The University and the Union met for collective bargaining negotiations on Dec. 6, 2023. 

The Union presented new proposals on TCPL Professional Development Plans, Evaluation, Reappointment and Review of the President, Provost, Deans, Assistant/Associate Deans, and Chairs/Directors, and Financial Exigency and Retrenchment. The Union also presented counter proposals on Dues Deductions and Promotion, Tenure, and Time.

The University presented a new proposal on Faculty Evaluations, which sets forth guidelines for annual evaluations of bargaining unit faculty members, teaching evaluation plans, formative evaluations, and proposes a periodic career review process, on a seven-year cycle, for bargaining unit faculty members with tenure for purposes of supporting further career development. The University made clear that it values tenure, as tenure is awarded to ensure that faculty are afforded the professional autonomy and integrity essential to academic quality. The University's proposed periodic career review is intended to be formative, providing developmental guidance and support, accountability, and continued robust performance of their teaching, scholarship, and service. The University pointed to statistics published by AAUP regarding the adoption of such policies by colleges and universities, which includes 67.6% of public universities nationally.

The University also presented a counter proposal on Appointment, Renewal and Promotion of TCPL Faculty, rejected the Union's proposal on Online Course Content, as this is not a mandatory subject of bargaining, and held to its November 1, 2023 proposal on Separability.

Additionally, in advance of the session, the Union sent a proposed Memorandum of Understanding regarding remote participation in university meetings. The University informed the Union that it was rejecting this MOU, as University meetings are administrative in nature and, while the University may continue to offer remote access to meetings under certain circumstances, its decision to do so is not subject to bargaining. Insofar as the MOU relates to Board of Trustees meetings, such meetings are governed by the Ohio Open Meetings Act and not within the University administration's purview. 

The University and the Union are scheduled to meet next on Dec. 19, 2023, and Jan. 17 and 31, 2024.

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