The CA-AAUP's Chapter Service Program is intended to expand the lines of communication between the Conference and its chapters, and between chapters and their members. These services are available to chapters that provide us with a copy of their current constitution and bylaws, and an up-to-date list of officers. Please send these materials to westcoast@aaup.org.

Chapter Web Hosting
There are three web options for California chapters:

1. Each chapter may have an active site hosted by the Conference, but maintained by a chapter-designated webmaster who will be given password-protected access to the chapter's pages and will assume responsibility for maintaining content (subject to certain conditions established by the Conference to keep us all free from legal entanglements!)

2. Chapters can elect to have a more static site built, hosted, and maintained by the Conference. Such sites require no more than quarterly updating and contain such things as officer contact information, chapter bylaws, collective bargaining agreements, downloadable membership form, chapter histories, newsletter archives, etc.

3. Chapters may maintain an independent website, at their own expense, that may be linked to the Conference's website.

Chapters that have already developed, or would like to create, a distinct "look" online are welcome to post their own designs, or may opt to customize the templates developed by the Conference for chapter use. Chapters are not charged for CA-AAUP web services. Limited advice and assistance (for design, graphics, content, etc.) is available from the AAUP's West Coast Office. Please direct inquiries to the CA-AAUP's webmaster.

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Handbook Review & Contract Analysis
Chapter leaders may request to have their institution's faculty handbook reviewed for conformity with AAUP principles and recommended practices, or they may request analysis of a particular section of the handbook to assist with handbook revisions. A full handbook review can take several weeks to complete and should be requested well in advance.

Bargaining chapters may request to have their entire contract reviewed preparatory to negotiations or they may request analysis of a particular article (or articles) to assist with the filing of a grievance. A full contract review can take several weeks to complete and should be requested well in advance. A full contract analysis will include an assessment of weaknesses in the contract, suggestions for new language, and--where relevant--will compare existing language with contract language from other higher education contracts. Requests for these services should be directed to AAUP's West Coast office.

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Listserv
Knowing what has worked at your peer institutions can greatly facilitate local advocacy efforts. Toward that end, CA-AAUP has developed a listserv intended to stimulate communication amongst our leaders and activists throughout the state. Although the list itself is unmoderated, emails on substantive issues will be archived, by topic, on a password protected website. In this way, our leaders will have the benefit of both immediate exchange and a deeper history of faculty activities in the state.

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Publications
The Conference can facilitate AAUP communications in a variety of ways. First, AAUP promotional literature and specific publications may be ordered through the Conference and sent to chapters at no additional charge. Second, Conference leaders will consult with chapter leaders on newsletter designs and communication campaigns. Limited quantities of other AAUP materials, including lapel pins and office door posters, will be distributed to each chapter as they become available.

To ensure that the national AAUP's policy work is available to our chapter leaders, the CA-AAUP will provide each chapter in California with a copy of the AAUP's PolicyDocuments and Reports (Redbook) once each year. Additionally, the CA-AAUP will distribute a selected resource guidebook to chapters on an annual basis.

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Strategic Consultation & Conference Speakers
The Conference can provide chapter leaders with strategic consultation on such topics as governance, retrenchment, lobbying, membership building, communications campaigns, institutional mergers, and organizational development. With sufficient notice, the Conference will help chapter leaders locate suitable AAUP speakers for campus-specific events.

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Training & Travel Assistance
The CA-AAUP, in conjunction with the national AAUP's West Coast Office, can provide onsite training to chapter leaders on the nuts and bolts of recruitment, chapter management, negotiations, and grievance administration.

The AAUP's premier training event is the Summer Institute, held annually at an exotic locale. Like Portland, Oregon. The CA-AAUP offers need-based scholarships to help defray the cost of sending chapter activists to this magisterial three-day romp. Information on these scholarships is available from AAUP's West Coast Office.

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In the works... a legal defense fund(!!)
The CA-AAUP invites your feedback (within reason) on the possibilities for a legal defense fund that could provide our members with added security when they need it most.

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