19.1     Reduced teaching Load with Full Retirement Credit (EC 87483):  The Board of Trustees may permit full-time faculty members to reduce their workload from full-time to part-time and have their retirement benefits based upon full-time employment. 

Following are the rules and regulations for the implementation of the optional reduced load program with full retirement credit.

19.1.1              The option of reduced load may be exercised upon mutual agreement of both the District and the faculty member.  Once the option is exercised, it is not revocable unless agreed to by the Board of Trustees and the faculty member.

19.1.2              To be eligible to start the optional reduced load program, the faculty member must be fifty-five (55) years of age before the beginning of the academic semester in which the reduction in workload starts.

19.1.3              The faculty member must have been employed full-time (100%) as an academic employee of the Santa Monica College District for at least ten (10) years prior to the request for reduced load, including five (5) years immediately preceding the reduction in workload.

19.1.4              Except for the reduction in salary, corresponding to reduced load, the District will provide the faculty on reduced load the same benefits provided a regular full-time (100%) academic member.

19.1.5              The District and the faculty member shall agree to make contributions to the State Teachers Retirement System equal to the amount required of a full-time (100%) instructor.

19.1.6              The minimum reduced load shall be the equivalent of one-half (1/2) of the number of days of service required by the faculty’s contract of employment during the final year of service as a full-time position.

19.1.7              A faculty member on the optional reduced load program upon mutual agreement with the District as a minimum shall work:  a) 100% of one semester and 0% of the other; b) 50% each semester; or c) any assignment that will average 50% or more for two (2) semesters of the academic year.

19.1.8              An applicant for the optional reduced load program must make application for the program no later than February 1 for the following academic year. 

19.1.9              Faculty under this program may be granted intersession assignments as recommended by the department chair through the regular scheduling process described in Article 9.