Matt Crick, Ph.D.

I’m running for VP of Grievances because I believe grievances should be resolved early, fairly, and whenever possible, informally through mediation. That approach requires strong communication, careful listening, trust, and the character to advocate for members with integrity.

I bring extensive experience in higher education and faculty leadership. I began my career at Bronx Community College in 2000, where I taught for 10 years and served in a range of department- and university-level roles. I joined William Paterson in 2012 as an Assistant Professor, was promoted to full Professor in 2021, and have spent the last several years serving in leadership positions, including Department Chair and member of the Faculty Senate Executive Committee. I have also played a key role in curriculum development, the university’s RTP document, and faculty and student advocacy.

As both a faculty leader and filmmaker, I have developed strong interpersonal communication skills, cultivated collaboration, and possess the negotiation skills needed to navigate high-stakes, high-pressure situations. In Assistant Chair and Chair roles, I have worked directly with difficult issues where diplomacy, judgment, and interpersonal skills were essential. I would bring that same experience to the grievance process.

As VP of Grievances, I would work to make the process more transparent by providing clearer communication and better tracking, so members know where their cases stand at every stage. I also believe our union must do more to educate members about the contract so they can recognize when their rights are being violated. Grievances should also be more collective. If one member is experiencing a problem, it often signals a broader issue that affects others, too. We should use grievances not only to solve individual cases, but also to identify patterns, protect more members, and strengthen our union as a whole.

I will bring a member-centered approach to this role, one grounded in experience, transparency, and a commitment to fighting for faculty rights.

Qualifications:

2016-2024: Faculty Senator

• Participated and served as Faculty Senator for the Department of Communication. Consistently attended Faculty Senate meetings, took notes, and relayed key Senate decisions, plans, and strategies to my colleagues.
• Acted as department liaison and shared departmental concerns and input on critical issues with the Faculty Senate and its leadership.

2022-2024: Faculty Senate Executive Committee Member, Senator at Large

• Elected by the Faculty Senate to serve as Senator at Large on the Senate Executive Committee.
• Attended and participated in regular meetings with the President and Provost to discuss and debate faculty concerns, administrative policies and procedures and the future of the University.
• Responsible for strengthening lines of communication and understanding between faculty and the Administration to promote the overall positive health and growth of the University.

2023:   University Faculty Promotions Committee

• Reviewed and evaluated faculty promotion materials for consideration for full professor and voted on candidates.

2023:   University Mentor Program Participant

• Coordinated and implemented outreach to Sophomore-level students to foster community and culture.

2020-2021: Chair, Department of Communication

• During the first year of COVID, served as Chair for the Department of Communication.  Managed all aspects of departmental operations, in addition to new COVID requirements affecting classroom size, traditional and online-only instruction, and a variety of significant faculty and student concerns and issues arising from COVID policies at the state and national levels.

2021-2022: Strategic Planning, Branding, and Identity Steering Committee

• Selected to this Steering Committee and provided written and verbal input on WP’s Branding and Identity efforts, ensuring faculty and student-centered concerns were considered.

2019-2020: Retention, Tenure and Promotion Revaluation Committee

• As a committee member representing the College of Arts and Communication, ensured that the University’s new RTP policy incorporated pre-tenured and tenured Arts and Communication faculty concerns.
• Co-wrote relevant portions of the document and presented the final version in a public forum to the Faculty Senate for review, including the application of the Boyer pedagogical model.

2016-2018: Assistant Chair of the Department of Communication

• Mediator and Adviser to the Chair of the Department of Communication in all matters pertaining to department policy, implementation, and coordination of faculty and student activities and concerns.

2018-2020:  Department Program Review Coordinator

• Working with faculty input, coordinated the writing and completion of the department’s Program Review, as per WP policies and standards.
• Coordinated the first department program review in 12 years, engaging with a variety of administrators and faculty around campus. Successfully engaged an outside reviewer to evaluate the Department of Communication courses, programs, and initiatives.