Fall Forum Set for November 17

Francis Marion faculty members are encouraged to attend the 2022 AAUP Fall Forum being held on Thursday, November 17th, 4:00 pm, at the Lowrimore Auditorium. Fall and Spring Forums are open to all members of the FMU faculty, regardless of rank or tenure status.

The Fall Forum this year will focus on special activities and updates in four areas:

  • International Programs – J. Mark Blackwell, Director of International Programs
  • AAUP news relative to FMU faculty (Book Bans, Cancel Tenure legislation, Censorship of Curriculum, and affiliation with the American Federation of Teachers) – Shawn Smolen-Morton, AAUP-FM and AAUP-SC President
  • CASA – Jennifer Kunka, Associate Provost for Advising
  • Provost Search Committee – Keith Best, Chair of the Provost Search Committee

Following the Fall Forum, faculty are invited to a reception honoring our AAUP chapter. Hosted by President and Mrs. Carter, the reception will be held at the Lee Nursing Building at 5:00 pm. 

USC Aiken Awarded for Promoting Equity Week

AAUP-SC awarded two faculty members from AAUP USC-Aiken with the Economic Status and Faculty Welfare Award. Presented at the state chapter meeting on October 8, the award recognizes the AAUP USC Aiken Chapter for their creation and implementation of Equity Week. This annual event raises campus awareness of and organizes action for faculty who do not enjoy tenure. Contingent faculty work more teaching hours, receive fewer benefits, and worry about job security. 

For five years, David Bruzina and Amanda Warren have implemented a variety of evaluative tools to understand how well individual institutions actually support contingent faculty.  Then, Bruzina and Warren devised publicity campaigns to educated campus communities about the results.  Their work explains the complexity and precariousness of contingent appointments, so that students, parents, tenured professors, and administrators can understand what it feels like to be contingent. 

Contingency erodes both shared governance and academic freedom, because these faculty are not necessarily entitled to either.  The challenge is change, and David Bruzina and Amanda Warren’s Equity Week point to the concrete actions the AAUP-SC should take.

Francis Marion to Host State Conference on October 8

Join us on October 8, 2022 for the 2022 AAUP-SC State Conference. All are welcome–members as well as non-members. Please RSVP to Shawn Smolen-Morton ([email protected]) by September 26 if you are planning to attend all or part of the conference.

The event kicks off at 9:00 am with continental breakfast and chat at the Cauthen Cafe, shifts next door to Lowrimore Auditorium at 10:00 am for an awards presentation, and then moves across the lawn to The Cottage at 10:45 for a general business meeting. Lunch will be served at 12:45. Following lunch, the conference will wrap up with a business meeting for members only.

schedule of events

New Faculty Introduction Seminar Scheduled for Sept. 9

The AAUP University Introduction Seminar will be held on Friday, September 9, from 4:00 to 6:00PM at The Cottage.

The seminar will begin with a welcome from President Carter, followed by a dinner buffet with water, soft drinks, beer, and wine.

New faculty members’ questions about the university will be the focus, but the event will also cover faculty support, campus services, grant opportunities, key organizations, the library, and International Programs.

If you plan to attend, please RSVP to our president, Shawn Smolen-Morten, at [email protected].

Spring Forum Set for March 31

The Francis Marion University Chapter of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP-FM) invites our faculty to attend the 2022 AAUP Spring Forum to be held Thursday, March 31, 4:00 PM, at Chapman Auditorium. 

Fall and Spring Forums are open to all members of the FMU faculty, regardless of rank or tenure status. This Spring Forum features President Carter and Provost King speaking on a variety of topics followed by a time for questions from the faculty.

Following the Forum, President and Mrs. Carter invite faculty members to a reception in honor of AAUP-FM at the Lee Nursing Building lobby and back lawn. Faculty members are asked to RSVP to Elizabeth Shefton.