TAUP Contract Negotiations

Since Aug. 18, 2023, Temple University has been in negotiations with the Temple Association of University Professionals (TAUP), the union representing some of the university’s full- and part-time faculty members, librarians and academic professionals at 13 of Temple’s 17 schools and colleges.

While TAUP’s current contract expired on Oct. 15, 2023, Temple has continued to operate collaboratively and in good faith, providing availability for as many meeting dates as possible in order to work toward an agreement. At the suggestion of the university, Temple and TAUP have moved on from any talks of a temporary extension and are focused on reaching a full, four-year agreement.

To date, Temple officials and TAUP have reached tentative agreements on several proposals and language for what will be in the new contract, including

  • revisions to the grievance and arbitration processes,

  • the formalization of scheduled time off for librarians,

  • the use of gender-neutral language in the new CBA, and 

  • the deletion of dated material in the contract that is no longer relevant.

TAUP has not made any wage proposals yet.

This page provides frequent updates about the negotiations as they progress as well as all communications from the university. Additionally, this page links to information on the university’s budget and finances and the current challenges facing Temple.

See Responses to Frequently Asked Questions

Meeting the challenges facing the university today will continue to be a collaborative effort. The current TAUP negotiations allow us the opportunity to demonstrate how we can work together to achieve a fair contract that benefits everyone. 

Negotiation Principles

For over 30 years, Temple has negotiated in good faith with all bargaining units, with a focus on collaboration and attention to key deadlines and respective timelines. Temple is eager to do the same with TAUP in order to land on a fair contract that benefits our faculty and the Temple community. That said:  

  • We will work to reach a contract with union leadership that is fair and equitable to both parties, recognizing the critical work of our employees while also being responsible stewards of limited resources.    

  • We will continue to prioritize the valuable contributions of Temple’s faculty, academic professionals and librarians to the education of our students by remaining engaged and working collaboratively.  

  • We will remain in touch with our community throughout the negotiation process. 

Contents

Updates and NewsUniversity Enrollment and Operating Budget

University Communications

News Stories

University Context for Negotiations 

Higher education in the U.S. is experiencing demographic shifts that have resulted in a shrinking cohort of college-aged students. On a national level, from 2019 to 2022, undergraduate college enrollment dropped 8%. Enrollment at Temple has steadily declined since 2017, dropping over 9,700 students (24%) through fall 2023. Temple’s operating budget is driven almost entirely by enrollment. Since fiscal year 2021, Temple has reduced its budget by over $170 million, largely by reducing administrative budgets, eliminating vacant positions and implementing non-bargaining salary reductions.

Faculty members are crucial to the success of the university. Unfortunately, much like universities across the country, Temple has had to make adjustments as the result of declining enrollment, and at times, that has included the amount of faculty we have.

Temple employs academic staff with differing responsibilities and employment terms. This allows Temple to be responsive to fluctuating enrollment numbers as well as student demands, while still ensuring our students receive the attention and support expected of a leading institution.

Adjuncts are part-time employees. Adjunct faculty fulfill a variety of critical roles at the university including teaching classes within their areas of expertise, classes offered in specific semesters and filling in for full-time faculty members on leaves and sabbaticals. Most adjunct faculty members are appointed for a semester or more based on need. Adjunct faculty may bring extensive career experiences into their classroom or clinical work.

Tenured and tenure-track faculty are full-time faculty members who are charged with the university’s tripartite mission of excellence in teaching, research and service.  Through rigorous work and review, tenured faculty have an indefinite appointment that can only be terminated for cause or under extraordinary circumstances such as financial exigency and program discontinuation. Tenured faculty are expected to be nationally and internationally recognized experts in their field of study.

Non-tenure-track faculty members are full-time faculty appointed for a year or more and are primarily responsible for teaching, research or clinical work. Non-tenure-track faculty members are important to the teaching and clinical training of our students.

Understanding Temple’s Budget

We believe that having a shared, meaningful understanding of Temple’s operating budget is imperative to understanding the challenges we face as a university and why we must negotiate responsibly as the stewards of the university’s limited resources. The Budget Information Center on Temple’s Gateway to Finance website provides a clear, accessible review of our operating budget, what drives it and what it finances. Additionally, it shares information about how enrollment impacts the university’s budget as well as Temple’s plan for balancing the budget. 

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