In the FA, we hear a wide array of concerns from our membership.

There are questions and concerns about pay and benefits, which naturally come to us as the union. There are a significant number of academic questions and concerns, some of which we can field, some which belong to governance and some of which get directed to Academic Affairs.

There are also always questions and concerns that fall under the broad umbrella of “working conditions.” These can be the most challenging because members often believe that if they can posit any issue as a working condition, surely the FA can and should resolve it. While we can address health and safety related working conditions, other issues are not always in our purview. We wish! While of course we always listen and advocate as best we can, we cannot always intervene, especially when we’ve heard concerns regarding everything from paint colors to toilet tissue to the lingering scent left by a colleague’s microwaved lunch.

Campus climate concerns

Questions and concerns that sometimes come to us first but are immediately directed to our Chief Diversity Officer and Title IX Coordinator, Christina Vargas, involve issues relating to sex, gender, race, ethnicity and religion.

While we take seriously all concerns that come to our attention, we strongly believe that nothing is more important than ensuring people’s safety. Every member of our college community deserves to be in a safe educational environment—which includes being free from being harmed based on any of the above identity categories.

This is why, starting in the 2015-16 academic year, SUNY began requiring all of its 64 campuses to conduct a standardized campus climate survey. The goal was to assess student and employee knowledge of and experience with college policies for sexual harassment, sexual violence and related crimes. The campus climate survey has expanded over the years to be even broader in scope, to ascertain the degree to which respondents are familiar with the resources available to them as well as the role of the Title IX coordinator on campus. For example, faculty are asked about their familiarity with disclosure rules, and students are asked to share any incidents they have experienced as well as their thoughts and actions regarding those incidents.

Survey is coming soon, and faculty input is critical

We believe it is imperative for faculty voices to be heard on these issues. We take concerns about and incidents of harassment or violence based on someone’s race, sex, gender, or religious affiliation seriously. It is incumbent upon all FA members to be familiar with the college policies and procedures for any such incidents and to help advocate for a safe learning environment for students and employees.

For this year’s SUNY campus climate survey, then, we are offering an additional incentive for faculty to complete the instrument. It should be deployed to our college by the end of October and will be available until December.

Members who complete the survey will be entered into a drawing to win one of the FA swag prizes modeled by FA President Dante Morelli in the photo above. Several of each item will be awarded:

• The coveted FA Yeti mug will keep your coffee hot for hours while you travel to campus, enabling you to sip and enjoy while wowing students and colleagues during your regularly assigned duties, and is easy peasy to clean in the dishwasher once back home. This is by far our most popular swag item.
  
  
• The solid black and red Union Strong ceramic mug is a hit because it lets you imbibe your favorite beverage while being reminded of the value of union membership—and it makes you feel extra, well, strong.
  
  
• The FA laptop case snuggles your college-issued or personal laptop in a thick, protective cover so you can rest assured that it will be safe from any accidental bumps or falls.
  
  
• Our newest bit of FA swag is a heather gray FA fleece. It is so super soft, we had trouble peeling it back off supermodel Dante. We will order it in your size, complete with the FA logo stenciled on.

Once the college has access to the SUNY campus climate survey, we will work out the logistics of how you will be entered into the drawing. We believe FA members will be directed to a completion page that you can send to us as your entry.

Survey and directions will be forthcoming, and we strongly encourage all FA members to participate. The survey itself is completely anonymous, and we know FA voices need to be heard.