Michele S. Brice

The bargaining session focused on several key items including updates on the 2026-2027 budget planning and salary negotiations. Discussions included potential impacts of out-of-state tuition rate changes, the Tuition Exchange Program implementation, and revisions to Article 14 regarding terminal rank review, for which a tentative agreement was reached. The teams engaged in interest-based bargaining regarding Article 8.5D concerning instructor-to-professor requests and reviewed feedback from General Counsel regarding faculty sick leave structures.

The bargaining session focused on salary negotiations, including a phased approach and the status of state budget approval. Discussions covered requests for employee salary data and additional compensation details, the procurement process for a faculty salary market study, and the distribution of AI resources to faculty. Other topics addressed included the faculty role in student success, the potential implementation of a tuition exchange program, updates to the Terminal Rank Review evaluation process, and proposed modifications to collective bargaining agreement articles. The session also touched on a potential transition of nine-month faculty sick time to a paid time off model.

The bargaining session included discussions on faculty salary negotiation frameworks and salary data requests, with a market study for faculty compensation analysis currently underway. The parties reviewed the landscape of AI in higher education, specifically focusing on syllabus communication and training logistics. The meeting addressed the faculty's role in student success, including potential instructor classification processes, and provided updates on the arbitration snapback clause, the Tuition Exchange program, and the Terminal Rank Review process. Additionally, the parties finalized scheduling for future bargaining meetings.

The bargaining session involved discussions regarding several contract articles, including Article 6, Article 9, Article 14, Article 25, and Article 29. The parties reviewed a proposal regarding a leave list, with agreement reached on the inclusion of specific types of special leaves. Additional information was presented concerning an increase in Article 29, and several items, including Articles 6, 14, 25, and 29, were scheduled for further review with updated language to be provided by the FOP for consideration by the Board of Trustees.

The meeting focused on establishing the scope for the 2026-2027 bargaining year, including wages and two non-economic articles for each party. Key discussions involved a 12% wage increase proposal, requests for flex-hour provisions, an 84-hour schedule, and expanded access to take-home vehicles. The parties also addressed leave benefits, the opening of specific articles related to grievance procedures and hours of work, and administrative concerns regarding dues deduction, which will be formalized in an MOU. Additionally, the university agreed to provide red-lined versions of articles for review.