What's Happening Around the Union
Added May 1, 2021
Effective leadership is key to a strong union and the future we all deserve. The results of these elections shows the faith that union members and leadershave in participation in the electoral process to ensure the union has leaders to support workers’ rights, protect employee pensions, and invest in the higher education and services that benefit all Illinoisans. The results for the 2021 UPI elections are linked below.
Added April 10, 2021
NEW! Watch the UPI “Looking forward to Retirement" video!
Added April 4, 2021
UPI Retirees Chapter Webinar
As you may have heard, the UPI Retirees Chapter will host a webinar, Looking Forward to Retirement, on Friday, April 9, 2-3:30. We would truly appreciate your help in publicizing the event to your UPI membership.
Here is the program description!
Here is the registration link
Added April 4, 2021
SNAP Expansion FYI
The fact that we have a food bank on campus suggests that the following from AFT higher education may be needed information for our students.
“As you may know, in December Congress made many more students in higher education—undergraduate and graduate--eligible for SNAP. We need to make sure that everyone who is eligible knows about this expansion and about how to apply.
The US Department of Education encourages students to contact their local SNAP offices to find out how to apply, or for other questions about their SNAP eligibility. State SNAP agencies administer the program, process applications, and determine eligibility. Contact information for State SNAP agencies and local offices can be found in FNS’ SNAP State Directory.
Because of the stigmatization of public assistance and those of us who benefit from it, there is a lot of fear and shame about applying for SNAP; our union can help combat that by normalizing SNAP benefits. And the more eligible people who use SNAP, the more other campus and community resources can be made available to those who are not SNAP-eligible but need assistance.
Please pass this information on to all students you know. We want everyone fed.”
Added November 25, 2020
University Professionals of Illinois (UPI) Small Grant Corporation, NFP
We created a non-profit corporation associated with UPI to solicit donations primarily for what are called "fast-funds". These funds are meant to support students in unexpected financial turmoil at risk of dropping out of school because of that!
The not-for-profit corporation, named the University Professionals of Illinois (UPI) Small Grant Corporation, NFP was set up primarily to distribute fast funds to students. These funds are meant to help alleviate financial distress due to unexpected expenses placing them at risk for dropping out of school!
Video of Town Hall on Facebook Live
Added August 5, 2020
Added August 1, 2020
The Covid-19 Pandemic has ramifications for all UPI members. UPI members have been very active in following the rapidly evolving science of the Covid-19 pandemic. This has included having UPI members serve on the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) Reopening Committee. In order to better assist UPI members, a new section is being added to the UPI website for Covid-19 related Information and Resources. Included here is the (Recommended) Best Practices for Safely Reopening Institutes of Higher Education that was prepared by Dr. William Mills, Dr. Gabriel Guzman and Dr. Sheila Simons and released by UPI in a press briefing on July 23.
Faculty Home Work
Remote work is proving difficult for many professors, given the circumstances and despite some early predictions to the contrary. What institutions are doing and can start doing to ease the pressure.The good news for faculty members is that colleges and universities appear to be listening to these reality checks about working from home.