-of-aaup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/?p=68362","title":{"rendered":"SGA learns about FHSU’s chapter of AAUP"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

BY RAEGAN NEUFELD<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shared governance has been one of the main focuses for the Student Government Association this year. This theme continued at last night\u2019s meeting with the guest speaker, President of the Fort Hays chapter of the American Association of University Professors, Janett Naylor-Tincknell. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Senators heard about what the AAUP does, who they protect and member benefits. According to Naylor-Tincknell, there are 357 faculty members and program specialists covered by the AAUP\u2019s negotiation of their contract with the administration, which focuses on working conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat contract outlines things like how many classes we can teach per semester, how many office hours we have, how much service and research we need to do and pretty much anything to do with work,\u201d Naylor-Tincknell said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other aspects of the AAUP\u2019s work include academic freedom, tenure and salary. These aspects are outlined in the Memorandum of Agreement<\/a>. The AAUP is also able to seek legal ramifications should they feel the need to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To help further explain what the group does, Naylor-Tincknell referenced the recent firing of faculty and program cuts at Emporia State University<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe have very clear guidelines for how faculty are dismissed,\u201d she said. \u201cWe have very clear guidelines for claiming financial exigency – issues related to our budget. We also have very, very clear issues when it comes to downsizing programs, so they can\u2019t do that here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Out of the 357 covered university employees, approximately 80 are dues-paying members of the FHSU AAUP. As Naylor-Tincknell explained, these members are able to vote on the contract and vote on actions the group takes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Naylor-Tincknell ended her speech by informing the SGA about how the two groups can work together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf there are any issues you see moving forward that impact faculty workload, we can join with you,\u201d she said. \u201cIf there are things you feel are going to be negatively impacting your education or taking away from your faculty member\u2019s ability to give you what you need, reach out to us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Later on in the meeting, SGA Vice President Austin Ruff announced the senator seat allocations based on enrollment in each college. The breakdown is as follows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n