Adjunct Coordinator Kim Ng Southard (right) assists adjunct faculty with a variety of issues, from professional development to verifying whether their assignment rights have been violated. Above, she distributes informational folders to new hires. (photo by Cynthia Eaton)

Season greetings to all!

I begin this update reporting that I attended several adjunct observations this semester and am impressed with our adjuncts. One of the pleasures of my post as adjunct coordinator is that I get to witness the knowledge and enthusiasm of our adjuncts in the classroom. I am excited to report that the adjuncts I observed are fantastic teachers.

The college experienced another decline in student enrollment this fall semester, and because of it we are seeing a reduction in assignments for next spring. Unfortunately, this means fewer assignments for our adjunct faculty. Because I have been receiving many calls regarding the process of offering assignments as well as the bumping process, I want to remind all that there are five factors that affect how assignments are offered to adjuncts:

1. Number of sections offered by the college
2. Your certifications
3. Your seniority
4. Your stated availabilities in the NORA form
5. Your stated campus preferences in the NORA form.

I’ve had several questions regarding whether or not a senior adjunct is able to bump a less senior adjunct for a more preferable assignment. The answer is no. Adjuncts do not have the right to pick the specific class or specific times and days. The college’s obligation is met when you are offered assignments that fall within your stated NORA availabilities and campus preferences, your certifications and your seniority standing.

Also, the bumping process only takes place if a faculty member has had a class canceled. I urge all of you to review the bumping process as described in the article I published in the February 2019 issue of The WORD.

I know it is deeply disappointing when you don’t get an assignment, 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 reduce the number of assignments and cancel classes. The FA's role is to uphold the assignment process and bumping process to ensure that all faculty get the assignments due to them.

Unfortunately, with the declining 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 during the assignment or bumping processes. 

Finally, here are the important dates you need to help prepare for next semester:

• 1/23 New adjunct orientation


• 1/27 First day of classes


• 3/6 Adjunct certification requests due


• 3/9 Adjunct promotion A1 forms due


• 3/16 - 3/22 Spring Break


• 3/23 NORA forms available


• 4/6 NORA forms due