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Kim Ng Southard
Happy New Year, everyone! This update covers the spring new hire orientation, course cancelations and bumping, certification requests, upcoming workshops, the professional development fund, the mandatory Vector training and upcoming important dates. Spring adjunct orientation On January 18, I addressed 12 new adjunct faculty members and introduced them to the FA at the spring new hire orientation held by Dean Chris Gherardi, Michele Fitzpatrick and Donna Krompinger from the Office of Faculty Development and Advancement (OFPA). I discussed FA membership, EC representation, the officers and office staff. In addition, I shared a slide that outlines the following reasons why it is crucial to join a union:
I also highlighted for them the following benefits offered to SCCC adjunct faculty:
I was happy to meet our newest colleagues and hope that you will join me in welcoming them to the college. Cancelations and bumping The FA knows many sections/assignments were canceled or bumped this semester. Unfortunately, as spring enrollment was not picking up, the college raised the number of students needed in a section before cancelation as a cost-saving measure. The bumping process was designed to address seniority issues and avoid the “domino effect” of multiple members being bumped out of assignments once a class is canceled. According to the long-standing process, the adjunct faculty member “may bump the least senior adjunct in the discipline on the campus(es) designated in the NORA form and for courses/assignments for which they are certified.” The process also follows the principle that “no adjunct faculty member on the A list gets two courses or assignments in the discipline before another adjunct faculty member in the discipline gets one.” If you have questions about how this policy applies to your specific assignments, please contact me for further clarification. Course certification request forms 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 certify you for other assignments or courses based on departmental needs and professional training. These certifications should be filed in the Office of Faculty and Professional Advancement (OFPA). You can also request certification for additional assignments or courses. To do so, write a letter to your academic chair or area supervisor indicating the specific courses/assignments you request for certification. 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 number of faculty 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 February 3, and they will forward the request form to the department chairs for review. Upcoming workshops I will host three promotions workshops for adjunct faculty in February, one at the Ammerman Campus on February 13 at 5 pm and two on Zoom: February 14 at 12:30 pm and February 16 at 12:30 pm. Consider attending any of these workshops if you have received an invitation for promotion from the OFPA or have any questions regarding adjunct faculty promotion. I will also host an officers meet-and-greet on Zoom on February 27 at 5 pm for adjunct faculty members only. This meeting is an informal collegial conversation for members to share their stories and ask questions. I hope to see you there. Professional development fund We encourage you to take advantage of the adjunct faculty development fund and apply for funding for both in-person and online conferences. Of the $50,000 fund, at most $25,000 will be awarded in each semester, and adjuncts can apply for up to $750 for conference registration and travel each academic year. Submit your forms to OFPA before this first-come, first-served funding runs out. Mandatory online training courses All faculty members must complete the Vector Solutions training courses. The five courses cover security and privacy, workplace violence prevention, disability accommodations and FERPA. To be eligible for assignments in subsequent semesters, faculty must complete them by June 30. Information on these trainings is available in your email. Again, contact me if you have any questions. Upcoming important dates
Please contact me at kimn@fascc.org if you have questions regarding the above or any other union-related issues. I wish you all a super spring semester. |
