UFF-USF

Tentative agenda for Friday’s meeting, 12 pm, CDB’s (Fowler Ave., just east of 51st, Tampa):

1. Agenda amendments/approval
2. Introductions
3. Travel reimbursements
   1. Clarification on timing of mileage reimbursement
   2. NEA/AFT Higher Ed Conference priorities
4. Specific concerns
   1. Nursing
   2. Regional campus issues
5. Consultation (Dec 14, 10 am)
6. Bargaining
7. Reports (grievances, treasury, communications, political action, membership)
8. Other business
9. For the good of the order

UFF President Tom Auxter sent the following to members earlier this week:

Colleagues:
We have an historic opportunity to change the tax structure in Florida. Faculty are specifically invited by the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission to submit comments on the effects of under funding. Commissioners want to know how under funding has affected the quality and the delivery of what students receive in higher education.

The Commission has the power (from the Legislature) to write language proposing a change in the tax structure that will appear on the November 2008 ballot. The results of our efforts (contacting Commissioners now) could change our economic picture for two decades (until the next Commission begins work). This is our chance to make the case for more adequate and stable funding. We are urging the Commission to adopt a proposal that allows Florida to harvest the benefits that come with investing in a developed and well-functioning higher education system.

Contact the Florida Taxation and Budget Commission now, from your computer off campus, with comments on the problems faculty and students face with inadequate funding. Give examples from your campus. See Talking Points below.

Tom Auxter
President, United Faculty of Florida

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I’ve given variants of the following to higher-education reporters in the area:

The USF chapter of the United Faculty of Florida looks forward to working with Ralph Wilcox to improve faculty pay and the quality of education and research at USF. The fundamental issues we have to address don’t change with the name of the person sitting in an office, and from his administrative positions Dr. Wilcox is familiar with the long-term challenges that USF faces. I wish Dr. Khator well in her new post at the University of Houston, and I wish Dr. Wilcox well as USF’s provost beginning in January.