Minnesota State - Global Education Committee

Minnesota State

ACADEMIC AFFAIRS COUNCIL

Committee Charge Document

Committee on Global Education: This is a standing committee of the Academic Affairs Council.

Purpose: Its purpose is to advise the Academic Affairs Council on issues relative to global education initiatives and programs systemwide.

Scope: Global education needs and interests related to teaching and learning, education abroad, globalized curricula, intercampus collaboration, international scholar exchange, world languages, international partnerships, globally connected classrooms, risk management, compliance, and reporting.

Primary Responsibilities:  The primary responsibilities of this committee are to:

1.       Act as a forum to facilitate communication among faculty, staff, students, campus administrators, and system office staff.

2.       Act in an advisory role to the Academic Affairs Council on systemwide global education issues.

3.       Make recommendations to the Academic Affairs Council that result from a process of discovery, planning, adoption and analysis.

4.       Identify resources necessary to carry out global education opportunities and a globalized curriculum.

Operating Guidelines:

1.       The Committee has a chair and a chair-elect. The chairs will be selected from the members of the workgroup by consensus of the members. The chairs will take the lead in identifying issues to be discussed by the group, and help develop the full workgroup agendas.

2.       The Committee charge document, membership list, meeting schedule, agendas, meeting summaries, and other information will be available and posted to ASA Connect.

3.       A liaison from the Committee will attend Council meetings.

Meeting Times and Dates:  The Committee meets on a regular basis during the academic year, with a minimum of one meeting per term and a maximum of one meeting per month. The Committee chair will determine the frequency and schedule of meetings with input from Committee members. The system office will pay travel expenses for faculty and student members as needed. Institutions are expected to pay expenses for administrators.

Committee Member Expectations:  Members are expected to:

1.       Attend and participate in meetings as scheduled.

2.       Represent the positions of their constituents.

3.       Work with all members to build consensus in decisions and recommendations.

4.       Respond objectively to Council requests and direction.

5.       Provide recommendations to the Academic Affairs Council that meet student, institutional, and system needs.

6.       Communicate discussions and recommendations back to their constituents.

Committee Members:  Membership should include at least one member from each of the following groups. The appointing authorities listed will appoint members to the Committee from one up to two- or three-year terms. Other appointees shall be recruited by the co-chairs with assistance from the responsible system office administrator.

1.       University Faculty (IFO)

2.       College Faculty (MSCF)

3.       University Administrative and Service Faculty (MSUAASF)

4.       Professional Staff (MAPE)

5.       University Students (Students United)

6.       College Students (LeadMN)

7.       College Administrators

8.       University Administrators

9.       Academic and Student Affairs Division Staff, System Office

Staff Support:

Kathy Pilugin, 651-201-1466, Kathy.Pilugin@minnstate.edu

Responsible System Administrator: 

Jon K. Dalager, JD, PhD, System Director for Academic Initiatives

651-201-1684, Jon.Dalager@minnstate.edu

Minnesota State - Academic Affairs Council

Minnesota State

ACADEMIC AFFAIRS COUNCIL

Committee Charge Document

Committee on Academic Equity:  This is a standing committee of the Academic Affairs Council.

Purpose:  Its purpose is to advise the Academic Affairs Council on academic priorities relative to eliminating gaps in educational opportunity and achievement systemwide.

Scope:  Disparities in access to educational opportunities, in classroom and other learning experiences, and in achievement and outcomes. The scope includes all experiences relative to teaching and learning, including: academic preparation, instructional and academic program development, faculty and staff professional development, student academic support, and post-graduation academic and work opportunities.

Primary Responsibilities:  The primary responsibilities of this committee are to:

1.       Review data on opportunity and achievement gaps across the system and at individual Minnesota State colleges and universities.

2.       Engage stakeholders to inform focused recommendations on relevant priorities for the work of the council.

3.       Examine retention of faculty, staff, and students from diverse groups and its impact on student achievement.

4.       Make recommendations to the Academic Affairs Council that result from a process of discovery, planning, and analysis. The Council will forward a final set of recommendations to the Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs.

Operating Guidelines:

1.       The Committee has two co-chairs. The chairs will be selected from the members of the workgroup by consensus of the members. The chairs will take the lead in identifying issues to be discussed by the group, and help develop the full workgroup agendas.

2.       The Committee charge document, membership list, meeting schedule, agendas, meeting summaries, and other information will be available and posted to ASA Connect.

