TO: ALL FACULTY

FROM: ALEX BERSTEIN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AAUP-UMDNJ

RE: YOUR APPOINTMENT LETTERS – RESERVE YOUR RIGHTS

DATE: JUNE 19, 2007

I have been informed that many of you have received or will soon receive your appointment letters. I have reviewed several appointment letters and have identified various issues with the letters the University is distributing that would potentially allow them to terminate your employment during the term of your appointment or reduce or altogether eliminate your clinical component (patient service or faculty practice money).  Such provisions may be inconsistent with the AAUP contract and/or past practices that establish the terms and conditions of your employment. Once again, the University is attempting to unilaterally modify your terms and conditions of employment in a deceptive way.

To preserve your rights, I recommend that you (1) not sign your appointment letter until you have had your appointment letter reviewed by AAUP or your private attorney; (2) submit the attached NOTICE OF RESERVATION OF RIGHTS to your Chairman and Dean to preserve your right to challenge any actions taken by UMDNJ that are inconsistent with the AAUP contract and/or past practice; and (3) keep a copy of the notice for your records.  If you do not, the University may use the appointment letter against you in the future should you need to challenge a future University action that violates your rights. 

Amy Reeder, Sr. Staff Representative and I are available to review your appointment letters and to answer your questions.  Amy can be reached at 732-235-4196.  I can be reached at 973-972-5875.

Please inform your colleagues of this and that they can access the Reservation of Rights form letter from the AAUP UMDNJ website at www.aaupumdnj.org.