• Sabbatical workshop date change: While the FA wall calendar identifies this Friday as the fall sabbatical workshop date, a schedule conflict means it will now be held on Monday, September 8, at 4 p.m. on Zoom. The link will be sent to members by email.
  
  Sabbatical applications are due on October 15. Attend the workshop on September 8 or contact Cynthia Eaton if you have questions about applying.
  
  
• Retirement workshop to be held on October 3: The very popular annual FA/Guild retirement workshop is scheduled for Friday, October 3, at 9:30 a.m. Breakfast and coffee will be provided. Presenters include Stacey Braun Director of Financial Planning Gerry McGahran, FA Benefit Fund Administrator Mary Kaffaga and Maggie Brown and Sue DiFiore from EHMP. Details, including location, will be shared by email.
  
  
• Revised FA Constitution: Upon overwhelming approval by the FA membership (over 93%) in the spring, the FA Constitution has been revised to reflect the newly revised constituencies. You can see the new list of constituencies in the Constitution and Bylaws as well as on the Executive Council page of the FA website.
  
  
• Pay date information: According to payroll, there will be seven adjunct/overload paychecks on the following dates: 10/2, 10/16, 10/30, 11/13, 11/26, 12/11 and 12/24.
  
  For early end classes, pay dates are 10/2, 10/16, 10/30, 11/13. For late start classes, pay dates are 11/13, 11/26, 12/11 and 12/24.
  
  Full-time faculty who are promoted on 9/1/25 will receive their promotion bonuses (5% of base salary) in a separate check on 10/9.
  
  
• Adjunct/overload pay rates: Below are current pay rates by contact hour.
  
  

  PA	$970
  PA 1	$1,144
  PA 2	$1,266
  Specialist 1	$1,354
  Specialist 2	$1,457
  Instructor	$1,499
  Assistant professor	$1,624
  Associate professor	$1,741
  Professor	$1,910

  
  

• 2025-26 academic year holidays: Below are the agreed upon 2024-25 holidays, and you can find the N and U days on the FA website or on the SCCC Human Resources website.

• The FA budget is presented by FA Treasurer Pete DiGregorio and approved by the Executive Council every year. (photo by Cynthia Eaton)

  Annual FA budget and dues information: In keeping with his duties as treasurer, Pete DiGregorio presented to the Executive Council (EC) a proposed annual budget developed in collaboration with the budget committee.
  
  The proposed budget for 2025-26 was presented, discussed and approved unanimously the EC during our meeting on August 21, 2025. You can access it here: 2025-26 Approved FA Budget. In addition, Pete hereby notifies the membership of the 2025-26 Dues Payment information.
  
  
• The WORD editorial policy: The WORD is the voice of our local. This is our primary vehicle for bringing members, on a regular basis, the views and actions of the leaders. Throughout the publication will be descriptions and reports on the union’s programs, positions and politics as well as showing the variety of ways dues are expended. It is our intent to publish 6 to 8 issues per year.
  
  This newsletter, unlike a newspaper, is not designed to have a letters to the editor column nor does it accept an advertisement unless it has been screened and approved as a member benefit by NYSUT or AFT. The FA receives a rebate for each NYSUT/AFT ad it runs in an issue of The WORD.
  
  The WORD is also the voice of its membership. Articles about the FA, its membership and their concerns are welcome. All articles should contribute positively to the welfare of the FA and its members. We will not accept partisan articles or articles which attack any union leader or member. We accept thoughtful discussions of issues of concern to FA members. We reserve the right to edit articles not only for space and content but also those that seem to reflect a misunderstanding of the union and its policies or those which contain misinformation.
  
  The editors are the final authority for all editorial decisions. In the event of any inadvertent misstatement or factual error, the correction will be made in the next issue of The WORD.