3.       A liaison from the Committee will attend Council meetings.

Meeting Times and Dates:  The Committee meets on a regular basis during the academic year, with a minimum of one meeting per term and a maximum of one meeting per month, in downtown Saint Paul. The Committee co-chairs will determine the frequency and schedule of meetings with input from Committee members. The system office will pay travel expenses for faculty and student members as needed. Institutions are expected to pay expenses for administrators.

Committee Member Expectations:  Members are expected to:

1.       Attend and participate in meetings as scheduled.

2.       Represent the positions of their constituents.

3.       Work with all members to build consensus in decisions and recommendations.

4.       Respond objectively to Council requests and direction.

5.       Provide recommendations to the Academic Affairs Council that meet student, institutional, and system needs.

6.       Communicate discussions and recommendations back to their constituents.

Committee Members:  Membership should include at least one member from each of the following groups. The appointing authorities listed will appoint members to the Committee from one up to two- or three-year terms. Other appointees shall be recruited by the co-chairs with assistance from the responsible system office administrator.

1.       University Faculty (IFO)

2.       College Faculty (MSCF)

3.       University Administrative and Service Faculty (MSUAASF)

4.       Professional Staff (MAPE)

5.       University Students (Students United)

6.       College Students (LeadMN)

7.       College Administrators

8.       University Administrators

9.       Academic and Student Affairs Division Staff, System Office

10.   Office of Equity and Inclusion Staff, System Office

11.   Community Representatives: up to four members from Minnesota councils or independent organizations that represent the state’s communities of color, women, and people with disabilities.

Staff Support: Kathy Pilugin, 651-201-1466, Kathy.Pilugin@minnstate.edu

Responsible System Administrator: 

Kim Lynch, Interim Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Academic and Student Affairs Division

651-201-1655, Kim.Lynch@minnstate.edu

AFT’s Weingarten on Senator Sanders’ Bill to Rebuild Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands

For Immediate Release
November 28, 2017

Contact:
Andrew Crook
202-393-8637
acrook@aft.org
www.aft.org

AFT’s Weingarten on Senator Sanders’ Bill to Rebuild Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands

WASHINGTON— AFT President Randi Weingarten issued the following statement in support of Sen. Bernie Sanders and his colleagues’ Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands Equitable Rebuild Act:

“This is a plan that puts the people of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands first. The 1.7 million members of the American Federation of Teachers—including more than 40,000 members in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands—are proud to stand with Sen. Sanders and his colleagues in embracing this plan, which not only calls for billions in urgent humanitarian assistance but also creates a blueprint for a sustainable and strong future.

“When I was in Puerto Rico, I saw firsthand the devastation wrought by Hurricanes Irma and Maria and the disturbing lack of urgency from the Trump administration to address it. We created Operation Agua, with great partners like Operation Blessing, to deliver thousands of water purifiers to schools and families. But although we are stepping up to help, nothing substitutes for federal government action to avert a looming catastrophe.

“Millions of U.S. citizens who live on these islands urgently need our help and support. They have endured more than two months without power and safe water. They are at their wits’ end. This bill—by addressing the immediate humanitarian crisis, while also investing heavily in infrastructure, including public schools, and allowing for long-term debt relief—provides a pathway to rebuild economies that have been ignored by those on the mainland for far too long. We urge Congress to support it.”

Education Minnesota Rally Against Cutting Educator School Supply Deduction - Wednesday Nov. 29

Dear Education Minnesota member activist,

On Nov. 16, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the tax reform bill, H.R. 1 “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.” This bill will hurt educators and the middle class while giving massive tax breaks to corporations and the top 1 percent. Rep. Erik Paulsen voted “yes” to help pass this bill.

In order to give massive, and permanent, tax cuts to their wealthy friends and donors, Republicans passed a bill that takes a hatchet to the middle class. The tax bill is going to raise taxes on millions of Americans at the same time it raises their healthcare premiums. The tax bill would hurt:

●       Middle class families who live in areas with higher state and local taxes, like in Minnesota, and will see their taxes go up while having local services like public schools, police and fire cut;

●       Families with mortgages;

●       Students and those with student loans;

●       Anyone whose family has high medical expenses;

●       Teachers who buy school supplies for their classrooms.

Currently, the U.S. Senate is working on their version of the bill. If it passes the Senate, both the House and Senate bills will need to go to a conference committee to come up with a bill that both the House and Senate will need to vote on again for final passage.

