Whereas, CFT represents approximately 40,000 workers in higher education, including 37 locals in the Community College Council and 14 locals in the Universities Council; and

Whereas, the organizing challenges and needs of those CFT members are sufficiently distinct from those facing members in TK-12 locals, specifically due to the nature of teaching and working on campuses that are often large and spread across geographical distance, with variable hours often outside of a regular workday schedule; and

Whereas, the lingering effects of the pandemic, including student alienation and the increased amount of online instruction, negatively affect both teaching and organizing at institutions of higher education, and there is a need to find new ways of reaching teachers and workers who are often not physically present on their campuses; and

Whereas, many leaders in higher education CFT locals have already made informal connections with each other and value sharing their experiences, but would also benefit from an opportunity for focused, formal discussions of organizing challenges and strategies; and

Whereas, CFT indicated its ongoing commitment to supporting organizing in its 2023 resolution entitled “Increasing CFT’s Funding Commitment for Organizing”;

Therefore, be it resolved, that CFT will fund and facilitate an in-person Organizing Summit for higher education locals, allowing leaders and activists to work together to articulate and analyze the conditions unique to organizing on college and university campuses, share past successes, create effective organizing strategies, and establish enduring connections across locals.

Therefore, be it finally resolved, that CFT in organizing a summit, will convene a follow-up virtual summit, hear reports, and discuss appropriate strategies.

Submitted by Universities Council