Temple University and the Temple Association of University Professionals (TAUP), the union representing full- and part-time faculty members, librarians and academic professionals at 13 of Temple s 17 schools and colleges, have come to an agreement on a new five-year contract.

The contract, which includes significant wage increases, heightened job security for non-tenure-track (NTT) faculty members and adjuncts, as well as expanded benefits, goes into effect immediately, and it will expire May 31, 2028. It was approved by Temple s Board of Trustees during the board s October meeting. It was then ratified by TAUP s members on Oct. 15.

According to TAUP, out of the bargaining unit s 979 eligible voters, more than 730 took part in the voting process, with 98% voting yes to ratify the agreement.

We always think of contract negotiations as being a contentious thing, but my career here at Temple has shown me that that is not normally the case. I have always been impressed with how two sides can work in collaboration to find common ground, and that is exactly what happened here, said President Richard M. Englert. I am so proud of and grateful to the negotiating teams from both Temple and TAUP, as they worked diligently to reach a mutually beneficial agreement that rewards our hardworking faculty members but also helps keep a Temple education affordable.

Temple and TAUP have been bargaining since August 2023, and TAUP s previous agreement expired Oct. 15, 2023. The negotiating teams worked for 14 months to reach this agreement, which is viewed as a significant accomplishment for both faculty and the university.

We are excited to come to agreement on what we believe to be a really strong deal for all sides, said Sharon Boyle, vice president of human resources. For TAUP, this is a historic contract, as it includes some of the largest raises that the faculty union has ever received, and it also exceeds recent other contracts seen at peer institutions. I sincerely appreciate everyone s efforts over the last year as we have worked to bring the negotiation process to completion.

Some of the highlights from the new agreement include the following.

• All full-time faculty members, librarians and academic professionals will receive a $10,000 across-the-board raise.
• In subsequent years, through May 2028, full-time TAUP members will receive 3% across-the-board raises with an up to 1% merit pool in each of those years.
• The adjunct per-credit minimum will increase to $2,250 (up from $1,600); for a traditional three-credit course, the minimum payment is now $6,750.
• Both NTT faculty members and adjunct faculty members will have increased job security.
• Adjuncts in the bargaining unit as of fall 2023 and/or spring 2024 will receive a one-time payment of $500 per credit.

The new agreement goes into effect immediately.

For everyone who has been involved, it is nice to bring these negotiations to a conclusion and come to an agreement. It brings a level of certainty for our students, faculty and staff, said Ken Kaiser, senior vice president and chief operating officer. It is also the latest example of Temple reaching a positive outcome with one of its bargaining units. We look forward to continuing to work and collaborate with TAUP and all our 11 unions well into the future.