On May 6, 2026, CalArts met with the Special and Regular and Technical Faculty units and exchanged proposals and responses across several articles. The parties discussed CU-UAW’s Academic and Artistic Freedom proposal, including the principles of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) statement, and CalArts referencing the AAUP framework as a widely recognized standard developed by faculty and commonly used in higher education. The units also presented proposals on Professional Development Grants, a response to CalArts’ Grievance and Arbitration proposal, and No Strike/No Lockout, with discussion focused on structure, timelines, arbitrator selection, and the role of peer review in the grievance process. The parties agreed to continue discussions on these items.
The parties also continued discussion on the Faculty Work Unit (FWU) model, with the units sharing faculty feedback regarding workload calculations, teaching expectations, and program-specific differences. CalArts reiterated that its proposal remains in draft form and is intended to gather input before further development. CalArts also presented proposals on Special Faculty Appointment Notifications and Course Cancellations, Workplace and Materials, and Discipline, which prompted discussion on contract timelines, cancellation provisions, access to resources, and progressive discipline. Both parties identified areas requiring further clarification and discussion and agreed to continue discussions in future sessions.
