The Future of the Academy is in Our Students’ Hands

By Katy Wiss

In the last newsletter I wrote about one researcher’s claims about the future of technology in Higher Education, based on my experiences at the 32nd National Conference of The National Center for the Study of Collective Bargaining in Higher Education and the Professions.  In this issue I turn to a discussion of a Roundtable I attended called, “Generational Issues in Collective Bargaining.”  The participants were:  Pat Heilman, President, APSCUF, Rachel Hendrickson, Higher Education Specialist, NEA, Dan Conmy, Individual Consultant Manager, Client Services, TIAA-CREF, Individual & Institutional Services, LLC, Greg Saltzman, Albion College and the University of Michigan, NEA, discussant, Rick Hurd, Cornell ILR, moderator.

Recent research by TIAA-CREF indicates that older and retired faculty increasingly say they want to stay involved in campus and academic life.  Their primary concern, not surprisingly is in their retirement and healthcare benefits.  This differs from faculty from other generations.  The presenters addressed several other ways in which age differences may be changing higher education and creating potential conflicts.  For example, the claim was made that members of different generations view their academic careers very differently.  If we view our careers differently, the implication is that the values of Higher Education are bound to change.

One presenter claimed that the oldest of our faculty colleagues (those of the “Greatest Generation”) had the expectation that they would enter academe and leave a legacy.  The next generation (Baby Boomers) dreamed of stellar careers.  The speaker claimed that Generation X’ers anticipate having a portable career.  The most controversy came in discussion the generation that is currently of traditional college age—the “Millennials”.  This discussion was based on the book, Millennials Rising: The Next Great Generation (Howe, Strauss and Matson, 2000).

The Millennials are those who were born in 1982 and later.  It is claimed that they are the most protected generation, in that they have always had child safety caps, car seats and bike helmets.  Their parents have not given them the opportunity to fail and as a result, they have a fear of failure.  They have seen a great deal of global violence and are often skeptical.  They have a strong consumer mentality—but are discriminating consumers.  They are “plugged in”—to cell phones, the Internet and more.  They often work several jobs and are used to working in groups, and may even prefer it.  They believe in fairness and activism, but it may choose to do it with a more local focus.  They are intolerant of ambiguity.

In short it seems to be the generation of contradictions:  plugged in, but wanting to be connected to other humans; protected from harm yet exposed to TV violence; wanting to do the right thing, but fearing failure. 

Does this seem like the profile of your students?  In the discussion following the roundtable, strenuous objections were made to the claims about the Millennials being significantly different from anyone else—mostly from members of that generation.  Yet it is interesting to ponder the future of academe with this generation as our heirs.  We don’t yet really know how different they are and in what ways and how that will affect the future of the profession. v

All faculty members are invited to the end of the year AAUP party!

Chuck’s Steak House,Wednesday, May 11, 4:00 – 6:00

20 Segar Street, Danbury

(Near the Westside Campus)

Enjoy vegetarian and carnivorous hors d’oeuvres

 Need directions?  Call Chuck’s at 792-5555.v

Council Member & Alternate Elected

On April 28, 2005, Laurie Weinstein was elected WCSU-AAUP Council Member.  Patricia O’Neill was elected Alternate Council Member.  Their terms of office begin June 1^st.  Our thanks go all of the candidates who made this a competitive election, and to every faculty member who voted. v

 Part-Time Faculty – Save the Date!

CSU-AAUP Conference for Part-Time Faculty

Friday, September 30, 2005 at WCSU

This is the first year this conference will be held at WCSU.  Don’t miss this opportunity to meet & discuss issues with your peers from the other CSU campuses.

 

To ensure you receive an invitation next autumn, especially if you only teach in the spring semester, send an e-mail message to aaupw(at)wcsu.edu, requesting more information.v