60% Law Resolution

WHEREAS: A simple change in the law, which has no costs associated with it, would result in a dramatic and immediate improvement in the lives of a substantial number of currently employed California Community College teachers...

WHEREAS: This simple change in the law would allow Community College part-time teachers to teach more classes at one school, rather than having to become “Freeway Flyers” commuting among several campuses...

WHEREAS: This simple change in the law would significantly decrease the amount of automobile usage and thus gasoline consumption and pollution, thus offering a significant environmental as well as economic benefit...

WHEREAS : This simple change in the law would allow part-timers to become more involved with and invested in one school, thus taking some of the load off of full time faculty for many crucial non-teaching campus activities, such as student advising and office hours, committee work, Senate, union and the like....

WHEREAS : This simple change in the law would increase the quality of teaching part-timers can provide to students, since they would be more available more often for more contact and more classes on the same campus...

WHEREAS: This simple change in the law would further take some of the load off of administrators and department chairs, since fewer faculty teaching more classes means less paperwork, hiring, and general overhead...

WHEREAS: This simple change in the law already exists in the UC and Cal State systems, where 100% loads, parity pay, and full benefits, are routine for non-tenure track faculty...

WHEREAS: This simple change in the law can be done now, with no cost, and with significant and immediate benefits to California Community College teachers, students, administrators, and the environment...

BE IT RESOLVED: That the Faculty Association of Santa Monica College urges

the California Legislature to change Education Code 87482.5 provisions which effectively prohibit part-time faculty from working more than a 60% load at any one district, commonly know as “The 60% Law,” from 60% to 80%.

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SMC Academic Senate Resolution