|
April 2004, Volume 18, Issue 4 - Got the PT Blues? |
 |
 |
 |
By Melissa Michelson
Go to a department meeting!
The faculty contract stipulates that part-timers attend one department meeting per semester, if it works in your schedule. All such meetings in all departments should be open to part-time faculty. They qualify for flex time, and if you want to know what’s going on, this is the place to start.
Take advantage of being part-time! Apply for unemployment.
There are not many benefits to being a part-time faculty, but unemployment compensation is one of them. We have all been paying into it over the years and the system is there to help us when we need it. If your teaching load has been reduced or you’re not teaching at all (including winter and summer breaks, if you have them), you may qualify for unemployment. The maximum is around $370 per week. You can register online at or call 1-800-300-5616.
FACCC and the legislature have been getting EDD (Employment Development Department) up to speed on why PTers qualify for unemployment benefits. If you’ve had any trouble recently, please contact Jennifer Baker at FACCC at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
to let her know, but this path has been smoothed a lot already. Just chant the mantra, “Cervesi” and all will be well.
Evaluations. Why do I need them?
Evaluations can be intimidating, but in fact they can work in your favor and create job stability. If you haven’t been evaluated in a while, contact your department chair. It’s another way to remind him or her of how good a job you are doing.
Work to keep our equity, health care, and office hours monies.
The governor wants to fold the money that has gone specifically to part timer equity money, health care, and office hours into base appropriations. This would mean that there would be no accountability about how the money is being spent -- and thus it would most likely be spent on other things. This is money out of your pockets!
Write letters to assembly members Carol Lui
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
(626) 577-9944 and Jackie Goldberg
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
(323) 258-0450, who sit on the assembly appropriations committee that will be making the decision — or go see them at Pasadena City College, May 1, 9 a.m. -12 noon. Have you voice heard!
Another option is to go the FACCC website which has a link that makes it very easy to send a pre-written letter to the appropriate legislator. http://www.faccc.org/
Associate Faculty Status - So you’ve got it, now what?
You don’t establish AF status forever. To maintain it, you need to have satisfactory evaluations. In other words, you need a recent evaluation to keep AF status.
Your AF status may be forfeited. Every semester and in every department, there can only be 60% of the part-time faculty who have AF status. It is up to the department chair to decide which part-time faculty will have AF. This shouldn’t be a problem while the college is expanding, but if there’s another contraction...
If you have AF status you’re supposed to be offered the same number of hours this year as in the year you qualified for it -- not this current, reduced-force year. If for some reason that is not done and you are offered fewer hours, contact the FA immediately.
Bumping rights: You have "bumping rights." All AFs are to be assigned classes first (based on the number of units taught the previous academic year). What is left goes to non-AFs. If, for some reason, one or more of your assigned classes is taken away from you, the chair is obligated to offer you a non-associate faculty teacher's class. If not, let us know.
|
