To: Wellesley College Community
From: Courtney Coile, Provost and Lia Gelin Poorvu ’56 Dean of the College, and Carolyn Slaboden, Chief Human Resources Officer
Re: What to expect as the College and WOAW-UAW begin mediation
Date: May 28, 2025
Now that the academic year has ended, we want to update you about the work ahead this summer as we begin mediation with the WOAW-UAW, the union that represents our non-tenure track (NTT) faculty. We hope to reach a fair and comprehensive agreement over the coming weeks that both sides can find acceptable. See a summary of the College’s most recent proposal.
We are pleased that the union has decided to enter into mediation with the College in an effort to finalize a contract. Both parties have agreed to an initial meeting on June 12 (and may be scheduling future meetings) and to ground rules for mediation. Because these rules include a commitment to maintaining the confidentiality of all information presented and statements made during mediated sessions, the College will not be able to update the community on what occurs in mediation. We will, however, continue to operate according to the principles that have guided us throughout the negotiations. These include:
- Prioritizing the education of our students, and the strength and continuity of our academic program.
- Recognizing the vital and distinct role NTT faculty play in supporting our students and our academic mission.
- Respecting the collective bargaining process and our commitment to negotiating in good faith.
- Securing a fair and competitive contract that recognizes the contributions of our NTT faculty as well as the needs and priorities of the broader community and the College.
Thank you for your continued dedication to the College and our academic mission. We wish all of you a restorative summer, and we look forward to being able to share news with you at a later date.