UArts Reaches Tentative Agreement with Faculty Union

University of the Arts is proud to announce it has reached a tentative agreement with its faculty union, represented by the United Academics of Philadelphia, AFT Local 9608. If ratified, it will become the first contract between the university and its faculty in the institution’s nearly 150-year history.

Since arriving at UArts six months ago, President Kerry Walk has made it a top priority of her administration to reach an agreement with the faculty union.

 “I commend both negotiating teams for their dedicated work, day in and day out, that brought us to a tentative agreement,” said Walk. “It is heartening to see the two sides come together to uphold UArts’ academic excellence across the visual, performing, and creative arts.”

Each team will take the tentatively agreed-upon three-year contract back to the UArts Board of Trustees and the faculty union members, respectively, for a ratification vote.

Highlights of the tentative agreement include:

• Increasing overall faculty compensation while implementing a “step system” structure for faculty compensation

• Offering a healthcare stipend to part-time faculty with seniority

• Adding three faculty representatives to the Board of Trustees and one to the President’s Council

• Improving the university’s promotion process for assistant professors and the reappointment process for full-time faculty

Judson Aaron, chair of UArts Board of Trustees and an alumnus of the university, remarked, “Every detail in this contract was negotiated diligently and meticulously and is a reflection of our institution’s commitment to meeting the needs of our faculty and community at large.”