New Issues

2026 Commencement and Need for Staff Volunteers

Management raised the need for more SLU volunteers for the 2026 commencement. Labor responded with concerns and offered suggestions: 

• Hiring laborers for heavy-lifting tasks (e.g., carrying boxes).
• Offering staff comp time (it was noted that HEOs are eligible, but adjunct faculty are not)
• Recruiting alumni as volunteers.

HEO Reclassification Procedures

We sought answers to questions about HEO reclassification procedures. We acknowledge that our Collective Bargaining Agreement includes instructions as to how to apply. The application process requires the applicant to provide updated job descriptions and work charts to justify a reclass.

However, our job descriptions are not updated when duties change nor does the organization chart change with new reporting structures. The organizational chart on SLU’s website is outdated. Management agreed to update the organizational chart and provide job descriptions on request. The HR department will schedule a “brown bag” session on reclassification. We requested information on the number of HEOs who have applied for reclassifications between 2022 to 2025 and the number who have been reclassified. 

CUNY and the Office of Civil Rights and Title VI Investigations

We raised concerns about agreements between CUNY and the Office of Civil Rights and Title VI investigations recently brought to light in a AAUP report. (PSC SLU members are encouraged to read this scathing report, as well as the union’s Academic Freedom Committee letter in response) There is a suppression of freedom of speech on campuses, and five campuses and CUNY Central have entered into an agreement with the federal Office of Civil Rights and is releasing information about individuals to the office. We are under the Graduate Center (GC) and GC has not entered into this agreement. Consequences of sharing information given the current administration are concerning. Management will investigate this, get back to us, and promise to be proactive on this matter.

Old and On-going Issues

Notification of New Hires

We asked to be informed of new coworkers joining us. We would like to be introduced to new staff both to welcome them and for us to keep abreast of who is the right person to contact for specific work tasks. Management will figure out a systematic way to do this.

Communications

We noted that there are on-going communications problems. Currently, several groups and individuals are not included in campus wide communications. Management agreed to identify solutions to these persistent problems.

Private Office Space for Adjuncts

A need for private office space for adjunct faculty is needed. When this issue was reiterated at the last L/M meeting, management notified adjunct faculty that three offices were available on the 19^th Fl., and all classrooms after 5pm would are available for adjunct use. However, Adjuncts are asking for dedicated private space, with a key that they can use to meet with students to discuss sensitive issues. We need one on each floor and it does not work to have rooms reserved in advance.

Management stated that they hope to expand, but for now there is limited space. In the interim it was suggested that a member of the facilities staff keep a list of available offices and an adjunct can call them at a moment of need. Management will set up this system and provide a phone number.