Kim Ng Southard, FA adjunct coordinator, encourages adjunct colleagues to contact her with questions and concerns. (photo by Kevin Peterman)

I begin this update with a warm welcome back and positive news.

Promotion

Great news! Adjunct promotions have finally been announced and letters will be in the mail to those who completed the last promotion cycle. Spring 2020 promotions will be announced at the end of September. Congratulations to our adjunct colleagues who have been promoted in rank!

Adjunct task force

The FA has created an adjunct task force to address adjunct issues and concerns, and I encourage both nonclassroom and classroom faculty to consider joining. Contact Kerry Spooner, an English adjunct and chair of the task force, if you are interested in serving on this committee: kerrys@fascc.org.

NYSUT Member Benefits

All FA members are also members of NYSUT, which offers a variety of benefits. Take advantage of these perks of union membership! Go to nysut.org and create an account. You’ll need your NYSUT ID number; if you don’t know it, our FA office administrator Anita (631-451-4151 or anita@fascc.org) can look it up for you. Once you set up your NYSUT account, click the For Members link, then click Benefits and Services.

Professional development fund

Effective September 1, the college increased the adjunct professional development fund to $40,000, of which no more than $20,000 will be awarded in the fall semester. Submit your application right away—before this first-come, first-served funding runs out—to the adjunct services office.

Unemployment

Due to low enrollment caused by the pandemic, several of you did not receive assignments. Under certain circumstances, adjuncts may be eligible for unemployment insurance. The rules on whether adjuncts are eligible are complex, but if you have been receiving a couple of assignments the last several semesters and did not receive assignments this fall, I encourage you to file a claim (be sure to have your salary history available). Instructions can be found on the NYS Department of Labor website.

Assignments & bumping

This is a reminder that the following are considered in this order when administering assignments: number of assignments available, certifications, NORA campus preferences, NORA availability and seniority. Choosing all three campuses and providing a wide range of availabilities will improve your chances of an assignment. Keep this in mind when filling out your NORA this semester.

Another point to remember is that the bumping policy only initiates when your course is canceled, not when you are bumped. The bumping policy can be found on the FA website.

FA wall calendar

Finally, if you would like a hard copy of the FA calendar, complete our calendar request form.

Please contact me (631-451-4151 or kimn@fascc.org) if you have questions regarding the professional development fund, the NYSUT website, the bumping policy or any other union-related issue.

I wish you all a very successful semester.