The following terms are relevant to the bargaining process. Many of these terms appear in the session summaries or in other related documents.

BC/BS PPO

Blue Cross / Blue Shield Preferred Provider Organization, a.k.a. Community Blue PPO, a primary health care plan provided to EMU employees.

CIP: Classification of Instructional Programs

The CIP is a taxonomic coding scheme that contains titles and descriptions of instructional programs. It was developed to facilitate the National Center for Educational Statistics' collection and reporting of postsecondary degree completions by major field of study using standard classifications that capture the majority of reportable program activity. (description courtesy IRIM web site)

DED: Departmental Evaluation Document

A document that is used by departments to evaluate the performance of faculty. DEDs provide information used for the reappointment, promotion and tenure processes.

EMU-AAUP (or AAUP)

The EMU-AAUP is the local chapter of the national organization of the American Association of University Professors. The local chapter was formed in 1974 as the bargaining unit (the "labor union") of all tenured and tenure-track faculty at EMU. (description courtesy EMU-AAUP web site).

The EMU-AAUP is sometimes referred to as "the bargaining unit" in session summaries. It is also abbreviated to AAUP in session summaries.

Faculty Council

The EMU Faculty Council consists of faculty representatives from each academic department and learning resources at EMU. The Faculty Council meets to discuss topics of importance to the academic community of Eastern Michigan University. (description courtesy Faculty Council web site)

FMLA: Family Medical Leave Act

A federal law that allows an individual up to 12 weeks of leave due to medical necessity to care for self, child, spouse or parents.

MERC: Michigan Employment Relations Commission

The Michigan Employment Relations Commission resolves labor disputes involving public and private sector employees by appointing mediators, arbitrators and fact finders, conducting union representation elections, determining appropriate bargaining units, and adjudicating unfair labor practice cases. (description courtesy Michigan Dept. of Labor and Economic Growth)

MOU: Memorandum of Understanding

A legal document describing an agreement between parties. It more formal than a handshake, but less formal than a contract. It is frequently the predecessor to a formal agreement.

Release Time

Reduction of normal teaching load so that faculty members may attend to union matters, service opportunities, research projects and other approved purposes.

TIAA-CREF

Teachers' Insurance and Annuity Association - College Retirement Equities Fund serves people in the academic, medical, cultural and research fields by providing retirement savings plans, college savings plans, mutual funds, brokerage services, insurance services and trust services. (description courtesy TIAA-CREF)

ULP: Unfair Labor Practice

A violation of labor regulations, committed either by a union or by an employer.