The annual New Jersey American Association of University Professors conference, held via Zoom on Nov. 6, featured a Q&A session with Diana Gonzalez, the state’s interim secretary of higher education.
The session concluded with AFTNJ President Donna M. Chiera addressing the lack of faculty involvement with college and university administrators in creating the plans for teaching during the pandemic.
Here is the majority of their exchange:
Chiera: “Our frustration is every time we think we’re being brought to the table, the college presidents have a meeting, and next thing we know, we’re being told it’s not mandated, it’s encouraged. They’re making decisions; they’re making decisions without faculty voice … they have been given the flexibility to make the decisions, but now they’re going to the legislature to say, ‘But we want immunity from having any liability for the decisions we make.’ … College presidents, again, are not going to be held accountable. They’re not bringing people to the table, and it’s getting more and more frustrating as we go forward.”
Gonzalez: “Yes, I know. Donna, you have shared this with us and these concerns. As I’ve said in the past, this is one of those that’s explicitly in our guidance. … I think it’s a ‘should’ versus a ‘must.’ But nonetheless, establishing an ongoing working group, right? Not a one-time working group where you engaged once — or in an eight-month pandemic, you never consult your stakeholders again. So that’s not our vision and our hope for how institutions are working together … It’s helpful when you all share with us that at your certain institutions [there are] issues. … Sometimes there’s things that are happening at one place that’s not happening at another, so sharing that with us is [helpful].”