Nuts & Bolts: Calendar of events, NTT Promotion Workshop, Know Your Contract, Payroll Schedule, Repeal the Steal, US Dept of Education Budget and MTA Benefits

12/9/2024

FSU Calendar December 9th to December 13th   

Tuesday December 10th 11:45 to 1:30 Coffee, Tea & Cookies Plus Pizza Too! 

Join the FSU for our last coffee, tea and cookies for the semester. Stop by the University Dining Club to relax and meet colleagues. This week we are adding some pizza.

Tuesday, December 10th FSU Executive Committee Meeting 3:30 – 5:00PM 

The Executive Committee is meeting on Tuesday, December 10th, 3:30-5. (contact FSU or Caroline Coscia for Zoom information).

Dear Members,

This week marks the 76th anniversary of the United Nations adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.   The 1948 document outlines thirty rights and freedoms all individuals are entitled including the right to an education. 

NTT Promotion Workshop: Tuesday, December 17th 12:00-1:00PM

NTT promotion materials are due to your department chair January 26, 2025.   The zoom workshop will provide an overview of the materials to be submitted.

Note: to be eligible to submit promotion materials, you had to have notified your department chair in May 2024 of your intent to file for promotion.  Article 21.12.3 states: Timing: The candidate should declare their intention to stand for promotion in May preceding the spring in which the promotion review will take place (see Academic Master Calendar for each year’s specific deadline).

Know your Contract: Additional students above course capacities:

For both in-person and distance learning courses, once course capacities are reached, only the individual faculty member may admit additional students (see Article 15.4 of the contract for more information). Faculty members have full discretion in this regard with the exception of the multi-section courses referenced in 15.4.

Fall Semester: Payroll Payments

Payroll payments for Fall semester take place over 13 pay periods starting September 1st and ending February 28, 2025.  Your Spring payments begins March 1 and run to August 31st.

Take Action: Repeal the Steal! Urge Senators to vote

Act to fully repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO).  The US Senate needs to act before the end of the year. Urge Senators Markey and Warren to push Senate Leader Schumer to schedule a vote on the Social Security Fairness Act.

According to the NEA, nine out of ten educators married to someone who earns social security will lose all their benefits because of the Government Pension Offset.

The MTA has made this easy.  All you need to do is go to the MTA website and click on the Contact Your Senators Immediately link.

US Department of Education: What does it fund? 

Some of you have asked what the department of education funds.  The US Department of Education website contains President Biden’s FY25 budget.  Do review The FY2025 Education Budget Key Highlights document.

MTA benefits: Stop & Shop Gift Card giveaway

As a member, you can enter the December giveaway to win one of three $100 Stop & Shop gift cards.

Enjoy the last full week of classes.

Sincerely,

Caroline Coscia                                 

FSU President                                   

Senior Lecturer II                               

Political Science Department