This give us an opportunity to let Rep. Erik Paulsen know that we are unhappy with this tax bill that hurts educators and working families in support of corporations and the wealthy. On Wednesday, Nov. 29 from 4–5 p.m., we are going to hold a rally outside of Rep. Paulsen’s office and let him know that we are unhappy with the GOP tax plan.

What: Rally against GOP tax reform bill

When: Wednesday, Nov. 29, 4–5 p.m.

Where: Rep. Erik Paulsen’s Eden Prairie office (across from Eden Prairie Center)

              250 Prairie Center Drive, Eden Prairie

Feel free to bring a handmade sign or signs will be available.

To RSVP or if you have questions, please contact Jim Meyer from Education Minnesota at jim.meyer@edmn.org or 651-292-4813. 

In unity!

AFT President Randi Weingarten on the Future of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

For Immediate Release
November 27, 2017

Contact:
Marcus Mrowka
202-879-4733 Cell: 202-531-0689
mmrowka@aft.org
www.aft.org

AFT President Randi Weingarten on the Future of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

WASHINGTON—Statement of AFT President Randi Weingarten on the future of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau:

“President Trump, by attempting to install someone to lead the agency who has called the CFPB a ‘sick, sad’ joke, is sending a strong statement to Wall Street banks, student loan corporations, and predatory payday loan and credit card companies that it is once again ok to scam consumers. It’s the latest example of Trump abandoning his populist promises from the campaign to serve the demands of big corporations and Wall Street.

“The CFPB is an incredibly successful consumer watchdog that has already returned nearly $12 billion to consumers and helped 29 million people get relief—student loan borrowers, seniors, families and other consumers who were preyed upon or defrauded by powerful financial interests that refused to play by the rules. The American people need a CFPB director who will serve the people and not the powerful. Mick Mulvaney is not that person. The Dodd-Frank law makes clear that Leandra English is the rightful acting director of the CFPB until the Senate confirms someone else. President Trump should nominate a new director committed to fulfilling the CFPB’s mission as a consumer watchdog.”

AFT’s Weingarten on Federal Communications Commission’s Net Neutrality Changes

For Immediate Release
November 27, 2017

Contact:
Andrew Crook
607-280-6603
acrook@aft.org
www.aft.org

AFT’s Weingarten on Federal Communications Commission’s Net Neutrality Changes

WASHINGTON— AFT President Randi Weingarten issued the following statement condemning the Federal Communications Commission’s proposed dismantling of net neutrality rules:

“The principles behind net neutrality are fairness and access—the idea that every American should have equal access to internet resources, regardless of cost or ownership. By proposing to end net neutrality, the Trump administration has once again—as with taxes, education and healthcare—betrayed the interests of the many to serve the wealthy few. Donald Trump campaigned as a populist but is governing as an elitist, and the decision on net neutrality epitomizes his deceit.

“Under the FCC’s proposed changes, students and educators searching for neutral information will be directed to biased corporate websites. Students will be priced out of fast access. High-quality, free teaching resources like Share My Lesson will be pushed aside in favor of for-profit sites. Nurses’ ability to rely on robust broadband for medical imaging and other technologies to treat patients will be subject to the whim of service providers. Graduate employees and adjunct professors will have their research kneecapped. And public employees will be consigned to the internet “slow lane” forever.

“No one asked for this change—besides the major telecommunications companies. Once again, President Trump has attacked the public interest to pad corporations’ bottom lines and pander to those least in need of his largess.”

Operation Agua Donations Reach $1 Million, Filters Being Delivered Across Puerto Rico to Bring Safe Drinking Water to Families

For Immediate Release
November 17, 2017

Contact:
Marcus Mrowka
202-879-4733
Cell: 202-531-0689
mmrowka@aft.org
www.aft.org

Operation Agua Donations Reach $1 Million, Filters Being Delivered Across Puerto Rico to Bring Safe Drinking Water to Families

AFT President Randi Weingarten to Visit Puerto Rico Next Week to Participate in Filter Distribution Efforts

WASHINGTON—Operation Agua, a crowdsourced campaign to provide safe drinking water to the people of Puerto Rico, has received $1 million in donations, with containers full of thousands of water filters reaching Puerto Rico every week and being distributed to schools and families across the island. The effort was launched last month by the American Federation of Teachers; the Asociación de Maestros de Puerto Rico; Operation Blessing; the Hispanic Federation; the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees; TOTE Maritime; and the Seafarers International Union.

