NIU UFA Committee & Task Force Descriptions

Committee on Political Education (COPE)

The Committee on Political Education (COPE) brings together the Professorial and Instructor Faculty unions at NIU to advocate for higher education at both local and state levels. During the 2025-2026 academic year, COPE is especially focusing on passage of Adequate and Equitable funding legislation before the Illinois House and Senate. The committee plans and holds rallies in support of the legislation, lobbies local elected officials as well as other targeted alderpersons and senators in Springfield, educates our members and the public on the legislation, and coordinates with committees at other university chapters working to pass the bill. The legislation is designed to bring more funding to universities that have historically been denied the full funding needed to support students and faculty instruction.

Communications Committee

The Communications Committee delivers news about United Faculty Alliance activities and initiatives to all members of the bargaining unit, while also coordinating with UFA members to mobilize for actions and to facilitate member input. Further, the Committee coordinates UFA press releases and other formal communications with the media. We serve our union through delivery of UFA email, maintenance of the website, distribution of email sent to the general UFA address, and curation of social media.

Organizing Committee

The Organizing Committee, made up of Department Representatives and Member-Organizers, works to recruit new members and to help current members become more active and engaged with NIU-UFA activities. Department Representatives recruit new members in their departments, have regular conversations with their departmental colleagues, and serve as points of contact between their colleagues and the NIU-UFA. Member-Organizers recruit new NIU-UFA members outside of their departments through organizing conversations. Member-Organizers also assist Department Representatives in departmental organizing when necessary. Together, we help grow and strengthen union membership by having regular conversations with our members and showing up to major NIU-UFA actions.

Shared Governance Committee

The Shared Governance Committee works to facilitate genuine Shared Governance at NIU. The Committee analyzes the committee structure and procedures of the university, works with other UFA members to improve this structure and these procedures, and initiates action that defends faculty rights and advances faculty interests through Shared Governance. We embrace the principle of balance between administration and faculty roles in personnel and policy decision-making at NIU, while seeking to ensure faculty’s role is co-equal, not subordinate.