FA Adjunct Coordinator Kim Ng Southard prepares to present college policies and procedures regarding certifications and assignments during an adjunct-only workshop on October 14, 2022. (photo by Cynthia Eaton)

Hello, colleagues. I hope this update finds you well.

Certification and assignments workshop

I hosted a certification and assignments workshop on October 14. I was pleased to meet the adjuncts who attended and to answer questions throughout the PowerPoint presentation and at the end of the workshop.

Here is a brief recap of the information we discussed at the workshop. This information also can be found on the FA website under the adjunct assignments link.

The five factors that determine assignments

1. Sections available
   
   The college creates the schedule of assignments and, with enrollment continuing to decline, this might mean that there may not be enough available sections of the assignments for which you are certified.
   
   
2. Certifications
   
   When you are 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 filed in the Office of Faculty and Professional Advancement (OFPA).
   
   You 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 courses/assignments for which you would 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. You should know that you may not be certified despite being qualified if the college already has a sufficient faculty supply in that area.
   
   While we recommend speaking to your chair before requesting course certifications, you can also submit the course certification request form to OFPA by March 23, 2023, and they will forward the request form to the department chairs for review.
   
   
3. NORA availabilities
   
   Adjuncts are offered assignments listed within their stated NORA availabilities. This does not mean adjuncts will get their favorite or preferred assignment or a specific course at a specific time, regardless of whether they have been offered that assignment over a series of semesters. The college has met its obligation by offering an assignment on any day and time listed within stated NORA availabilities.
   
   
4. Seniority
   
   Adjuncts on the A list are offered up to a full complement of courses or credit hours they have requested, then adjuncts on the B list will be offered assignments as the need arises.
   
   
5. Campus preferences
   
   Adjunct seniority is collegewide in the assignment process, which means campus preference does not trump collegewide seniority. For example, an A-list adjunct selects Ammerman as their first choice and Grant as their second choice. If Ammerman does not have an assignment to offer, the adjunct should receive an assignment at Grant before anyone junior does—again, taking into consideration certifications and NORA availabilities.
   

When completing the NORA form, adjuncts identify their interest in working during the upcoming semester, the days and times they are available for an assignment, and their first/second/third/fourth choice of campus. These factors, in addition to their official certifications and collegewide seniority status, affect which assignments they may be offered.

With enrollment declining, adjuncts should consider increasing their availability and listing all campuses on their NORA to increase their chances of obtaining assignments. In addition, classroom faculty might speak to their chairs to be certified to teach additional courses. While there may be competition for most courses, chairs sometimes have difficulty finding faculty to teach specific courses.

Observations

There have been several questions regarding observations this semester. According to the FA contract, your chair or area supervisor has the right to observe your class/duties, limited to a reasonable number per year. Also, new hires are observed in their first semester, and colleagues applying for promotion must be observed during the process.

You have the right to ask an FA peer observer to witness your observation. You also have the right to respond to your chair’s or supervisor’s comments and recommendations on the B1 form.

Legal assistance plan benefit

Great news! NYSUT announced a new legal benefit program for NYSUT members in a non-full dues category or split-dues category at no cost and will provide eligible members with free phone access to attorneys and a limited number of legal documents. The plan also covers spouses/domestic partners, unmarried dependent children under 19 and unmarried dependent children under 25 if they are full-time students.

Call 800-626-8101 to request an outline of the coverage.

Upcoming dates

• November 29 — Adjunct faculty assignments posted for winter and spring
• December 15 — Adjunct faculty accept/decline due for winter and spring

Please contact me at 631-451-4151 or kimn@fascc.org if you have questions regarding certification, assignments and observations. As always, reach out if you have any other union-related inquiries as well.