Kim Ng Southard presents each semester at the new adjunct faculty orientation; above, Kim explains the assignment process to some of the 80+ newly hired adjunct faculty. (photo by Cynthia Eaton)

I look forward to working with all of you this academic year. Let’s strive to provide a conducive learning environment for our students this fall semester.

This update covers the fall adjunct new faculty orientation, spring promotions, promotion workshops, sick time/bereavement time/compassionate leave, office space, reminders and important dates.

Fall new adjunct faculty orientation

Each semester, I participate in the college’s new adjunct faculty orientation to welcome them and introduce them to the benefits of FA membership. This fall the event was held on August 27, and I was thrilled to help greet about 50 of the 80+ newly hired adjunct members. I sincerely hope they do sign up to become FA members—if they have not already done so—as the benefits are numerous. Any adjunct colleague who has not yet signed up as an FA member can contact me or contact Anita in the FA office for a membership enrollment form.

Spring adjunct promotions

The FA congratulates the following adjunct members who were promoted this past spring by completing educational and time-served requirements as well as performing well during their promotion observation. If you know members on the list, please recognize their accomplishment by congratulating them.

Promotion to Adjunct Professor

• Joanne DiNovis, Mathematics and Science
• Patricia Parr, Humanities and Social Sciences
• Mary Ryder, Business Professional Programs and Technology

Promotion to Adjunct Associate Professor

• Silvia Brown, Biology
• Gary Heil, Physical Science
• Jayne Johnsen-Seeberger, Library
• Lino Miceli, Physical Science
• Puneeta Mittal, Visual Arts and Humanities
• William Rule, Health Careers

Promotion to Adjunct Assistant Professor

• Melissa Capasso, Arts and Humanities
• Amanda Colandro, Nursing
• June Levine, Counseling
• David O’Connor, Social Sciences
• Christopher Pascale, Business and Law
• Stephanie, Vogel, Communications, Literacy and Languages

Promotion to Adjunct Professor Assistant 2

• Nikki Lamont, Admissions
• Lauren Passarelle, Life Science
• Michael Whelan, Corporate Training Center

Adjunct promotion workshops

We will host two adjunct promotion workshops in September that cover requirements, process and strategies for attaining your next promotion. Even if you are not eligible for promotion this semester, we urge you to attend to prepare for the process.

There will be an in-person workshop on Tuesday, September 16, at 5 p.m. on the Ammerman Campus and a Zoom workshop at 11 a.m. on Friday, September 19.
Here is a link to adjunct promotion information on the FA website. Contact me at kimn@fascc.org if you have any questions.

Sick time/bereavement days/compassionate leave

The FA worked relentlessly in the past to negotiate sick time, bereavement days and compassionate leave benefits. Because several members questioned me about these benefits last academic year, I thought it appropriate to point to the contractual language of each.

• Sick time — An adjunct faculty member is entitled to take off 1/15 of sick time for their total assignment. For instructional faculty, this means one week’s worth of class. For professional assistants and specialists, this means 1/15 of your total hours/assignment.
  
  “Adjunct faculty shall be permitted to take two (2) absences per course per semester without loss of pay for illness or disability unless the course meets only once per week and, in such case, only one (1) absence per course per semester shall be paid for. Adjunct specialists and adjunct professional assistants shall be permitted to take the equivalent of one week's assigned work hours per semester without loss of pay for illness or disability.”
  
  
• Bereavement days — Faculty members can take four days for the loss of their spouse, child, stepchild, parent, legal guardian and siblings. They can take two days for the loss of parent-in-laws, step-parents, grandparents, grandparent-in-laws and grandchildren. A faculty member can request leave for a permanent household member from the Assistant Vice President of Employee Resources.
  
  “A full-or part-time faculty member shall be granted four (4) calendar days without loss of pay in case and at the time of death in his/her "immediate family" which shall be defined as his/her spouse, child, stepchild, parent, legal guardian, siblings; two (2) calendar days without loss of pay in case of and at the time of death of his/her parent-in-law, step-parent, grandparent, grandparent- in-law, and grandchild. A faculty member is expected to notify the appropriate administrator as soon as possible regarding such leave. In addition, the Assistant Vice President for Employee Resources, in his/her sole non-reviewable discretion, may grant bereavement leave for any other permanent member of the employee’s household.”
  
  
• Compassionate leave — An adjunct faculty member can request compassionate leave during a semester in which they have an assignment. If there is an extenuating circumstances or catastrophic reason, the FA and the college may grant the request.
  
  “Starting with the Spring 2024 semester, adjunct faculty will be permitted to request a compassionate leave, during the semester in which they have a work assignment, which may be granted on a case-by-case basis as determined by the Association and the College.”

Office space

The FA also fought hard to negotiate office space for adjunct faculty. I have created a list of the office locations for you.

Ammerman

• Automotive Technology Building: Rooms 101 and 102
  
• Brookhaven Gymnasium: Room 64
  
• Islip Arts Building: Rooms 1B, 1N, 100, and 2B
  
• Lindsay Building: Room 335
  
• Riverhead Building: Rooms 108 and 331
  
• Smithtown Science Building: Lobby Room 100
  
• Southampton Building: Rooms 18, 100, 117, 218, and 222

Eastern

• Corchaug Building: Room 10
  
• Culinary Arts Center (East Main Street, Riverhead): Room 213A
  
• Orient Building: Room 213
  
• Shinnecock Building: Room 228

Grant

• Asharoken Hall: Room 132
  
• Renewable Energy/Stem Center: Room 207
  
• Sagtikos Arts and Sciences Building: Room 220
  
• Suffolk Credit Union Arena: Room A309

Upcoming important dates

I have listed the important dates from the FA wall calendar to help you organize your semester.

• Sep. 2 — Fall semester start date
• Sep. 16 — Adjunct promotion workshop, 5:00 p.m., Ammerman Campus
• Sep. 19 — Adjunct promotion workshop, 11:00 a.m., Zoom
• Oct. 10 — Adjunct promotion applications due
• Oct. 13 — NORA forms available for winter/spring 2026
• Oct. 22 — Midsemester
• Oct. 29 — NORA forms due for winter/spring 2026
• Nov. 24 — Adjunct assignments posted for winter/spring 2026
• Nov. 24 — Adjunct observations due for promotions and new hires
• Dec. 1 — Adjunct accept/decline open for winter/spring 2026
• Dec. 12 — Adjunct accept/decline due for winter/spring 2026
• Dec. 19 — Last day of classes for fall 2026

Reminders

FA wall calendars should now be available in the adjunct offices on each campus. If you don’t have one, you can contact the FA office at 631-451-4151 or access the pdf of the calendar on the FA website.

We ask that you update your contact information with the FA (anita@fascc.org or 631-451-4151), and we prefer to communicate with members using non-SCCC email. Without your correct information, we are not able to contact you.

Please note that if you are a member and we have an incorrect home address, you will not receive a ballot for the current election.

Don’t hesitate to contact me at kimn@fascc.org if you have questions regarding the above or any other union-related issues. I am happy to arrange an in-person meeting, Zoom meeting or phone call to listen to your concerns.

Have a fantastic fall semester!

Kim