Operation Agua’s initial goal is to purchase and distribute 100,000 individual water filtration systems for households and classrooms, and 50 large-capacity clean-water devices for a network of nonprofit organizations, union offices, schools and other community-based groups to provide stable and reliable sources of safe water.

A single $30 contribution provides an in-home Kohler Clarity purifier that requires no electricity and provides more than 10 gallons of safe water per day to a family. And $5,000 delivers a disinfectant generator that can disinfect 150,000 gallons per day—enough safe water for thousands of people.

“We launched Operation Agua to bring immediate relief to our fellow citizens in Puerto Rico, who have been without reliable access to safe drinking water for nearly two months. As a result of the generosity of people to Operation Agua, water filters are currently being delivered to an initial 400 schools, reaching 125,000 students and thousands more are being distributed to families across the island through our partners,” said AFT President Randi Weingarten, who will visit Puerto Rico Monday and Tuesday to meet with educators and students and participate in distribution efforts.

Weingarten continued, “We’ve seen a tremendous response from people and organizations across the country who are chipping in what they can to help Puerto Ricans who, two months out from Hurricane Maria, still don’t have reliable access to safe drinking water and whose children are going back to schools without power or safe water. Teachers and students have been raising money in their classrooms and schools to send to Puerto Rico. This is who we are as a union that fights and cares for people, but, as we said when we launched this campaign, it is not and cannot be a substitute for federal action, which continues to be woefully inadequate. President Trump and Congress have a duty and a responsibility to the people of Puerto Rico, American citizens, who are not getting the relief and response they need from the federal government to meet even their basic needs of water and electricity.”

AFT Statement on Nomination of Alex Azar

For Immediate Release
November 13, 2017

Contact:
Marcus Mrowka
202-531-0689
mmrowka@aft.org
www.aft.org

AFT Statement on Nomination of Alex Azar

WASHINGTON—Statement of AFT President Randi Weingarten on the nomination of Alex Azar for U.S. secretary of health and human services:

“Americans deserve a health and human services secretary who will shield families from skyrocketing drug prices (which President Trump promised when he was candidate Trump); stand up for the poor by protecting Medicaid expansion; and ensure the sick and vulnerable can access quality, affordable health insurance. Instead, Trump nominated a Big Pharma guy who built his reputation on increasing corporate pharmaceutical profits and whose only interest in the Affordable Care Act is seemingly how quickly he can dismantle it. In nominating Azar, Trump is reneging on his promise to fight escalating drug prices and defying the people’s desire and Congress’ will to strengthen, not end, the ACA.”

AFT on House Tax Vote

For Immediate Release
Nov. 16, 2017

Contact:
Marcus Mrowka
202-879-4733
mmrowka@aft.org
www.aft.org

AFT on House Tax Vote

WASHINGTON— Statement of AFT President Randi Weingarten following the House vote on the GOP tax proposal:

“So much for the party of Lincoln and a government “of the people, by the people, for the people.” The Republican House just voted to radically transform our economy to further benefit the wealthy, corporations and their donors at the expense of working-class folks.

“It’s crystal clear who loses in this bill: anyone who owns a house or is hoping to become a homeowner; teachers who count on a deduction to defray the money they spend out of their own pockets to buy supplies for their classrooms; people with long-term or chronic illness, who will no longer be able to deduct their medical expenses; students and those with student loan debt, who won’t be able to deduct student loan interest or tuition assistance; union members, who deduct their union dues; public schools, parents and students; and states and local communities that, because of the loss of the state and local tax deduction, won’t be able to fund the services people depend on, including first responders. And the winners are those who are already wealthy and powerful, who will get huge tax breaks and benefits from this bill.

“We thank the Republican members who had the courage to stand up for the people in their districts over President Trump, Paul Ryan and Republican donors by voting against this bill. It’s now up to the Senate to reject this cruel and heartless proposal and focus on a tax agenda that helps the middle class instead of ripping away economic opportunity and security from the American people.”

Coming in Spring 2018: Book Group & D2L Brightspace Course

A Professional Development Opportunity for All Faculty and Staff

What: Statewide opportunity to read, discuss, interact, share and learn with a book on a topic of interest and relevance for our work. The topic is immigration and learning about our immigrant students and communities.  Created by: Rebecca March and Cheryl Neudauer, Minneapolis Community and Technical College

The book is Enrique’s Journey: The Story of a Boy's Dangerous Odyssey to Reunite with His Mother.  This is a true story from award-winning journalist Sonia Nazario recounting the odyssey of a Honduran boy who braves hardship and peril to reach his mother in the United States. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/158277.Enrique_s_Journey

Who: All faculty and staff from any Minnesota State college or university are invited to participate.  We also encourage campuses to:

·         have conversations/meetings on your campus to complement our work together

·         use a buddy system to move through any of the book group activities with a colleague

·         purchase copies of books for employees on your campus (for example, through the library, center for teaching and learning, diversity office, etc.)

