The University of Maryland’s AAUP chapter rebranded itself in October to become United Academics of Maryland – University of Maryland.

The organization, formerly known as the American Association of University Professors, is a coalition of faculty members at this university. The change was made to reflect the chapter’s alignment with the American Federation of Teachers and United Academics of Maryland.

The organization – now known as UAM-UMD – aims to collaborate with campuses across Maryland in creating “united and powerful faculty” for public four-year colleges and universities, according to its mission statement.

The transition to UAM-UMD followed in the footsteps of faculty at Maryland community colleges who are already engaging in collective bargaining under the banner of United Academics of Maryland Community Colleges.

The rebranded organization released a mission statement Oct. 2 that calls for collective bargaining to secure “competitive and equitable salaries,” job security and the end to “exploitation and unequal treatment of contingent faculty.”

Since its release in early October, the mission statement has received almost 400 signatures. UAM-UMD’s goal is to have every faculty member sign the mission statement to show their support of its values, according to former AAUP and current UAM-UMD president Karin Rosemblatt.

Rosemblatt told The Diamondback the transition will allow for a continuation of the work AAUP has been doing since its founding in 2020.

“It’s a way of showing the Maryland General Assembly that there is support for unionization and for joining with the national union and for collective bargaining among all the campuses,” Rosemblatt said.

[College Park, UMD SGA leaders urge state to add safety measures to Route 1 bike lanes]

Jade Olson, a professor in this university’s communication department and a UAM-UMD member, recently signed the mission statement, citing support for job security, competitive salaries and equal pay for equal work.

One of the organization’s major stances is that teachers’ working conditions are students’ learning conditions, Olson said.

“[Students] deserve to be educated by people who are in a stable situation, who have job security, who are paid an appropriate amount for the work that we do in the education that we have to get to do that work,” Olson said.

The rebrand has helped UAM-UMD become more “organized” and “powerful,” Olson said.

The shift has also helped the organization raise awareness on campus and increase membership within new departments, according to Marcus Johnson, a professor in the government and politics department and UAM-UMD’s treasurer.

Johnson said the most important aspect of the mission statement is the “wall-to-wall coalition,” which allows all faculty members to receive union support regardless of rank at this university.

By working with the American teachers federation and UAM, UAM-UMD can effectively focus on efforts to campaign for collective bargaining this upcoming legislative session, Johnson said.

But labor organizations at this university have been pushing for collective bargaining rights for decades now, according to Johnson.

University president Darryll Pines told The Diamondback that he was unaware of UAM-UMD’s transition from AAUP. Although he had not read the new mission statement, he said this university’s Fearlessly Forward Strategic Plan works to invest in people and communities across campus.

[UMD students, community members discuss connection between art and democracy]

“I’m always surprised when I see these kinds of groups pop up, because, are they following what the administration has been committed to?” Pines told The Diamondback on Nov. 7. “Are they able to read our strategic plan? Do they see our commitment to our unionized employees?”

Pines said this university is doing “everything possible” to improve working conditions for community members.

Johnson said he hopes this university’s administration will support efforts to unionize and collectively bargain, especially under the “the potential threats to higher [education under a Trump administration.”

Olson agreed and said Trump’s “anti-labor,” stance made her unnerved about the election results.

“One of the only things that’s making me feel better since [Election Day] is knowing that I can work with my union no matter who the president is, because when workers fight together, we win,” Olson said.

Looking ahead, UAM-UMD leaders, such as the group’s vice president Daniel Greene, said they hope to see the new organization flourish.

“We just want to build the best university as possible,” information professor Greene said. “We just want to do our jobs.”