This issue over the summer session boycott because of contracts could have all been avoided had the university simply granted the AAUP faculty union their 0.2 percent increase they requested over the 1.5 percent the university offered. UNH reports that this past year they have seen a $16 million increase in revenue this past year. That said, the university offered what amounted out to faculty receiving an annual salary of $89,898. If the union was to be granted their 1.7 percent increase, that would increase their salaries by an additional $1,118. There's not a huge difference there, so why won't the university give a little.
By boycotting the summer session, the people that would be affected the most is not the university administration, but the students they serve. If students were forced to make other arrangements for summer courses, many would have to take them out of state, and therefore they would have to pay out-of-state tuition. I looked into this possibility myself, and to take three courses at the University of Vermont is over $9,000, not to mention room and board rates.
I urge the administration to reconsider the position of the faculty union. They have been working without contracts for almost a year and have not been presented with a valid reason for it. What it boils down to is this: is the administration really willing to sacrifice the education of its students in the interest of an additional 0.2 percent increase for the professors that teach those students? I guess we'll find out.
Blair Heinrich
Class of 2013
is a member of the 
1 comments
The faculty union is not holding out for a "0.2 percent increase" over the university's offer. The administration offered a 1-year, 1% across the board increase, with another sum equal to 0.5% available as merit pay. The union is holding out for a 3.2% across the board increase, with a very low amount for merit. The union is also holding out for a 3 year contract.
While UNH revenue may indeed be up from last year, this is a misleading figure as it does *not* take into account the amount that the university pays out in terms of financial aid to students. If you receive $10,000 of financial aid from the university, which then pays for your tuition, this still counts as "revenue" for the university yet it does *not* have any financial gain for the university itself.
Just to check your facts a bit.