It’s time to tell UMD administrators: we deserve to know what you’re doing to protect our jobs!
The federal government’s relentless attack on science and higher education has been underway for months. Research faculty, particularly Professional-Track (PTK) researchers whose jobs rely on federal partnerships, need protection and they need it now.
Researchers across campus have asked University of Maryland leaders for transparent information about the impacts and severity of these cuts, and for a concrete action plan to protect jobs and vital areas of research. Administrators refused, so we are taking matters into our own hands.
Earlier this month, we held a Town Hall on PTK Research attended by 70 faculty members. Impacted researchers shared their stories of terminated contracts and fears of rescission. One of our speakers – whose contract lapsed because of these politically motivated funding cuts – couldn’t even join the meeting because UMD ended their email access abruptly!
Out of the stories shared at the Town Hall, a consensus emerged: we must demand the information and material support needed to protect PTK researchers whose work is threatened because the people in power don’t like it.
Sign our petition and share it with your colleagues, students, and friends in the community. Tell President Pines and Provost Rice the University must do more to protect our vital research workforce. Let’s show how deeply and widely felt this concern is.
Our asks are reasonable. Data on the impact of funding cuts, continued access to email and library accounts, maintaining benefits like tuition remission. PTK researchers need these resources, and the University can afford it.
We challenge you to sign the petition and forward it to five colleagues. All supporters of UMD research – faculty of all categories, grad workers, alums, parents, and community supporters – are invited to sign.
| Show the administration that they must protect our vital research infrastructure. PTK faculty deserve transparency and support from those in a position to provide it. |