NFA State Board announces 2024 candidate endorsements
We encourage faculty and students to register or confirm their voter registration status ahead of this crucial election |
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With the 2024 general election rapidly approaching, the NFA Political Action Committee and the State Board of the Nevada Faculty Alliance have published their endorsements of candidates in races from the federal level to the Nevada legislature and state boards. |
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Endorsements in state races are based primarily on answers to questionnaires from legislative and Board of Regents candidates. Decisions about endorsements in additional races as well as Question 1 will be announced following the NFA State Board meeting on September 7 in Carson City.
The NFA also urges you to verify that your voter registration is valid and to encourage students to verify theirs as well, or if necessary, to register to vote for the first time. We know political leaders analyze the voter turnout after the election, and they are more likely to support higher education issues and funding if there is a strong turnout of faculty and their students.
Besides the high stakes of the federal races, this will be an extremely consequential election for higher education in Nevada. Not only will voters decide on the status of the Board of Regents, but the makeup of the Nevada Legislature will determine the future of faculty bargaining rights in the state. We urge you to make your voice heard.
More Information >> https://registertovote.nv.gov/
Our Political Action Committee aims to help our endorsed candidates win their races to strengthen higher education in Nevada. We encourage our members to canvas, phone bank, and talk to your friends and neighbors about your races in your districts. You can also pitch in with a PAC donation to help us support candidates in key races. Even a few dollars helps!
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Member editorials explore pros and cons of Question 1 ballot initiative
If approved by voters in November, Question 1 will remove the Board of Regents' status from the Nevada Constitution. It could lead to the most sweeping reforms to higher education in the Silver State since the 19th century. While most faculty members would agree that the Board desperately needs to be reformed, opinions diverge on how to make that happen. Two long-time NFA members offer their perspectives in editorials on the NFA website. Scott Huber favors Question 1, while Amy Pason opposes it.
Before the NFA State Board meeting on September 7 when we will make a decision about an endorsement of Question 1, we encourage members to share their thoughts or ask questions by responding to a Survey Monkey poll that will be sent in a separate email, or by talking with their NFA chapter presidents. Your input can help our decision-making process.
Read More >> Information about Question 1 on the November Ballot |
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NSU-NFA launches collective bargaining authorization campaign
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Seeking to become the fourth NSHE institution with collective bargaining rights for faculty, NSU-NFA officers have initiated a card-drop—a campaign to gather signatures from at least 30% of eligible faculty, which is the minimum required to submit a representative application to the Chancellor. |
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As outlined in the BOR Handbook Title 4 Chapter 4, after receiving the application and verifying the signatures, the Chancellor shall place the application on the agenda for next regular meeting of the Board of Regents. The Board will then engage the American Arbitration Association to conduct an election following strict time lines. A minimum of 50% + 1 of the eligible faculty must vote in favor for the authorization to pass. NSU academic faculty members who would like to sign a card or ask questions should contact NSU-NFA Chapter President Pete Martini. |
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Efforts underway to bring BOR collective bargaining policy into alignment with practices
Nearly one year ago, NFA officers began working on proposals to update the policy that governs collective bargaining at NSHE institutions. Title 4 Chapter 4 in the handbook is supposed to be the roadmap for establishing collective bargaining chapters at NSHE institutions. It also defines the permissible topics for bargaining. Over the decades since the chapter was first written, scattershot amendments have resulted in a policy that does not reflect the actual practices since 1992 when the Regents approved TMCC to become the first collective bargaining institution in the System.
Unfortunately, our proposed modifications, which are designed to align the policy with reality, and streamline processes, have encountered unexpected obstacles from NSHE and members of the Board of Regents who insist on concurrence from the Council of Faculty Senate Chairs. While the NFA made substantive changes to the proposal in response to feedback from the 2023-24 faculty senate chairs, the academic year ended before the Council was willing to concur with the proposal.
Now we are starting over with a whole new group of faculty senate chairs and we are engaging them to move the proposal forward, but encouragement from their faculty constituents at each campus will help ensure that the Board of Regents will be able to consider the proposal before the end of the calendar year. Please reach out to the faculty senate chair on your campus and urge them to move the proposal forward.
2024-25 COUNCIL OF CHAIRS - CSN: Valerie Conner, valerie.conner@csn.edu
- DRI: Maureen McCarthy, maureen.mccarthy@dri.edu
- GBC: David Sexton, david.sexton@gbcnv.edu
- NSU: David Cooper, david.cooper@nevadastate.edu
- NSHE Admin: Glenn Heath, gheath@nshe.nevada.edu
- TMCC: Jinger Doe, jdoe@tmcc.edu
- UNLV: Deborah Arteaga, deborah.arteaga@unlv.edu
- UNR: Aaron Hill, aaronhill@unr.edu
- WNC: Martin Schmidt, martin.schmidt@wnc.edu
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NSHE legal opinion grants administrative immunity for violations of UNR Administrative Manual
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In a letter to Interim Chancellor Charlton and Board of Regents Chair Carvalho, the NFA is challenging an opinion from the office of the NSHE General Counsel, under James Martines. The opinion states that administrative violations of the UNR University Administrative Manual (UAM) are not grievable. The letter was also copied to the Board of Regents, faculty senate chairs, UNR President Brian Sandoval, and Martines. |
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NSHE Chief General Counsel
James Martines
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The opinion was referenced in a memo dated April 9, 2024, from Sandoval to Peter Reed, who was the chair of the UNR Faculty Senate at that time. The office of the General Counsel rendered the opinion based on their interpretation of Title 2, Section 5.7.2 of the NSHE Code, which states that faculty can grieve alleged violations of the NSHE Code or institutional bylaws. The section, however, is silent on violations of institutional policies.
Section 1.3.2 of the Code states that questions of interpretation of the Code shall be directed to the office of General Counsel. In response to a UNR request for an interpretation of Section 5.7.2, the office interpreted the absence of a reference to institutional policies in the Code, to mean that violations of those policies, such as the UAM, are not grievable by faculty, effectively making University administrators immune from any consequences for their actions that are not specifically identified in the Code.
Section 1.3.2 also provides for appeals of such interpretations through the Chancellor to the Board of Regents. NFA is asking the Board to either reverse this interpretation or revise Section 5.7.2 to include violations of institutional policies, procedures, rules, or regulations as grievable actions.
Read More >> Letter regarding policy interpretation
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Members and colleagues invited to end-of-summer events
As the summer draws to a close and a new academic year is getting underway, the NFA extends an invitation to all members to two events in northern Nevada to celebrate our fellowship among colleagues, and our membership in the broader community of organized labor. |
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Visit NFA booth at Reno LaborFest
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While Burning Man and the Rib Cook Off dominate Labor Day events in northern Nevada, the nascent Reno LaborFest offers a less-congested and shadier alternative. We invite members to bring family and friends to the festival on Labor Day and celebrate the American working families with us. While you're there, please stop by the NFA booth to visit with colleagues and pick up some SWAG.
Date: September 2, 2024 Place: Idlewild Park, Reno Time: 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
You can also register to let us know you'll be coming and we'll keep an eye open for you.
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State Board hosts social for members
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The NFA invites members and colleagues to Happy Hours at Schussboom in South Reno on Wednesday, September 4th. We host the social for members to enjoy refreshments on us and meet State Board members who are gathered for one of two face-to-face meetings each year that coincide with the Board of Regents fall and spring meetings. Look for us in Henderson in March.
Date: September 4, 2024 Place: Schussboom Brewing Co. Time: 5:30 to 7:30ish PM
Please register by September 3 to help us with the food order and space reservation.
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