FOR AUBURN ACADEME

"PAYING YOUR DUES"

by: Marty Olliff, Sect.-Treasurer

The AAUP offers a dizzying array of membership categories, dues rates, and payment options. Having hacked my way through part of this jungle, I'd like to share some of my observations with you, and make some recommendations.

You can join ONLY the Auburn chapter (and Alabama conference), ONLY the National AAUP, or both. If you join the chapter/state conference only, your annual dues will be $15 and your membership year will be September through August. You will not be eligible for benefits (Academe subscription, insurance, etc.) available to National members. If you join only the national organization, we at Auburn will not know who you are. I hope you will join BOTH the National association and Local chapter.

The National AAUP recognized a number of different membership categories and charges accordingly. The overwhelming majority of Auburn AAUP members qualify either as Entrant or Full members. Entrants are untenured faculty members working full-time for the first four years of their careers. They pay approximately 50 percent of the national dues for Full membership with the option to pay full state and local dues through the national. At Auburn, Entrants pay $77 per year ($62 National + $15 State & Local Dues). Full members have tenure, and at Auburn pay $135 ($120 + $15). [NOTE: National dues are scheduled to increase to $64 for Entrants and $125 for Full members as of January 1, 2001.]

The National AAUP offers a special half-dues rate for first-time members only. This means that in 2001 first-time Entrant members pay a total of $47 and first-time Full members pay $77.50.

Auburn University and AAUP use two dues payment plans. The most popular is DIRECT PAYMENT by which members send a check to the AAUP National Office in Washington DC. Members choose whether to include their Local dues with their National. For those of you who use this plan, please remember to include your local dues or send them directly to the chapter.

Auburn participates in the AAUP's Payroll Deduction dues payment plan. The Payroll Office withholds dues in five equal monthly payments from January through May of each year. Payroll deduction dues are "integrated," that is, the total checkoff covers National, State, and Local dues. This year, the Auburn Payroll Office agreed to extend deduction service to Entrants members. Each deduction month, Auburn sends a check to the AAUP National office for the amount withheld from all members. This is an important factoid to remember if your account is ever in error. Any refunds must come from AAUP National, not AU nor the local chapter. Check your January through May pay stubs for more information.

In conclusion, let me recapitulate in bulleted form.

• Caveat Emptor. Keep your own accounts.
• You can join the Auburn chapter without joining the National AAUP.
• Entrant dues apply to untenured faculty for four years. They are 1/2 National + full State and Local dues.
• If you are a new member, take advantage of the half-dues option.
• Payroll Deduction is available to both Entrant and Full members. But NOT if you take advantage of the half-dues new member option.
• You may sign up for Payroll Deduction ONLY January through May. The later you sign up, the more is withheld from the first paycheck afterwards.
• Members who use Direct Pay--don't forget to pay your State and Local dues.
• In 2001--National Dues are: Entrant--$64, Full Member--$125.
• Because of the difference in membership year--wait until January to join both local chapter and National.