On Wednesday, February 10, Danielle DiMauro-Brooks (bottom right), adjunct instructor in social sciences, participated in the campaign launch of the AAUP and AFT New Deal for Higher Education. DiMauro-Brooks spoke after participants heard from U.S. Representative Ayanna Pressley, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren, AFT President Randi Weingarten and AAUP President Irene Mulvey.

Welcome to the spring semester! I have several updates to share with you this month. I know things have been stressful lately, so I'll start with some good news.

Pay increase

As negotiated in the 2019-22 MOA, adjuncts receive a 2.5% pay increase this semester, and we are told adjuncts should see it in their February 25 paycheck of the semester. Adjuncts also will see another pay increase in spring 2022. You can find the 2019-22 adjunct rates on the FA website.

FA adjunct participates in national AAUP and AFT higher ed campaign launch

We are so proud of our adjunct colleague Danielle DiMauro-Brooks! On February 10, Danielle participated in the national campaign launch of the AAUP and AFT New Deal for Higher Education. Other speakers included U.S. Representative Ayanna Pressley, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren, AFT President Randi Weingarten and AAUP President Irene Mulvey.

"What about the students?" Danielle asked during her presentation. She urged the need to focus on the impact of this economic crisis on our faculty and students. "I don't see high paid administrators losing their jobs," she noted; "as a matter of fact I've seen even more positions having been opened to higher paid administrators." This echoed a sentiment heard from other presenters and set off many kudos in the Zoom chat feature.

It's all about promoting solidarity, Danielle argued. "Educators really need to be in the driver's seat," she said. "We need to advocate for the importance of all educators, whether you're contingent, whether you're tenure track, we need... that inclusiveness and solidarity. We are all in this together." Thank you, Danielle, for representing the FA in this national effort. Learn more at the New Deal for Higher Education campaign website.

Promotions

The college formally approved the spring 2020 adjunct promotions in an MOA signed by both administration and FA President Dante Morelli. The FA congratulates all of our promoted colleagues!

Adjunct Services sent email invitations to adjuncts eligible for promotion this semester. The deadline to submit the A1 form to the Office of Faculty and Professional Advancement (Room 100, Smithtown Science Building, Ammerman Campus) is March 8. The A1 form can be scanned with a signature or electronically signed and emailed to Donna Krompinger or to Dean Chris Gherardi. Do note that once the A1 form is received, your chair or area supervisor will schedule an observation of your class/duties for this semester. The FA recommends that you have an FA peer observer with you during the observation. Members can email me if you need help finding an FA peer.

Assignments

The college experienced a catastrophic drop in enrollment due to the pandemic for the fall 2020 and spring 2021 semesters. Students decided to take gap semesters and not return to the college or to become part-time students. As a result, administration offered fewer sections and cancelled or merged sections with low enrollment. Therefore, many adjuncts faced not receiving assignments in December as well as losing classes due to cancellations, merges and bumping. The FA hopes that with the distribution of vaccines, enrollment will begin to pick up in the upcoming semesters. We continue to advise adjuncts to give as much availability as possible on their NORA preference form, specifically time and campus, to strengthen chances of receiving an assignment.

Course certification

Course certification request forms are due on March 25.

When you’re first hired your academic chair or area supervisor certifies you for a specific assignment(s) or course(s). Afterward your chair may opt to certify you for other assignments or courses based on departmental needs and your professional training. These should be put on file in the Office of Faculty and Professional Advancement. 

Adjuncts also can request to be certified for additional assignments or courses. To do so write a letter to your academic chair or area supervisor indicating the specific assignments/courses for which you’d like to be certified. Provide a rationale for each, citing specific graduate coursework or relevant professional training.

An administrative committee determines certifications based on an analysis of college needs. This means that you may not be certified despite being qualified if the college has a sufficient supply of faculty in that area.

Adjunct professional development fund

Adjunct professional development funds for conferences are still available for spring 2021. While there may not be many in-person conferences to attend this semester, the FA encourages you to look into virtual conferences. Submit your professional development fund forms to the Office of Faculty and Professional Advancement. Do note that this fund only covers conferences.

Adjunct task force

I attended the last adjunct task force meeting on January 6 and report that the committee is working diligently on the adjunct survey they will distribute in April. The purpose of the survey is to collect information on the needs of adjuncts for the upcoming contract negotiations in the fall. Email me or Kerry Spooner if you have any questions, comments or concerns regarding the survey.

Upcoming deadlines

• March 8 — adjunct promotion A1 form due
• March 25 — adjunct course certification request form due
• March 29 — adjunct NORA forms available: summer and fall
• April 9 — adjunct NORA forms due *
• April 14 — adjunct new hire observation forms due
• May 18 — adjunct accept/decline due: summer and fall

* If not submitted on time, you won’t be on the seniority list and won’t receive an assignment until after all other adjuncts who have submitted the NORA receive their assignments.

Please contact me by phone (631-451-4151) or email (kimn@fascc.org) if you have any questions or if I can further assist you.

Stay well and healthy.