The Youngstown State University Chapter of the Ohio Education Association was founded in 1971. It became the sole organization for faculty advocacy in 1972, when the OEA emerged victorious in a referendum against the YSU Chapter of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP).

Since its foundation, the YSU-OEA has dealt with many issues of faculty concerns, including:

• Collective Bargaining
• Fringe Benefits
• Retrenchment
• Retirement and Pensions
• Workload
• Academic Freedom

As the twenty-first century begins, YSU-OEA remains a strong force on campus and a clear voice for organized labor in the Mahoning Valley.

YSU-OEA is an affiliate of the Ohio Education Association (OEA) and the National Education Association (NEA).