American Federation of Teachers New Jersey, AFL-CIO

Month: September 2016

Dan, Sue, Patrice
Higher Ed NewsMediaNewsPress releases
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AFTNJ Leaders Call for Affordability Commission Recommendations To Move Through Legislative Process

EDISON…Leaders of AFT New Jersey praised the Senate Higher Education committee for passing legislation to better inform students about college costs, curb excessive fees and protect students and their families from abusive student debt collections practices. “We have a long way to go to strengthen higher education in New Jersey, but we are heartened that elected representatives are taking action,” said AFT New Jersey Executive Vice President for Higher Education, Dr.…

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testing
AFTNJ NewsMediaPre-K to 12 NewsPress releasesTeacher Evaluation
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Chiera Calls For Elimination of Standardized Student Test Results In Evaluating Educators

CONTACT: Nat Bender, 908-377-0393 nbender [@] aftnj.org

Chiera said, “Teaching and learning are more than passing or failing a standardized test. Just as there are many multiple measures of success in life, students coming from so many different backgrounds with different advantages and challenges cannot objectively be held to a ‘one-size-fits-all’ framework in testing. Accordingly, tying educators’ evaluations, which could lead to loss of pay or even a job, does not make good policy sense.…

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Unrestricted reserves
Higher Ed NewsMediaNewsPress ClipsReclaim Rutgers
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Rutgers unrestricted reserves rise to $770 million

By Nick Huber

While students continue to pay a rising tuition, Rutgers University holds $770 million in reserves, although the use of these funds and where it comes from is unclear.

Rutgers spokesperson E.J. Miranda said unrestricted funds are accumulated over time and designated by the University to support specific programs ranging from funding education to student activities to agricultural experiment station activities.…

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college debt
AFTNJ NewsHigher Ed NewsMediaPress ClipsStudent debt
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To make college affordable, help students graduate faster, N.J. panel says

By Jonathan Lai, Staff Writer

A college degree in New Jersey is too expensive and often takes too long to complete, and many families have little understanding of the full cost and options available.

That’s the picture painted by a report released this week by a panel created by the Legislature to study college affordability in New Jersey.…

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college affordability screenshot
AFTNJ NewsHigher Ed NewsMediaNewsPress ClipsStudent debt
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N.J. needs to spend more on higher education, change student loan programs, panel says

By Patricia Alex, Staff Writer, The Record.

New Jersey needs to spend more money on higher education, make changes to its student loan programs and allow for new ways students can more quickly earn degrees, according to a state panel.

The recommendations are contained in a report set to be released Wednesday by a commission charged with looking at ways to make college more affordable in the state, which has the fourth highest public tuition and fees in the nation, averaging more than $13,000 a year.…

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higher education commission affordability
AFTNJ News
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Haresign Releases Minority Dissenting Report

[…]

There was some dissent among members of the commission over some of the recommendations. In a minority report included in the appendix, Dr. Tim Haresign, an associate professor at Stockton University and president of the Council of New Jersey State College Locals, said that one area not addressed was “cost efficiency and administrative bloat.” He added the avoidance of the subject was not surprising, given that public four-year institutions in New Jersey often operate as “essentially independent fiefdoms with very little outside oversight,” making transparency and accountability difficult.…

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AFT field staff HRC
AFT NewsAFTNJ NewsPolitical EducationTake Action
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Get on the bus to Philadelphia #IamWithHer Oct. 15

Polls show a tight Presidential race in Pennsylvania so AFTNJ and HPAE are teaming up for a big day talking to union voters on Oct. 15. Join us as we ride to Philadelphia to support the AFT-endorsed campaign in this crucial swing state.

Walk Location: Seafarers International Union, 2604 S 4th St, Philadelphia, PA 19148. If you are going to meet us there, no need to register with this form, but email union [@] aftnj.org…

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MSU mangement hiring
AFTNJ NewsHigher Ed NewsMediaPress Clips
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Administrators Receive Pay Increase While Faculty Raises Are Left Frozen

By Dan Falkenheim, Web Editor

The Montclair State Board of Trustees unanimously approved an average four percent salary increase for managerial staff, which includes administrators, on June 2, 2016. The increase represents a pool of available dollars, meaning the actual increase for each employee is based on performance and other factors.

[…]

While administrators have received a raise for Fiscal Year 2017, negotiated raises for faculty, librarians and professional staff have been frozen since 2015 amid contentious, statewide negotiations between teacher unions and the State of New Jersey.…

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Gov. Chris Christie
AFTNJ NewsMediaPre-K to 12 NewsPress releases
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AFT New Jersey President Donna M. Chiera on Christie assault on fair education funding

CONTACT: Nat Bender, 908-377-0393

“Gov. Chris Christie crashed New Jersey’s economy and crashed his own chances to be President. In 2012, he negotiated a bill that he called ‘an important step towards ensuring we have a great teacher in every classroom’ and now days after his candidate went after tenure, he dutifully does the same.…

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Zwicker Milleand
AFTNJ NewsHigher Ed NewsNewsPolitical EducationTestimonyTestimony
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AFTNJ Supports Reforms of Abusive NJ Student Loan Practices

“Thanks to Assembly Higher Ed Chair Mila Jasey and Assemblyman Andrew Wicker for their leadership in putting forth common sense legislation on student debt,” said AFTNJ President Donna M. Chiera. Decency was on the agenda in Trenton, Thursday, Sept.8 at the Assembly Higher Education Committee, she said.

AFTNJ Higher Education Vice President and Rutgers AAUP-AFT President David M.…

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Perth Amboy Federation-AFT members rally before Board of Education meeting
AFTNJ NewsMediaNewsPre-K to 12 NewsPress Clips
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Perth Amboy educators have new contract

By Susan Loyer
Union credits community involvement with reduction in health insurance costs

PERTH AMBOY – After working last school year without a contract, Perth Amboy educators have a new deal that reduces health insurance costs.

The Perth Amboy Federation-American Federation of Teachers, which represents 1,600 members, voted Sept. 7 to accept the contract, which was approved by the school board on Sept.…

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Raritan Valley Community College, Gannett file
AFTNJ NewsHigher Ed NewsMediaNewsPress Clips
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Raritan Valley Community College teachers agree to new contract

By Mike Deak

BRANCHBURG – The faculty and staff unions at Raritan Valley Community College have agreed to new four-year contracts.

The contract calls for two percent salary raises per year and “significant decreases” in health insurance costs in two of the four years, according to Donna Gero, head of the negotiations team for the bargaining units.…

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#WeAreALLLIU
AFTNJ NewsHigher Ed NewsMediaPress releases
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AFTNJ President Donna M. Chiera and Executive VP for Higher Ed Dr. Susanna Tardi on LIU Lockout

Chiera said, “Long Island University’s management made the wrong decision in locking out Brooklyn Campus faculty and depriving students of experienced and qualified educators. Every day they continue the lockout instead of returning to the bargaining table to work out a fair contract is a perpetuation of the mistake. We stand with the students, workers and community in demanding an immediate end to this ill-conceived lockout and the commencement of good-faith bargaining.”…

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