Chaparral 2012-2013: Speaking of the Senate...

Speaking of the Senate:

Part-Time Faculty Caucus

By Cindy Pollack

Academic Senate 2nd Vice President

Did you know that part-timers have their own caucus at the State Academic Senate Level? According to The Academic Senate for California Community Colleges, “The purpose of this caucus is to discuss and promote awareness of the academic and professional matters of over 45,000 part-time, non-tenured faculty within the California Community College system.” 

As a caucus, we are very active and represent the concerns, issues, and needs of current part-time faculty. There are many issues that pertain to part-time faculty in a particular manner that are very different from the tenured faculty issues. By visiting our site at http://asptfacultycaucus.info/, you can sign up to be on the listserve in order to learn about important updates and resolutions that affect all part-timers.  Membership is free!

One of the resolutions that the caucus is trying to get passed at the state community college level is a yearly award for excellence, very similar to the Hayward award.  This part time faculty member would be awarded for outstanding teaching and contributions to their programs.  As you know, Glendale Community College already offers an “Exceptional Faculty Award” for part timers on a yearly basis.  This is not done at all colleges in California, so we are very grateful to have this award at GCC.

Another resolution that the caucus is trying to get passed at the state level is remuneration for part time faculty members who choose to do work on the senate or senate committees.  Again, Glendale Community College does offer a stipend for part-timers who volunteer on committees.  Glendale College continues to be ahead of the game when it comes to recognizing their part timers.

Glendale Community College is also one of the few senates that allows part time faculty to hold a guaranteed seat on the academic senate and the opportunity for part-timers to run for at-large positions. 

The State Academic Senate is holding its Fall Plenary session this Fall, and the part time caucus will be there.  We are holding a meeting on Friday, November 9, 2012 from 7:00-9:00 p.m. at the Irvine Marriott.  There is no cost to attend.  Your executive board members will be there, and we will be discussing important issues that the caucus has been addressing over the past year.  There is also a no-host dinner before the meeting from the hours of 5:00-7:00 p.m. where you can relax and get to know one another.  If you are interested in attending the meeting, you may contact me directly at cpollack@glendale.edu or visit the caucus website at http://asptfacultycaucus.info/ for more information. 

I encourage you all to become a member of this important group, especially in these trying times for community college part time faculty across California.

Visit us on the web: www.glendale.edu/senate

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