The AFT higher education program and policy council (PPC) is preparing to release several reports in the coming months as well as hold its major annual issues conference in April. The leadership group met in New York City Jan. 18-20 to review how members are being affected by national and local events, to move forward on projects currently under way and to mobilize resources for new undertakings.

This spring, the division will release reports on governance and issues associated with intellectual property rights. Another report, on standards of good practice for employing part-time faculty, will be discussed at the annual higher education meeting. Committees of the PPC have been working on these analyses and statements since last year. The PPC also will ask the AFT executive council to issue a resolution in support of the principles of shared governance that are so essential to the work of colleges and universities.

The PPC put the final touches on the program for the annual higher education meeting, which will be held in Chicago April 12-14. Its theme is "Getting Results: Strengthening Our Unions and Advancing the Academy."

Discussion among the higher education leaders kept returning to events that currently are buffeting the country including attacks on academic freedom and the continued corporatization of higher education. The program and policy council discussed how the AFT can be visible and proactive in responding to such trends. Thus, the higher education division is focusing on ways to support locals and state federations, and on reaching out to build coalitions with groups that have common interests. For example, the union is sponsoring a joint seminar in June 2002 with the Newspaper Guild to deal with issues of academic freedom and the First Amendment. It also hopes to work with the NEA on a joint statement on governance.

The status of the national and state economies is also of great concern to union leaders, especially because higher education tends to be among the first services to suffer in times of recession. As we come into a new election season, locals will need to set their political agendas, educate members and mobilize voters. [posted 3/25/02]