While the news is focused on unfortunate and desperate measures to reduce society's investment in education and public employees' ability to build strong programs, COHE remains committed to producing the best students, research, and service we can in these trying times.  The faculty are the primary folks who work for the long-term betterment of higher education. Decades of service by individual faculty-often an entire career-are dedicated to nurturing and growing academic programs.  We are the central workers in ensuring the flowering of these worthwhile products and should have a voice in their operations.

 

As you know, the power of unions is that many people speak with one voice.  Unions operate as a result of collective leadership, where we all share in the duties and obligations.  Correspondingly, we all gain the benefits.  Everyone should serve in some way.  I appreciate your dues, but ask you to consider serving in some additional way as well.   Below I remind you of the open nomination period for state officers and other opportunities to serve at the local level.  If your present situation does not allow you to serve in a formal position, please consider assisting your local leadership by attending meetings and communicating with members and non-members about COHE activities.

 

Over the last decade, your state COHE Board in concert with SDEA has worked hard to construct the communication capacity of our organization.  A strong communication effort, among officers, among members, with the BOR staff, with faculty in other states, and with policymakers, is an essential element of our success in working to improve higher education in South Dakota.  This letter furthers that effort in a small way and on more mundane matters.  Nonetheless, the current negotiations are inextricably connected to our effort to foster the development of individual academic programs and a strong system of higher education in South Dakota.

 

 

ALL-COHE MEETING, TUES., APRIL 19, 4:00 P.M.

 

Please attend our all-COHE E-meeting on April 19, Tuesday, at 4:00 p.m., Central (3:00 p.m. Mountain).   Any dues-paying COHE member is invited to attend the meeting, which will focus on the state of current contract negotiations.   However, no need to leave the comfort of your home or office!  As previously announced, we will be using Adobe Connect.   You only need a PC connected to the Internet.  Technical details to follow, but please ensure you have the latest version of Adobe Flash Player for your OS: http://www.adobe.com/support/flashplayer/downloads.html

 

Thanks to all who completed the Doodle to identify a meeting time.  As you would expect, a few people have a conflict at the appointed time.  However, I wanted to ensure that bargainers were available to share information and their perspectives.  I imagine the meeting will take a couple of hours, so if you can join us late, please do.  For those unable to attend, the meeting will be recorded and I will send the link afterward.

 

My hope is that we will discuss the final tentative agreements resulting from our proposed marathon bargaining session with the Board staff, which is scheduled for next weekend (see below).  The goal is to provide an understanding of the proposed changes, so that COHE members would have sufficient information to vote on whether or not they approve the changes in May (or possibly June).

 

 

MARATHON BARGAINING SESSION, APRIL 8 - 10

 

We are planning a final marathon bargaining session next weekend at Al's Oasis in Oacoma.  I am still working with the Board's lead negotiator to finalize these plans, but we invite any COHE member to attend any part of these sessions if they are able.  Of course, COHE will reimburse any expenses.   If you plan on attending, please contact me as soon as possible.

 

Our proposed plan is to meet for dinner with COHE members only at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, April 8.  The Board staff will arrive at 7 p.m.  Then, we will begin again Saturday morning around 9:00 a.m. and continue all day with caucus breaks for lunch and dinner.   We would probably recess at 8:00 p.m. or so.  Then, we would begin again Sunday around 10:00 a.m. with a planned adjournment of 5:00 p.m.

 

Also, I have proposed two "circuit breakers" at 11:00 a.m. on each day.  If either side thinks sufficient progress is unattainable, we reserve the right to cancel the remainder of the meetings.  This gives us adequate time to check out of our rooms on Saturday.

 

 

OPPORTUNITY TO NOMINATE CANDIDATES FOR STATE PREZ & VEEP

 

All COHE members are encouraged to consider serving as a state or local officer. The nomination period is now open for state President and Vice President.  If you are interested please notify any state COHE Board member immediately.  I attach the COHE Bylaws for your information.   We also currently have a vacancy in the state Secretary position; please contact me if you are interested.

 

Further, we have numerous opportunities to assist COHE at the local level in both formal and informal capacities.   All of our local officers would appreciate your help, whether it be to serve as a local officer or assist in innumerable ways, like assisting with meeting arrangements, welcoming new faculty, recruiting potential members, or working on grievances.  There is much work to do and local leaders are willing to share the load with you!

 

Your brother in defense of faculty rights,

Gary Aguiar