Surviving SB 1

With the passage of SB 1 into law, Ket State's faculty will face new challenges in education our students in a way consistent with the mission of values of Kent State. KSUFA is committed to helping faculty navigate those challenges and to being a space where all faculty are heard, cared and advocated for.

While the searchable syllabus requirement will not go into effect until AY 26/27, various other provisions of the law will go into effect on or about June 26, 2025. Guidance is required from the Chancellor before the requirements of some elements of the law will become clear. Other provisions will no doubt be challenged through the courts. We will try to keep you informed as our understanding of the law changes over time.

Recently, the Ohio Department of Higher Education posted some information on its website about how the Chancellor is interpreting SB 1. The FAQ has specific questions about different aspects of the bill including three student evaluation questions listed in the "Faculty Evaluation" section. Many of the implementation dates are at the end of the calendar year.

In the meantime, there are several important things to keep in mind:

• Nothing that you currently teach will become illegal to teach once the law takes effect. However, we do understand that teaching subjects that might be deemed "controversial beliefs or policies" under the law will become significantly more challenging.
• KSUFA will defend your academic freedom and keep pressure on the University to do the same.
• As an independent organization, KSUFA's ability to promote Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is not curtailed by this legislation. We are committed to being a vocal advocate for and providing support to minoritized faculty and faculty who teach in areas targeted by the bill. 

The links below contain more detailed information and advice to faculty concerning various elements of the law. (Disclaimer: we at KSUFA are not lawyers and none of this information is intended as legal advice.) We will be revising this information as our understanding of the law changes and as we develop new strategies for navigating the challenges of SB 1.

Promoting Intellectual Diversity While Preserving Academic Freedom

The Searchable Syllabus Requirement and How to Protect Yourself and Your Colleagues [coming soon]

Student Evaluations and Annual Performance Reviews [coming soon]

KSUFA's Diversity Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Advocacy [coming soon]

If you are interested in working with us to develop new strategies or have suggestions for how to revise any of our current materials, please contact KSUFA (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. / 330-673-9118).

Kent State United Faculty Association Disaffiliates from AAUP

The Kent State United Faculty Association has decided to end its nearly 50-year formal affiliation with the American Association of University Professors (AAUP). The decision was made by a majority vote of our active members conducted between February 26 and March 12 and is effective April 1, 2025. Discussions about the possibility of disaffiliation from AAUP first began over a decade ago within KSUFA's governing bodies. The heavy lift of educating the active members about the circumstances leading up to the question of disaffiliation began on April 22, 2024. The links below cover the major communications sent to KSUFA members between April 22, 2024 and the start of the disaffiliation vote.

FAQs Concerning Potential Disaffiliation from AAUP

Vol. 0: Our Kent State Faculty Union and AAUP (email sent April 22, 2024)

Vol. 1: A deep dive into the history and circumstances leading to our disaffiliation discussions (email sent September 27, 2024)

Vol. 2: The pros and cons of remaining affiliated with AAUP and becoming compliant with our affiliation dues (email sent October 2, 2024)

Vol. 3: The pros and cons of disaffiliating from AAUP (email sent October 11, 2024)

Vol. 4: Next steps, timelines, and processes (email sent October 30, 2024) 

Vol. 5: Introducing the Kent State United Faculty Association (email sent December 2, 2024)

AAUP’s Statement on Affiliation (Received February 5, 2025)

OCAAUP’s Statement on Affiliation (Received February 25, 2025)

 

 

KSUFA Welcome Message

The Kent State United Faculty Association (KSUFA) serves as the collective bargaining agent for all full-time faculty at Kent State University. First established in 1978, KSUFA is one of the oldest faculty unions in Ohio and pre-dates the law providing collective bargaining rights to full-time faculty at Ohio’s public institutions of higher education.

KSUFA is responsible for negotiating the terms and conditions of employment for all full-time faculty at KSU’s eight campuses. KSUFA has two bargaining units: the FTNTT unit that represents the Full-Time Non-Tenure Track faculty and the TT unit that represents the Tenured and Tenure-Track Faculty. Each bargaining unit independently negotiates its own, unique Collective Bargaining Agreement every three years. Each of these agreements encompasses a wide array of salary and benefit provisions, grievance and appeal procedures, and outlines the fundamental principles for shared governance at Kent State University at the department, school, college, and campus levels.

In addition to serving as your union, KSUFA is committed to promoting positive academic values and shared governance, as well as protecting faculty against attacks on tenure and academic freedom. The Collective Bargaining Agreements of both bargaining units incorporate AAUP's 1940 Statement of Principles on Academic Freedom and Tenure and 1966 Statement on Professional Ethics.

While you are not required to be a member of KSUFA to share in the benefits of collective bargaining, we hope that you will consider that option. Members provide ideas, leadership and financial support to the organization. Membership also entitles you to an active voice in determining the issues and priorities established for negotiations and to voting rights with regard to contract issues. Membership forms may be downloaded directly from the site.

We are pleased to continue our tradition of service to faculty, and we hope to hear from you with your comments, concerns and suggestions for the future of the Association. Feel free to contact us – we look forward to hearing from you soon!

Deborah C. Smith Chapter President, TT Unit

Sue Clement President, FT NTT Unit