The benefits of being an FA member are numerous. There is power in numbers! Adjuncts are encouraged to become and remain members. Contact Adjunct Coordinator Kim Ng Southard to learn more. (graphic by Cynthia Eaton)

For this issue's adjunct update, I have information and advice to share about the adjunct orientation and becoming a member, my upcoming TLC workshop for adjunct faculty, the bumping process and a list of important dates and deadlines.

Adjunct orientation

I attended the new adjunct orientation on January 24 and met with newly hired adjuncts. The orientation was well attended, and it was my pleasure to speak to these new hires. I am happy to report that 90 percent of them joined our union and will reap the benefits of becoming an FA member. These benefits include the following:

• Assistance in case assignments violate contract
• Faculty peer during observations and disciplinary hearings
• Resolution of faculty/administration disputes
• Adjunct promotion
• Adjunct professional development fund
• Adjunct tuition reimbursement
• Dependent tuition reimbursement
• Ability to purchase EHMP health insurance
• Access to Benefit Fund for reduced cost dental and free legal services
• NYS Teacher Retirement System/tax-deferred annuities (e.g. TIAA/CREF)
• NYSUT/AFT benefits

I welcome all the new adjuncts to our college and, more importantly, to the FA.

TLC workshop: Union benefits and campus resources for adjuncts

I invite all adjuncts to the TLC workshop I will present on the Ammerman Campus on February 27 at 11:00 a.m. in Smithtown Science Building Room 126.

This presentation will cover the various benefits and resources available to adjuncts through the FA and the college. The presentation will last approximately 30-35 minutes and will end with a question-and-answer discussion.

Please contact Catherine Lipnick if you would like to attend to the workshop. I look forward to seeing you there.

Bumping

Due to low enrollment, the beginning of 2019 started with course and assignment cancelations and the bumping process. Both full-time faculty and adjuncts were affected by the cancelations and bumping, and several adjuncts were bumped from sections the week before the start of the semester. Because many adjuncts were frustrated and confused by the process, I urge all of you to review the bumping process in this article.

I know it is deeply disappointing when your assignment is canceled due to low enrollment or you are bumped as the least senior adjunct faculty member, but the college has the right to cancel classes. The FA upholds the bumping process to ensure that all faculty get the assignments due to them by seniority. Unfortunately, with the low enrollment trend, we may continue to see cancelations and bumping in the future.

Contact me immediately at kimn@fascc.org or at 631-451-4646 if you have any questions or if you think your rights may have been violated by cancelations or bumping.

Important upcoming dates

February 27		TLC workshop on adjunct benefits and resources
March 8		Adjunct certification requests deadline
March 13		Adjunct NORA forms available (summer and fall)
March 14		Adjunct promotion A forms due
April 5		Adjunct NORA forms due (summer and fall)
April 16		Adjunct new hire observations deadline
April 26		Adjunct promotion observations deadline
April 30		Adjunct assignments posted (summer and fall)
May 13		Adjunct accept/decline deadline (summer and fall)