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Competitive Membership Grants

NEA provides special grants to higher ed locals and state associations to involve more members and build stronger unions.

NEA recently awarded more than $100,000 in higher education competitive membership grants to state associations and higher ed locals in 12 states, with awards ranging from $1,000 to $10,000. Award winners proposed projects to build membership and improve communications with members and potential members in all categories of higher ed membership. The application form to apply for 2007-08 higher ed competitive membership grants will be available in May, with awards announced by September. Application materials will be posted at www.nea.org/he.

NEA President Reg Weaver has sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Robert Gates requesting that the Department of Defense publicize the availability of educational benefits under the REAP program for National Guard and members of Reserve units who return from war. Weaver noted that there has been misinformation and resulting confusion that has caused soldiers returning from war to lose educational benefits to which they are entitled.

The U.S. Veterans Administration has updated its Web site to provide comprehensive information on the REAP program (www.gibill.va.gov/pamphlets
/CH1607/REAP_FAQ.htm) and Weaver asked that the Department of Defense provide similar information on its Web site and in other publications.

More than 400 NEA higher ed members convened in San Diego in early March for the 25th annual NEA higher education conference, “The Academy at Work.”

The conference featured workshops on legal, legislative, and policy issues and provided a faculty development program in addition to sessions exploring issues surrounding education support professionals, contingent faculty, and faculty of color.

In a dinner address celebrating NEA’s 150th anniversary, NEA President Reg Weaver told attendees, “Today, more than ever before, our public schools and our institutions of higher learning must be partners in opening the door of opportunity for the young people of this nation.”

The 2007 NEA Higher Education Almanac is now available in print and online. The yearly compendium of information and analysis of higher education employment contains detailed salary information for both public and private institutions, as well as data on health benefits for education support professionals, an update on family-friendly contract language for faculty and staff, and a look at retirement issues and trends as an aging professoriate reaches retirement age. A highlight of this year’s Almanac is an overview of 150 years of NEA and higher education. Download a PDF containing all the articles at www.nea.org/he or e-mail HigherEd@nea.org for a print copy.