A message regarding NTT faculty unionization efforts

Dear Non-Tenure-Track Faculty Colleagues at Skidmore,

I hope each of you is having a great summer. It’s a precious time for faculty, when we always pursue that elusive alchemy of productivity, creativity, relaxation, and even fun. Whatever you need from this summer, particularly following the challenges of the pandemic over the last two years, I hope you are able to find it. 

I find myself reflecting frequently on my own experiences at Skidmore in these first two years of my time here. Despite the enormous challenges of the pandemic and other issues we have faced, I marvel at how supportive the community has been, how wonderful and brilliant our students are, and what a remarkable College this is. No, we are hardly perfect, and I am committed to improvement at Skidmore in so many areas. But I’m also conscious of the great advantages we have to work with, and the potential that Skidmore continues to hold.

I am honestly appreciative that the unionization effort has helped bring into relief the importance of our non-tenure-track faculty colleagues to Skidmore’s mission, as well as some of the ways Skidmore has fallen short of fully supporting our non-tenure-track faculty. I am proud of the year-long compensation study we just concluded and the substantive changes it has brought to compensation for many of our NTT faculty. I am also proud of how we preserved faculty positions during the two years of the pandemic, not eliminating a single line due to COVID. These were important accomplishments, but I am conscious that we have further to go, particularly in the nature of appointments for our NTT faculty.

I am confident that we can move forward in this work together, preserving and relying upon the most special quality of Skidmore: our sense of and commitment to community. I have said many times these past two years that we have done so well in response to COVID because we have taken care of each other, because Skidmore truly is a community that cares. This ethos will continue to guide us through all our challenges.

As I said at our final faculty meeting, to me the question is not whether one is pro-union or not, and certainly not whether one supports our non-tenure-track faculty or not — in regard to that question, I feel we are united in our desire to support our colleagues. The question before us is, would a union structure be in the best interest of our non-tenure-track faculty? Let me state once again, that is for each of you to decide. That decision rests with you alone, as is just and proper. Skidmore supports a fair and impartial election and will abide by the results. 

For me, the key questions revolve around the kind of community and the kind of workplace we want to inhabit and cultivate. We share the sense of purpose and devotion to our students and our College community. How then do we work together in order to meet current and future challenges that inevitably arise in any work environment? How can we achieve the best outcomes for everyone concerned — our NTT faculty, our students, and the College as a whole? And what work relationship — unionized or not? — would best support our goals for the future?

This is a consequential decision, not just for you as a current NTT faculty member, but also for your future colleagues and your future successors and for the culture of Skidmore College going forward. My hope is that each of you will take the time to carefully consider all the ramifications of taking either course. How you ultimately decide to cast your ballot is a personal and private decision based on your individual assessment. No one should feel pressured or unduly influenced. All relevant information and differing points of view should be considered.

Toward that end, over the next several weeks the College leadership will be sharing with all of you a series of Q&As. Michael Orr, the Dean of the Faculty and Vice President for Academic Affairs, and Sarah Delaney Vero, the Interim Director of Human Resources, will share responses to questions that have been raised on related topics. I encourage each of us to study these Q&As, and all other relevant information, with a critical eye. All of this information will continue to be available on our current FAQ page. The more information and communication we can generate on these issues, the better, in my view.

Above all, when the time comes, I hope that everyone in each voting group will participate in this important decision by casting your ballot so that a true majority of our NTT faculty will determine the outcome. This question is significant for every one of our non-tenure-track faculty, and indeed for the College as a whole. I urge each of you to participate fully in both the discernment process and the vote that will follow.

The beginning of each new academic year is an exciting time in the life of a college community. I look forward to the new year with optimism and with a renewed sense of purpose. Again, I hope each of you is having a very good summer so far. Many thanks for all you do for Skidmore.

Sincerely,

Marc C. Conner
President