Even with the end of the semester, the NMU-AAUP has continued working on behalf of its members.

First of all, the NMU-AAUP was able to amend language regarding the annual evaluation process for associate-level continuing contract faculty in 5.4.1. of the Master Agreement. Our recently ratified contract gave tenured associate professors the option to submit annual evaluations every two years, but it did not offer the same option to continuing contract associate professors. This has been remedied and language offering this option to continuing associate faculty is now included in our amended contract.

Also, the NMU-AAUP worked out an agreement with the administration to grant contingent faculty an additional 1.5 percent bonus beyond the one percent bonus in our current contract. This agreement brings all contingent faculty into parity with all other university employees who received a 2.5 percent bonus, and they will receive the bonus in their December 23^rd paycheck.

Finally, we are presently working with our legal counsel Bob Fetter to enforce 5.1.1.b of the MA concerning term faculty members who apply for newly authorized term positions. For many years, our contract has assured first consideration for faculty members presently teaching in a term position if a newly authorized term position is created (provided they were hired as part of a national search and have received positive annual evaluations). Our Contract Officer Gabe Logan has filed a Stop Counting Memo to allow us time to work out a solution before we grieve what we believe to be a violation of this portion of the contract with a current job search for a term position. We will keep you posted on this.