When: Between February-April 2018

How: This professional development opportunity has two main parts:

1.      Three 90-minute virtual Adobe Connect meetings to discuss how the experiences and perspectives in this book relate to our students and communities.  Dates TBD.

2.      D2L Brightspace course to explore issues related to immigration, helping immigrant students succeed, and understanding our communities and the news.  The “course” will use short, asynchronous, interactive activities to help us explore how we can better serve our students, connect across the system, and share resources.

Participate in as much or as little as you’d like or your schedules allow!  For example, you could 1) complete some or all of the D2L Brightspace activities and not join the online meetings, 2) attend some or all of the online meetings and not participate in the D2L Brightspace course, 3) join us even if you have not read the book to learn with colleagues!

Contact:

Kimberly Johnson, Ph.D., Director for Faculty and Instructional Development

Email: kimberly.johnson@minnstate.edu

AFT on Senate GOP Repealing the Individual Mandate in Their Tax Proposal

For Immediate Release
November 14, 2017

Contact:
Marcus Mrowka
202-531-0689
mmrowka@aft.org
www.aft.org

AFT on Senate GOP Repealing the Individual Mandate in Their Tax Proposal

WASHINGTON—Statement of AFT President Randi Weingarten on the news that Senate Republicans are likely to include the repeal of the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate in their tax proposal:

“The Republican tax bills already take a hatchet to the middle class by raising their taxes and hurting their local services like public schools, police departments and fire departments. Now, on top of raising your taxes, they are taking away your family’s healthcare, to pay for tax cuts for the rich and corporations.”

Report Shows the AFT’s ‘Big Bet’ on Educator-Led Collaborations and Solutions Through Its Innovation Fund Reaps Powerful Results

For Immediate Release
November 13, 2017

Contact:
Leslie Getzinger
202-321-4034
lgetzing@aft.org
www.aft.org

Report Shows the AFT’s ‘Big Bet’ on Educator-Led Collaborations and Solutions Through Its Innovation Fund Reaps Powerful Results

WASHINGTON— A new report released today shows the “bet” the AFT made in 2009, when it created the AFT Innovation Fund to support collaborative-based and educator-led solutions to strengthen schooling for students, has paid off.

AFT Innovation Fund grantees have tackled important challenges, from combating inequity head-on by creating community schools with wraparound services for students, to making that critical link between school and career for students through career and technical education, to designing new systems for teacher development and evaluation, to confronting disparate treatment of students of color with solutions like restorative practices.

“We started the AFT Innovation Fund because we believed listening to the wisdom of educators, and putting their ideas, ingenuity, and passion to work for their students and communities, would help our students and strengthen public education,” said AFT President Randi Weingarten, who started the Innovation Fund shortly after she was elected to her national post. “Our idea was to make grants directly to local affiliates to not only elevate practitioner ideas, but to build partnerships with school districts, local government, community-based organizations and even industry, to scale and sustain solutions for some of the greatest challenges facing schools today.”

In the first seven years, the AFT Innovation Fund has awarded more than 45 grants totaling $16 million, $7 million of which was from the AFT’s own resources. These investments have included:

Career and Technical Education

• In Peoria, Ill., a network including the Peoria Public Schools District 150, the city of Peoria, Illinois Central College, the local chamber of commerce and the Peoria Federation of Teachers jump-started a program to create career pathways from local schools to the healthcare sector and other regional industries.
• Results include the rollout of an online platform, Career Cruising, with support from school counselors and career coaches, to help students apply for, interview for and secure jobs. The network has increased its partnerships with employers from 11 to more than 100 and has placed more than 70 students since the beginning of the 2016-17 school year.

Community Schools

• In Daly City, Calif., the Jefferson Federation of Teachers and the Jefferson Elementary Federation of Teachers kick-started a community school and restorative justice program, paving the way for three community schools and a training program on using restorative practices to transform schools for students and teachers.

