Negotiations update for June 5, 2026 – Bargaining Begins

The first meeting of the Faculty and Administration Bargaining Teams to negotiate a successor agreement to the current AAUP contract took place on Thursday, June 4, 2026

The current contract expires on August 23, 2026.

The Faculty Bargaining Team’s Co-Leaders are Julie McLaughlin and Pam Ecker. The other faculty team members are Caleb Ochs-Naderer, Scott Horn, and Mark Tiemeier.

The Administration team’s Co-Leaders are Provost Robbin Hoopes and CFO / VP of Administration Steve Morris. The other administration team members are Dean Yvonne Baker, Senior Director of Student Success & Development Soni Hill, and Director of Human Resources Falonda Rodgers.

Faculty team members said the initial bargaining session lasted about an hour, and the tone was positive and collaborative.

“This year, we want to try to focus on fully understanding each team’s concerns before we start looking at formal proposals about possible revisions to contract language,” Pam said. “We discussed that goal with the administration and they agreed on trying to implement this approach as we continue with bargaining.”

Scott said it was encouraging to see that the first meeting ran smoothly. “This is an important process, and it feels like we got started in a good way.”

The teams agreed on ground rules for the negotiations process, and on some topics to be discussed at future sessions.

The next bargaining sessions are scheduled for Wednesday, June 10, and Thursday, June 11.

After bargaining with the administration concluded, the Faculty Team met for a work session, fortified by some food and beverages provided by faculty volunteers.

Faculty members with questions about negotiations should contact AAUP Chapter President Abbey Yee.