We encourage our all of our members to take advantage of the summer training opportunities offered by our Information Technology Services department. In addition to the scheduled Friday workshops below, Christina Johnston-Eustace offers one-on-one assistance on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

June welcomes the end of the academic year and the summer season. The FA, as always, thanks all of our adjunct members for their dedication and hard work throughout the 2024-25 year. The college would not be successful without you.

This update covers information on adjunct FA awardees, Information Technology Services summer workshops, review of the five factors for assignments, investigative meetings advice and important dates.

FA adjunct awardees

I am excited to announce that the FA honored two adjunct members with FA Member Excellence Awards at our celebration luncheon in April. Read Cynthia Eaton’s articles to learn more about our colleagues: Chris Verga received the FA Excellence Award for Community Outreach and Social Justice, and Mary Griffin received the FA Award for Excellence in Adjunct Service. Congratulations, Chris and Mary! We thank you for your service.

Information Technology Services (ITS) summer workshops

ITS is offering the following workshops this summer. You might want to take the time to enhance your technological skills for the fall semester. All of the following workshops take place on Fridays.

• June 13, 10 a.m. — Word Styles and Mail Merges
• July 11, 10 a.m. — Excel Basics
• July 18, 10 a.m. — Excel Formulas and Graphs
• July 25, 10 a.m. — MS Bookings and Scheduling Poll
• August 1, 10 a.m. — Foxit PhantomPDF Fillable Forms
• August 8, 10 a.m. — YuJa Media Library
• August 15, 10 a.m. — Zoom Transition to MS Teams for Virtual Meetings
• August 22, 10 a.m. — Brightspace Basics

Attend any workshop and get an attendance certificate! For more information, check College Brief 113 sent on May 30. Here is the link to the ITS training schedule.

Review of five factors for determining assignments

I had numerous questions regarding the process of determining who is eligible for particular assignments this semester. Here is a much-needed review of the five factors for determining assignments:

1. Sections available
   
   The college creates the schedule of assignments based on student need 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.
   
   
3. NORA availabilities
   
   Adjuncts are offered assignments listed within their stated NORA availabilities. This does not mean you will get your favorite or preferred assignment or a specific course at a specific time—regardless of whether you 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 your 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 official certifications and collegewide seniority status, affect which assignments you may be offered.

Adjunct members should consider increasing their availability and listing all campuses on their NORA to improve 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. We also advise that you identify all four campuses—Ammerman, Eastern, Grant and online (the latter only if you’re certified to teach online)—to give you greater availability. Also, contact all chairs to let them know you would like an assignment even if it’s not on your home/first choice campus.

Investigative meetings advice

Unfortunately, part of my responsibilities as the adjunct coordinator is to advise you on what to do when called into a meeting for a formal complaint made against you by a student or a colleague. The college must investigate formal complaints, warranted or not.

If you receive a letter or email from Human Resources regarding a complaint made against you—and you are currently a dues-paying member in good standing—contact me immediately so we can represent you at the meeting. Do not attend an investigative meeting alone. Representation is one of the priceless benefits we offer to our adjunct as well as full-time colleagues.

If you are not yet a dues-paying member in good standing, contact me for an enrollment form so that you will have a knowledgeable union officer by your side should you receive such a notice.

Important dates

Here are some important dates and deadlines to help you stay organized for the summer.

• July 17 — Last day of class for summer 8-week session
• August 19 — Last day of summer session 2
• September 2 — First day of fall semester

Faculty can access the FA calendar on the FA website to see other upcoming essential dates at any time.

Please contact me at 631-451-4151 or kimn@fascc.org if you have any questions about the above information. As always, reach out if you have any union-related inquiries as well. May your summer season be filled with moments of peace and plenty of sunlight.

Best,

Kim