Restorative Justice

• In New Haven, Conn., the New Haven Federation of Teachers worked with school and city administrators to shift school discipline away from traditional punishments like suspensions and move toward restorative justice strategies; they used a “train the trainer” approach to train teachers to help students discuss problems and repair relationship with teachers and peers.
• Since then, disciplinary incidents are down 26 percent, which is attributed to the systematic implementation of restorative practices.

Supporting Strong Standards

• The MEA-MFT (Montana Education Association and Montana Federation of Teachers) created the Montana Digital Professional Learning Network, a statewide online learning platform for educators.
• This network was designed to give educators, regardless where they were working in the state, access to professional learning opportunities at a time when new curriculum and learning standards for students were being adopted. Rebranded in 2015 as the statewide Teacher Learning Hub, it currently enjoys thousands of users statewide.

These investments of the AFT Innovation Fund—which represent the use of membership dues for real educational reform—were made in a very hostile education environment. Seven years ago, the country was in a deep recession, and schools were facing deep budget cuts and austerity, while philanthropic groups and the federal Department of Education used their grants to impose top-down, test-fixated strategies on cash-strapped districts.

Unfortunately, even after the recession ended and the bipartisan Every Student Succeeds Act—which put states and districts, not tests, back in charge of public education—was enacted, public schools have continued to face more challenges, including budget cuts; the loss of even more resources if the GOP Congress gets rid of the state and local tax deduction,
which helps fund public schools; and a fixation by Secretary Betsy DeVos, the Kochs and others to privatize and commoditize public education.

The AFT’s commitment though all of this is not simply to fight back, as important as that is, but to innovate and sustain and scale educational best practices that help educators teach and students learn.

“As we celebrate American Education Week this week, this report shows that strong communities and strong public schools are created when educators and their unions join with community partners to fight for all people, and when public education is valued as a common good, not a commodity,” said Weingarten.

The report notes that educators and the AFT learned as much from setbacks as we did from successes. For example, for community schools, initially we underestimated the importance of site-based, district-level and partner coordination to help everyone from mental and physical health providers to school staff to community-based groups understand their roles and responsibilities. Also, we hoped that our teacher evaluation grants with multiple measures and an improvement-focused approach would thrive, but the test-and-punish, high-stakes environment of the federal Race to the Top program sabotaged and undermined implementation. And, over time, we continued to increase our focus on children’s well-being, which more and more must be addressed first, even before students’ instructional needs.

“As we continue to deepen and expand our work, we look forward to welcoming others to work with us through the AFT Innovation Fund to continue our vision of helping educators realize their ideas for the high-quality public education our students, families and communities deserve,” said AFT Executive Vice President Mary Cathryn Ricker, who oversees Innovation Fund activities. “As we continue to invest in new grantees, we will focus on projects that embody the four pillars of powerful, purposeful public schools: promoting children’s well-being, supporting powerful learning, building teacher capacity and fostering cultures of collaboration.”

For more information on the AFT Innovation Fund and to read the report online, visit https://www.aft.org/bigbet.

AFT on House Ways and Means Vote on GOP Tax Bill

For Immediate Release
November 9, 2017

Contact:
Marcus Mrowka
202-531-0689
mmrowka@aft.org
www.aft.org

AFT on House Ways and Means Vote on GOP Tax Bill

WASHINGTON— Statement of AFT President Randi Weingarten on the House Ways and Means Committee vote on the tax bill:

“The Republicans on the House Ways and Means Committee just voted for a gut punch to the middle class that would crush the American dream of having a family and owning a home.

“It’s not just that their tax bill is a massive giveaway to the wealthy and big corporations who don’t need it, but also that they’re doing it at the expense of the middle class, homeowners, and local community services like public schools, police departments and fire departments

AFT Calls for Passage of Dream Act

For Immediate Release
November 9, 2017

Contact:
Michael Heenan
202-585-4371
mheenan@aft.org
www.aft.org

AFT Calls for Passage of Dream Act

WASHINGTON— American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten released the following statement today, two months since President Trump ended the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program:

“Two months after President Trump ripped the rug out from under hundreds of thousands of young people who have done everything we asked of them under DACA, the clock is ticking for Congress to enact legislation that allows these aspiring Americans to stay in the only country they know.

“Trump has exploited and stoked anti-immigrant fervor, painting immigrants as dangerous criminals to justify his racist mass-deportation plan. But DACA recipients are not criminals; they are students, teachers, nurses and lawyers who contribute to our economy and enrich the fabric of our communities.

