United University Professions

Stony Brook University

President’s Message

Greetings Colleagues,

As we gather during the 2025 holidays, we do so in the spirit of the season, a time that reminds us of patience, generosity, and the power of community. The holidays call us to reflect not only on what we receive, but on what we give: our time, our compassion, and our commitment to one another. In our UUP Chapter, that spirit of giving is alive in the way we stand together, support each other, and work toward a better future for all.

Patience is not passive—it is the steady strength that allows us to endure challenges and keep us moving forward. And generosity is not only about gifts; it is about extending dignity, fairness, and opportunity to every member of our academic community. These values are at the heart of our union, and they guide us as we face the pressing issues before us.

Today, and every day, we reaffirm our call to action to;
• Defend academic freedom, ensuring that ideas can flourish without fear or suppression.
• Fight for fair wages and salary adjustments, so that the work we do is recognized and respected.
• Secure healthcare protection, because no one should have to choose between their well-being and their livelihood.
These are not luxuries, they are rights. And they are worth every ounce of our patience, our persistence, and our collective strength.

So, as we carry the holiday spirit with us—let us not only carry the reminder of kindness and giving in us all, but to be a source of courage as well. Together, we can build a future where fairness, freedom, and care are not seasonal ideals, but everyday realities.

Thank you for being a UUP member, thank you for standing together, and thank you for believing in the power of our union.

Wishing you all a very healthy and happy holiday and a prosperous 2026 New Year.

In Solidarity,

Louise Melious

Campus Parking Cost Comparisons

UUP member volunteers compiled a comprehensive list of parking fees incurred at each SUNY campus, as well as the private colleges and universities on Long Island.

Based on these findings, nearly 85% of SUNY campuses charge less than $50 per year, with more than 50% of those schools providing free parking. Stony Brook management’s current parking proposal, which was initially presented in February, seeks to charge upwards of $600 per year to park on campus.

Click here to see what other SUNY campuses and Long Island schools charge for parking. Thank you to our volunteers!

Our Voice, Our Power

Welcome to UUP!

United University Professions (UUP) is the nation’s largest higher education union, with more than 42,000 academic and professional faculty and retirees. UUP members work at 29 State University of New York campuses, plus System Administration, Empire State College, and SUNY’s public teaching hospitals and health science centers in Brooklyn, Long Island and Syracuse. UUP is affiliated with New York State United Teachers and the American Federation of Teachers, the National Education Association and the AFL-CIO.

Representation

UUP represents SUNY faculty and other professionals at the bargaining table and works to protect their interests by:

Achieving improvements in salary, fringe benefits, working conditions and retirement programs.
Providing funding for professional growth and development through leaves, awards, conferences and other grant programs.
Obtaining state resources for the State University through effective legislative and political action.
Seeking to enhance and preserve the quality of the University.