Part-Time Faculty Start Up Guide

ACADEMIC SUCCESS AND PROFESSIONAL SECURITY FOR PART TIME FACULTY AT PASADENA CITY COLLEGE

Part time faculty often do not get the support from the college that they need to be effective in their job. The Academic Senate has asked the Faculty Association to brief the part time faculty on some of the issues that may impact their work at Pasadena City College. This handout highlights issues that part time faculty should give consideration to in order to be able to best perform their jobs. These topics are sketched briefly here. Adjuncts are also urged to call the Faculty Association office at 626-585-7261. Preston Rose, Vice President or Alexis Moore, Negotiating Team, who are both adjuncts who have been working with part time issues for many years, will be glad to answer your questions.

MEMBERSHIP

The Faculty Association, which represents both the full and part time faculty, provides the part time faculty with the strongest voice on campus. As a one-person-one-vote organization, part time faculty have an equal say in voting for FA Board members and for ratifying contracts. There are approximately 280 full time members and 180 part time members (out of faculty of approximately 850 adjuncts and 420 full time faculty). All adjuncts should become members for two reasons: first, a strong part time membership will insure that part time faculty have a decisive say in any future contracts and in the election of FA board members. Second, all faculty are already paying dues to support the FA, so becoming a member is no cost to you.

THE 2013-2014 CALENDAR

In July the Board of Trustees approved a 2013-2014 Academic Calendar that once again eliminates the Winter Intersession and begins the Spring Semester on January 13, 2014. The Academic Senate and the Faculty Association, as well as the Associated Students, oppose this Calendar change. It takes away the Winter Intersession, when many students take classes in preparation for transfer to a four year college in the Fall. The new calendar was imposed by a vote of the Board of Trustees at the insistence of the Administration without the mandated vetting by Academic Senate and the approval of the Faculty Association. Many part time faculty find the new calendar creates as Spring schedule that conflicts with all other near-by community colleges, all of which still have a Winter Intersession in January and early February.

OFFICE HOURS

Adjunct faculty have six student contact hours (often called office hours). The college requires that these hours be scheduled in increments of no less than 30 minutes per session. The availability of student contact hours has a direct impact on student success. If adjuncts cannot meet with their students (and they should not meet with them outside of the 6 paid hours), the students suffer. Adjuncts should advocate through the FA for additional paid student conference time. Few changes could improve adjuncts ability to do their job successfully as increased student contact.

KRONOS AND PAYROLL

A new system of payroll management named Kronos has been inaugurated on campus. For many adjuncts, this will have no impact on their college life. Most departments will handle the requirements of Kronos in-house. If your department asks that you monitor or manage your Payroll, please let the Faculty Association know. Your department may be asking you to do work that you are not required to do and that you are not being paid for.

IMPORTANT CHANGE IN PAY PERIODS

The college has changed the method of payment for adjuncts. After July 2013, adjuncts will be paid on the 10th of every month for the hours that they have worked the previous month. This uneven payment schedule puts strain on part time faculty because they cannot predict from month to month how much their paycheck will contain. Previously, the FA had negotiated a payment schedule that consisted of four equal payments each semester, beginning in October and March (when the Winter intersession calendar was in place). Financial uncertainty undermines adjuncts ability to their best work.

RETIREMENT

New and returning part time faculty members should take time to review their retirement options. PCC offers two options for Part Time Faculty: STRS, or the State Teacher’s Retirement System (1-800-228-5453) and APPLE, or the Accumulation Program for Part-time and Limited-service Employees (1-800-634-1178). An overview of the programs suggests that the STRS Defined Benefit program may offer the most to adjuncts. The matching contribution from the college is highest and after vesting adjuncts are eligible for a lifetime pension payment upon retirement. The sooner adjuncts lock in a secure retirement program, the greater their benefits will be down the road.

ANCILLARY PAY

The FA asserts that all faculty members should be paid fully for all the work they do that contributes to the business of the college. Ancillary work, such as substituting for another faculty member or engaging in a myriad of activities associated with course or curriculum development, managing SLO data, or other actions that contribute to the overall success of the college are ancillary work, and the adjunct must be compensated fully for that additional work. Adjuncts are paid under their contract only for their time in the classroom and for six hours of student contact time. Adjuncts would be able to make a much greater contribution to the college and would greatly enhance their professional skills if they could participate in the work of the college as paid faculty members. Adjuncts wide range of skills and experience can enhance the quality of the college’s academic programs. The college should provide a pool of money that departments can draw on the support the contribution of the adjuncts.

