About AAUP-OU

In November 2003, over a hundred faculty members gathered to share their concerns and express their hope for a more prominent voice at Ohio University. In the months that followed, many of those people worked to block substantial cuts in our health care benefits and to regenerate a faculty discussion of the proposed changes to the General Education requirement.

This year, the threat to health care benefits returned, along with perennial concerns about growing class sizes, new curriculum mandates, the administration’s budget priorities, and stagnating salaries. Again faculty members have responded with increasing numbers and effectiveness.

In January 2005, the administration backed away from a plan to sharply increase employees’ contribution to an already expensive health care plan. AAUP healthcare experts consulted by the O.U. chapter warned that this plan would fix employee contributions at an arbitrary percentage with no discussion of the actual dollar amounts, the nature of our benefits, or the relative weights of paycheck premiums and out-of-pocket expenses. This information was shared across campus, scores of faculty members emailed senate representatives, and an acceptable compromise resulted.

A few weeks later, Faculty Senate terminated a massive overhaul of the General Education program after receiving emails from concerned faculty members and a petition with 128 signatures. The discussion showed that the full curricular effects of the proposed changes had not been studied systematically and that new faculty lines which the plan’s original proponents had anticipated showed no signs of materializing.

As a way to focus, organize and support these growing efforts, the Ohio University chapter of the AAUP was reactivated in December 2004. Our goals are to develop and advance the concerns of the O.U. faculty, build a solid campus platform, and bring in the support of this longstanding and powerful national organization.

Active faculty members in all schools and colleges, a revitalized AAUP chapter, and decisive action in Faculty Senate show that a clearer, more focused voice is emerging at Ohio University. We want you to join us.