First, Health Insurance:  Healthcare benefits will be maintained at the same level of benefits as in previous contracts.   Single coverage will be fully paid by the Iowa BOR.  Family coverage premium expenses will be shared with the university paying 75% of the premium and the faculty picking up the remaining 25%.

Second, Salary and other Monetary Benefits: 

2005-06:  July 01, 2005 through December 30, 2005: 1.5% increase

                January 01, 2006 through June 30, 2006: 1% increase

               Total 2005-06 increase: 2.5%

2006-07: July 01, 2006 to December 30, 2006: 2.0% increase

               January 01, 2007 to June 30, 2007: 1.5% increase

               Total 2006-07 increase: 3.5%

All monetary items in the Master Agreement are increased by these amounts.

Third, Probationary Appointments:  If the Dept. Head does not follow the recommendation of the PAC, the Dept. Head must provide the PAC with written rationale and their recommendation at the time it goes to the Dean.

                                The Role of Academic Freedom at UNI

                               A. Frank Thompson, President UF-AAUP

On behalf of the United Faculty and AAUP I want to welcome you to the community scholars known as the University of Northern Iowa and to offer best wishes for the 2002-03 academic year.  UNI has built a strong reputation in the areas of teaching, research and service out of a history of faculty commitment to education.  126 years ago our university was created on the grounds of an orphanage that served the children of civil war soldiers.  UNI emerged from a K through 12 public school that was started to teach children reading, writing and arithmetic.  While we may have added a few more subjects and increased the age of our students over the years, our purpose is still the same in terms of helping others learn, explore and become life-long scholars. 

As scholars, faculty ask questions, examine new alternatives to old problems, and critically debate issues.  It is in our very nature, as faculty, to seek a fair discussion of ideas and concepts based on facts.  A main foundation for discovery is the quest for new knowledge by questioning and challenging current paradigms.  Sometimes asking too many questions or challenging existing ways of thought can get teachers into trouble.  Just ask Socrates or Galileo.    87 years ago AAUP came into existence after the firing of an Economics professor at Stanford university.   Professor Ross’s research and theories were at variance with Mr. Leland Stanford’s views on the gold standard.  Ross was fired not on the basis of his work in the classroom or record of publication, but rather his lack of loyalty to the views of the university administration and founder of the institution.  Fortunately, some good came out of a poor university decision. Professor Ross was not killed for heresy, he continued to do university teaching and eventually his views on the gold standard were acknowledged to be better than those of Mr. Stanford.   More importantly, universities across the US endorse AAUP principles on shared governance, tenure, professional values and standards, and due process.   We as faculty members have benefited greatly from AAUP’s commitment to securing these principles on our campus.  Over the years the UF-AAUP has enjoyed open communication with the UNI administration and a mutual respect for faculty rights to shared governance, tenure, professional values and standards and due process.  As we begin this new academic year, we invite you to become a part of UF-AAUP in its efforts to work with the UNI administration to improve faculty working conditions on campus.  As part of this collegial effort to bring faculty and administrators together UF-AAUP is sponsoring a reception at the end of this meeting at the entrance to Lang Hall Auditorium.  We extend best wishes to all at UNI, the students, faculty, staff and administrators as we seek together to make UNI a place of learning, scholarly activity and a community of scholars that debate issues.   Thank you.