Official Updates from USFFA

April 17, 2020
Updates on Sabbaticals, Policy Board, and Teaching Effectiveness Surveys (Blue)

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

All of us know that the University of San Francisco is facing serious challenges that require all of us to work together and make sacrifices. We write with an update about a number of very important issues and ask for your immediate input.

First, we commend the more than 66 faculty who volunteered to speak with prospective students—this is a phenomenal outpouring of commitment and generosity.  Despite these efforts, we should expect that our incoming class will be smaller than it has been, and that we will face some very difficult challenges ahead.

Sabbatical leaves

Weeks ago, rumors started circulating that the administration was going to cancel sabbatical leave for the 2020-2021 academic year. It is important to understand that while sabbatical eligibility is included in our collective bargaining agreement, Article 26.1.2 (D) states that "Sabbaticals are contingent upon staffing and scheduling requirements [...]" Given its broad decision-making ability when it comes to granting sabbaticals, when the university presented the USFFA leadership with a proposal to delay most sabbatical leaves by one year, we appreciated its spirit of collaboration on this matter. The USFFA needs to work with the administration on this issue in a timely manner if we are to be an effective partner moving forward.

The administration’s proposal to delay sabbatical leaves by one year would affect approximately 75% of our membership—almost everyone eligible for sabbaticals in fall 2020 and beyond would face a delay. The university has calculated that sabbatical postponement will save approximately $4 million next year.

While it is not our job to set university policy, we value this opportunity to provide input on the administration’s decision, and we want to gather input from USFFA members. How would waiting another year for your sabbatical affect you and your research? Your department? Please email your representatives in the next 48 hours to share your thoughts. Click here to find the list of current Policy Board representatives in your division.

To put things in a broader perspective, everyone needs to understand that if our enrollments drop by 20%—not an entirely unlikely scenario—USF would need to make about $60 million in cuts. The proposal to delay faculty sabbaticals is only the first in a series of difficult conversations the faculty will have in the coming months.  

We are extremely fortunate that the USFFA gives faculty a voice in these matters! Many colleges and universities set policies and make cuts without negotiating at all with their faculty. This voice gives us responsibility, and we need to engage in constructive dialogue with multiple stakeholders about USF’s future.  

More Frequent Policy Board Meetings

Given the need to respond quickly to current events, the Policy Board is now meeting weekly from 3:30-5:30pm on Wednesdays.  Please consider attending these meetings; the Zoom link will be sent out every Wednesday morning in the Weekly Blast. We need to make a decision about our position on the question of sabbatical postponement next week. We expect that other similarly important items will be on Policy Board agendas in the weeks to come, and we will need your input.

Teaching Effectiveness Surveys (Blue)

Lastly, many of you received notice that your Teaching Effectiveness Survey (Blue) windows were opened this week. Blue surveys will be collected, and if you receive stellar feedback from your students, you may include these in your portfolios. However, as agreed upon with the administration, this semester’s Blue results will not be used in any way for the purposes of reappointment, tenure, or promotion unless you decide to include them.  

As always, please reach out to us with your ideas and concerns. The more we hear from you, the better we are able to represent you. We are committed to having an open and transparent process for making our decisions, especially the difficult ones to come.

Yours in Solidarity,
Your Executive Board
Sonja Martin Poole, President (president@usffa.net)
Keally McBride, Vice President (vp@usffa.net)
Ed Munnich, Secretary (secretary@usffa.net)
Justine Withers, Treasurer (treasurer@usffa.net)
Gabe Maxson, Sergeant at Arms (sgt@usffa.net)