ACADEMIC GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT: THE IMPACT OF FACULTY COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AT CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK

Researchers agree that where faculty collective bargaining has emerged, modifications have occurred in the governance and management of institutions of higher education. However, the circumstances under which faculty unions emerged and the extent to which those processes were affected varied among institutions. This study examined the emergence of City University and its academic governance and management processes in order to determine the extent to which the union has influenced them. Individuals involved in unions, management and governance were interviewed. Among the primary source materials examined were contracts for the period 1969-82. The major findings reveal that the union, the Professional Staff Congress, has not replaced existent governance and management structures. However, as a result of regularizing procedures under a contract, particularly those related to the personnel and peer review process, the union gained influence in how those structures carried out bylaw-mandated responsibilities. The creation of grievance machinery was considered a major outcome. To the extent that grievances were successfully pursued, constraints were placed upon management. This reduced its flexibility and represented a negative influence of unionization. However, the extension of due process protections for unit members represented a positive influence. Contract analysis revealed that the union was singularly successful in gaining management concessions in personnel management areas but not in governance. Since the union has little left to seek in those areas, it was predicted that the union would seek to protect its gains by negotiating protections against budget cuts and retrenchment. There was no evidence that the union had gained influence over the faculty senate. The dual track concept wherein unions concentrate on economic matters and senates are concerned with academic matters prevails. While the union\u27s formal relationship to the University was embodied in the contract, and no bylaw responsibilities were transferred to the union, this study found that the union has assumed a vital, substantial role in the management of City University as a result of its activities in the political arena. The shift in funding to the State is the major factor that accounts for this. The concepts of primary authority and shared responsibility were thereby extended at City University