Attorneys for the union have 14 days to file a brief to convince PERC that a basis exists in state statute for continuing the case before them. If it is determined that there is no basis in statute for collective bargaining by teaching assistants, the case before PERC will be dismissed. In my April 6 letter to the campus community about this matter, I expressed the University's strong ongoing commitment to improving the conditions and remuneration of graduate assistants. I want to reiterate that support here and explain why the University believes it is in the best interests of our educational programs not to establish a relationship with our graduate students governed by a collective bargaining agreement.
Graduate students are among the most important members of a research university community.
They represent the future potential for advancing knowledge in our society, whether they move from their graduate studies into the nation's professoriate or whether they contribute through their work in private sector research, the professions, or elsewhere. Much of the University's future is vested in the training of graduate students. They inspire the faculty and contribute significantly to advances in knowledge for which the University can be proud. The University has a significant vested interest in being attractive as a place to study and learn for high-quality graduate students. The national and international competition for recruiting the best graduate students is intense.