“On this national day of mobilization, we join Americans everywhere who are raising their voices in support of these young people. We call for the passage of the Dream Act of 2017, which would provide a pathway to citizenship for immigrant youth—including 20,000 DACAmented bilingual educators filling critical teacher shortages—and keep these aspiring Americans from disappearing back into the shadows.”

AFT President Randi Weingarten on Election Results Across the Country

For Immediate Release
November 8, 2017

Contact:
Marcus Mrowka
202-879-4733
mmrowka@aft.org
www.aft.org

AFT President Randi Weingarten on Election Results Across the Country

WASHINGTON—Statement of AFT President Randi Weingarten on election results from across the country:
“Last night’s election results were a clear and overwhelming rebuke of the fearmongering and race-baiting that embodies Trumpism. It was also clear that voters understood that running as a populist is not the same as acting as one or governing for the people. This election was a real ‘which-side-are-you-on?’ moment in which the candidates who demonstrated that they truly care for and will fight for people, and that they stand for public education, affordable healthcare and good jobs, overwhelmingly beat those who, like Trump, seek to campaign as a populist but serve the elites. And last night’s results were made possible by the hard work, on the ground, of union members, volunteers and candidates who talked and connected with voters, understood and listened to their legitimate anger and frustration with what is going on in our country today, and offered a path forward based on the aspirations we all share for a better life.

“Yesterday’s results were a clear repudiation of the efforts by Trump and the GOP to strip healthcare away from people, go after people’s rights, and push Education Secretary Betsy DeVos’ agenda to defund and privatize public schools. And the message to Congress should be clear—don’t try to ram through a tax plan that gives massive tax breaks to the rich and corporations at the expense of the middle class.

“We celebrate every one of our members and every other volunteer who made phone calls, knocked on doors, drove people to the polls, and got out the vote to create a wave of wins across the nation. Elections matter—and we need to continue this wave and this enthusiasm through 2018 to elect even more governors, state legislators, U.S. representatives and U.S. senators who will stand with working folks and not those trying to get even richer off the backs of working families and the middle class.”
Highlights from Election 2017:

· In Virginia, AFT-endorsed candidates won all statewide elections, and Democrats gained
at least 16 House of Delegates seats. The stakes of this election were enormous for working
folks and for our kids—and for public education, decency and an economy that works for all.

· In New Jersey, AFT-endorsed candidate Phil Murphy won the governor’s race by 13
points, and state Sen. Steve Sweeney was overwhelmingly re-elected. These victories offer
new hope and new opportunity for the people of New Jersey who for years have had a
blustering bully for a governor, who disrespected educators, nurses and working people.

· In New York, a referendum calling for a state constitutional convention was defeated
with more than 80 percent of the vote. It was the work of union members and allies across
the state that helped educate the public and ensure victory on Election Day, despite support
for the referendum early in the campaign. And in New York City, Mayor Bill de Blasio was reelected,
becoming the first Democratic mayor to be re-elected there since Ed Koch was reelected
in 1985.

· In Douglas County, Colo., AFT members and voters defeated Koch brother-supported,
anti-public education candidates to ensure a pro-public education school board.

· In Houston, AFT members and voters elected additional pro-public education school
board members, who will work with educators and families to help them continue to heal
and rebuild after Hurricane Harvey, create community schools, ensure local control and
fight for additional funding.

· In Maine, voters approved Medicaid expansion.

· In Washington state, Democrats regained control of the state Senate.

· School bond initiatives won across the country, including in Cincinnati, Austin and
across Minnesota.

· The Republican supermajority in the Georgia Senate was broken.

· AFT-endorsed mayors won in Lawrence, Mass.; Detroit; St. Paul, Minn.; and across the
country.

· AFT members were elected in Connecticut, New York and Pennsylvania and Virginia.

AFT President Randi Weingarten on Sexual Harassment in the Labor Movement

For Immediate Release
November 7, 2017

Contact:
Marcus Mrowka
202-879-4733
mmrowka@aft.org
www.aft.org

AFT President Randi Weingarten on Sexual Harassment in the Labor Movement

WASHINGTON—Statement of AFT President Randi Weingarten on sexual harassment and the AFL-CIO following today’s Bloomberg story:

“You can’t talk the talk of civil rights and economic dignity without walking the walk. Unions, more than most, must understand that lesson, and we must do everything we can to ensure our workplaces are free from sexual harassment.

“That means, just as we criticized Trump and Weinstein and Ailes, we must have zero tolerance for sexual harassment in our own house. Creating clear and effective policy remedying sexual harassment is an important first step for the AFL-CIO, but it’s not sufficient. The AFL-CIO should lead, not follow, when it comes to workplace safety, which means not just reacting but creating an anti-harassment culture. Working women and their families must be able to have confidence and trust in their unions.”

