New faculty contract signed

UD administrators and faculty representatives sign a new three-year contract between the University and the UD chapter of the American Association of University Professors. Seated (from left) are Linda Bucher associate professor of nursing and president of AAUP at UD; UD President David P. Roselle; and Maxine Colm, vice president for administration. Standing (from left) are Sheldon Pollack, professor of business and economics; Carolyn Thoroughgood, vice provost for research; Gerald Turkel, professor of sociology; David Colton, Unidel Professor of Mathematics and head of the AAUP negotiating team; Provost Dan Rich; Kevin Kerrane, professor of English; L. Leon Campbell, Hugh M. Morris Research Professor of Molecular Biosciences; David Hollowell, executive vice president and treasurer; Saul Hoffman, chairperson of the Department of Economics; and Tom LaPenta, assistant vice president for labor relations.

5:56 p.m., June 15, 2005--A new three-year contract between the University and the UD chapter of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), which was ratified overwhelmingly by faculty in May, was formally signed on Tuesday, June 14, at the Blue & Gold Club.

The new faculty collective bargaining agreement with UD will be effective from July 1, 2005, through June 30, 2008. Some 93 percent of those voting--365 faculty members--voted to ratify the contract.

The new contract includes some changes in benefits and provides salary increases of 3.5 percent, 4 percent and 4.25 percent for each year of the contract, respectively, including across-the-board increases of 2 percent at all ranks each year.

Among the benefit highlights of the contract is a new vision plan for faculty and eligible family members effective July 1, 2005, to replace the existing $175 available for annual health examination for eligible members only. Also, the allowable maximum health care contribution to Flexible Spending Accounts will increase to $3,000 from $2,000.

Another new contract provision will allow faculty members who adopt a child under the age of 5 years, as well as those with a newborn, to elect a one-semester administered load that would allow partial or full relief from teaching. The provision will be available to faculty who are primary caregivers during the semester of the birth or adoption of a child or the semester immediately after.

The new contract will continue adjusted salary differentials for 11-month faculty, increase overload compensation each year consistent with the across-the-board and merit increases and offer a similar increase in flat rates for credit course instruction in continuing education.

Payments for FOCUS/Distance Learning offerings also will increase in each year of the contract with variable percentage increases among the academic ranks.

Photo by Kathy F. Atkinson

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