ANCILLARY WORK AND FULL COMPENSATION FOR PART TIME FACULTY

Part time faculty members at Pasadena City College are paid only for the time they spend in their classrooms. At times part time faculty choose to do additional work or duties for the college that are not connected to their classroom assignment. This work is considered ancillary work.

The California Education Code defines ancillary work as 1) substitution on a day-to-day basis, and 2) “including, but not necessarily limited to, governance, staff development, grant writing, and advising student organizations.” Other community college districts have included under the category of ancillary work activities such as developing or implementing programs or policies for the Division or College (such as implementing Student Learning Outcome (SLO) evaluations and rubrics outside of classroom time), monitoring or administering tests or examinations not connect to one’s class, advising student organizations or acting as coaches or mentors, participating in, preparing for, or presenting workshops, editing department, college, or district publications, or any other activities that are part of the operation of the Division or College.

Neither substitution nor any other ancillary work is included in the 67% load limit for part time faculty. Ancillary work cannot limit the class assignments.

The Pasadena City College Faculty Association has long held the position that all ancillary work performed by part time faculty at the College must be fully compensated. Part time faculty members cannot be requested to, be required to, or be expected to perform any department tasks outside of the classroom unless the part-time faculty member is compensated fully for the time and work she or he performs. Part time faculty should not volunteer to perform any unpaid ancillary work for the Division or the College.

The PCC Faculty Association recognizes that part time faculty members sometimes feel pressure to perform work that is not directly connected to their classroom activities. Nevertheless, performing such ancillary work without compensation contributes the perpetuation of a system that values part time faculty far less than full time faculty. The PCCFA will fully support any part time faculty member who feels he or she is being requested or pressured to do ancillary work.

Further, Pasadena City College only pays adjunct faculty for six hours of student contact time. The College does not pay part time faculty for class preparation, grading assignments, or attending meetings or Division workshops related to new class requirements. Finally, the college does not offer compensation for performing the basic classroom duties of all teachers, such as compiling and filing grades, maintaining class records, and writing student recommendations.

These activities are as much a part of a successful class as the hours spent in front of the class. Yet the college has refused to recognize that important educational activities continue after the end of the scheduled class. The Faculty Association feels that the part time faculty must, wherever possible, draw a clear line between the activities that must be done to guarantee a successful class and work that is beyond the necessary requirements for the success of the class. The PCCFA will fully support all part time faculty who believe they are being asked to perform unpaid duties by their Division or the College.

For additional information about ancillary work and full compensation, please contact Roger Marheine, Preston Rose, or Alexis Moore of the Faculty Association. Call 626-585-7261.
UNEMPLOYMENT

Part time faculty are classified as “temporary employees” by the California Education Code. As temporary employees, they have a contract for a single semester only, are not guaranteed future employment, and can be let go at any time without “cause”. Because of these working conditions, the California courts have determined that when a part time faculty member is not working, he or she has “no reasonable assurance” of being rehired. Thus, when the faculty member is not working between semesters, that person is unemployed and has the right to file for and collect unemployment benefits. The FA sends out reminders of unemployment benefits to faculty before the end of the semester. In addition, there is information on how to apply for benefits on the FA Web Site.

HEALTH BENEFITS

With the phasing in of the Affordable Care Act, everyone will be required to purchase some form of health care. California is setting up Health Care Exchanges where providers will be offering policies to anyone (with no restrictions on previous conditions). The Faculty Association believes that the college has an obligation to its part time faculty, particularly those faculty members who do not have health care through a spouse, partner, or other job, to support their purchase of health coverage. A healthy, secure part time faculty is going to be a more effective faculty.

KEEP US POSTED

If there are issues or concerns that we are not addressing or if you have additional questions, please contact us and let us know what you think. all the Faculty Association at (626) 585-7261 or email us at facultyassociation@gmail.com.