REVIEW & COMMENT: Board Policy 2.8 Student Life & Board Policy 3.24 Institution Type and Mission, and System Mission

TO:
Inter Faculty Organization
Minnesota State College Faculty
Minnesota State University Association of Administrative and Service Faculty
LeadMN - Minnesota State College Student Association
Students United - Minnesota State University Student Association
Minnesota Association of Professional Employees
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees
Middle Management Association

Colleagues,

Board Policy 2.8 Student Life and Board Policy 3.24 Institution Type and Mission, and System Mission are available for review and comment. The policy drafts and proposed amendments are located on the P&P review site at https://mnscu.sharepoint.com/sites/policy/SitePages/Reviews.aspx. Log in using your [StarID]@minnstate.edu and your regular password Please share this correspondence with your leadership members, constituents, and other appropriate personnel for review and comment. All feedback and comments may be submitted and viewed through this site.

Any questions on the policies or how to leave a comment can be referred to Gary Hunter at gary.hunter@minnstate.edu or 651-201-1659.

Responses are requested by December 6, 2017.

Sincerely,

Ron Anderson, Ph.D.
Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs
Minnesota State Colleges & Universities
30 7th Street East, Suite 350 |St. Paul, MN 55101
(651) 201-1498 |ron.anderson@minnstate.edu
Susan Platt, Executive Assistant | susan.platt@minnstate.edu | 651-201-1652 |

AFT on GOP Tax Proposal

For Immediate Release
November 2, 2017

Contact:
Marcus Mrowka
202-531-0689
mmrowka@aft.org
www.aft.org

WASHINGTON— Statement of AFT President Randi Weingarten on the GOP tax proposal:

“We have long said that Donald Trump campaigned as a populist but would govern as an elitist, and the GOP-Trump tax giveaway bill released today epitomizes this view.

“Families need a tax code that is fair and doesn’t rig the economy further in favor of corporations and the rich. But Republicans have come up with a bill that does the exact opposite, handing out massive tax breaks and cutting services to help their wealthy friends—like the Koch and DeVos families—and making the middle class pay for it.

“Just do the math. They are paying for tax giveaways for big corporations by destroying the state and local deductions that middle-class families rely on to fund their local public schools, hospitals, and police and fire departments.

“And while Trump and the Republicans are massively cutting the corporate tax rate and maintaining corporate loopholes, they are raising taxes on the hardworking families in the lowest tax bracket.

“They are giving huge estate tax breaks to the Trump kids while taking away working families’ ability to deduct the costs of higher education, union dues and even the money educators spend on their classrooms.

“Because of this massive transfer of wealth to the already wealthy, many of the early reviewers are nixing this bill, including the National Association of Home Builders, the National Federation of Independent Business, and some Republican members of Congress.

“Trump said he would shake things up, but who would have thought he would hurt virtually every one of the millions who trusted him to help them? We will do everything we can to fight this bill. This is a ‘which-side-are-you-on?’ moment, and we are on the side of those who work hard to make a better life for themselves and their families. This bill fails that test.”

AFT on GOP's State and Local Tax Deduction Deal

For Immediate Release
October 31, 2017

Contact:
Marcus Mrowka
202-531-0689
mmrowka@aft.org
www.aft.org

AFT on GOP’s State and Local Tax Deduction Deal

WASHINGTON—Statement of AFT President Randi Weingarten on the GOP’s state and local tax deduction deal:

“While it’s dysfunctional that secret deals effecting 44 million taxpayers are negotiated behind closed doors and disclosed in last-minute press conferences—instead of writing a tax bill in a public way, based upon the needs of Americans—preserving the property tax deduction is a step in the right direction.

“However, this is a political compromise, not a functional one. This ‘deal’ will still hurt local public schools and services while likely also causing unintended consequences by breaking the coherence between state, local and property taxes.

“Middle-class families, their local schools and other essential services won’t be protected unless Congress also preserves the deduction for state and local taxes. As long as this bill eliminates this vital deduction in favor of tax cuts for the rich and big corporations, those tax cuts will be paid for twice by taxing middle-class families as well as cutting their local public schools and services.

“This so-called deal is certainly not the last word on this issue, and our members will be working tirelessly to stand up for middle-class families and their local public schools and other essential services throughout the upcoming debate.”