The organizing efforts of UIUC academic professionals shift into high gear this spring with the establishment of a committee structure for the Association of Academic Professionals. After several months of outreach by the Association and unprecedented dialog among our academic professional colleagues, the central functions necessary for us to achieve an independent, legally recognized collective bargaining unit are now clear--although the outcomes of the various committees remain to be determined by their members and by the Association membership at large.
Now is the time for academic professionals with a commitment to professional control and higher standards throughout UIUC to step forward and make their voices heard. Opportunities for participating in the Association are wide open. And it's fun!
"I help out with the AAP because I feel it serves an important role in connecting academic staff from different departments and letting us get a better idea of the big picture," said Maiko Covington, a research programmer with the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. "In AAP, we learn what the opportunities and conditions are like in departments other than our own. I like helping with these sorts of connections."
Added WILL media/communications specialist Maeve Reilly, "AAP gives us a chance to establish a community of professionals who have common goals and objectives, and can strongly advocate for improvements in our working environments. I think it's important to have a method of getting our voices heard, and I think the AAP gives us a way to do that."
Please use the form provided on page 3 to let colleagues know how you can help build our movement. The new Association committees and their charges are as follows:
The Diversity Committee will learn about diversity issues affecting UIUC academic professionals and what UIUC policies and procedures are in place for dealing with these issues; identify resources within IEA/NEA that can help promote diversity; and propose a diversity statement for the Association and diversity goals for the campus.
The Education Committee will identify and develop tools for educating academic professionals about employment at UIUC and about how the Association can improve it; schedule and plan events; coordinate media activities, including newspaper commentaries and development of the AAP Advocate; and identify resources within IEA/NEA that can help further the education goals of the Association.
The Legislative Committee will work with IEA Government Relations staff to identify legislators and regulators who can influence employment at UIUC, and identify legislative priorities for the Association.
The Mediation/Advocacy Committee will consult with academic professionals who seek assistance in dealing with workplace problems; research and participate in UIUC procedures for grievance handling; and learn about Illinois Education Association (IEA/NEA) legal, grievance, and contract resources for dealing with grievances and improving the workplace.
The Membership Committee will help recruit members to the Association; identify issues of importance to academic professionals; work with other IEA/NEA members in the area to develop strong membership programs; and identify resources within IEA/NEA to help the Association achieve its recruitment and assessment goals.
The Research/Budget Committee will use IEA/NEA resources to learn about university budgets generally; research the UIUC budget; and identify other research priorities for the Association.