TAUP and Temple University Reach Agreement on New Contract

As of Oct. 17, 2024, Temple University and the Temple Association of University Professionals (TAUP) have reached an agreement on a new five-year contract. TAUP is the union representing some of the university’s full- and part-time faculty members, librarians and academic professionals at 13 of Temple’s 17 schools and colleges.

The new contract was approved by Temple’s Board of Trustees during the Oct. 8 board meeting and ratified by TAUP’s members on Oct. 15. The five-year agreement goes into effect immediately, and it will expire May 31, 2028. It directly reflects what can happen when two parties work together to negotiate in good faith and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. 

Read details in the related Temple Now piece and see information about the negotiations process.

Negotiation Principles

For over 30 years, Temple has negotiated in good faith with all bargaining units, with a focus on collaboration and attention to key deadlines and respective timelines. Temple is eager to do the same with TAUP in order to land on a fair contract that benefits our faculty and the Temple community. That said:  

• We will work to reach a contract with union leadership that is fair and equitable to both parties, recognizing the critical work of our employees while also being responsible stewards of limited resources.    

• We will continue to prioritize the valuable contributions of Temple’s faculty, academic professionals and librarians to the education of our students by remaining engaged and working collaboratively.  

• We will remain in touch with our community throughout the negotiation process. 

University Context for Negotiations 

Higher education in the U.S. is experiencing demographic shifts that have resulted in a shrinking cohort of college-aged students. On a national level, from 2019 to 2022, undergraduate college enrollment dropped 8%. Enrollment at Temple has steadily declined since 2017, dropping over 9,700 students (24%) through fall 2023. Temple’s operating budget is driven almost entirely by enrollment. Since fiscal year 2021, Temple has reduced its budget by over $170 million, largely by reducing administrative budgets, eliminating vacant positions and implementing non-bargaining salary reductions.

Faculty members are crucial to the success of the university. Unfortunately, much like universities across the country, Temple has had to make adjustments as the result of declining enrollment, and at times, that has included the amount of faculty we have.

Temple employs academic staff with differing responsibilities and employment terms. This allows Temple to be responsive to fluctuating enrollment numbers as well as student demands, while still ensuring our students receive the attention and support expected of a leading institution.

Understanding Temple’s Budget

We believe that having a shared, meaningful understanding of Temple’s operating budget is imperative to understanding the challenges we face as a university and why we must negotiate responsibly as the stewards of the university’s limited resources. The Budget Information Center on Temple’s Gateway to Finance website provides a clear, accessible review of our operating budget, what drives it and what it finances. Additionally, it shares information about how enrollment impacts the university’s budget as well as Temple’s plan for balancing the budget.