Chaparral 2024-2025: Let’s Dance! With 2nd Vice President Juli Wolfgram

Let’s Dance! With 2nd Vice President Juli Wolfgram

Part-Time Faculty challenges are always a dance between our local district, CFT statewide advocacy, and AFT national support! The end goal is always the same, equity. At Glendale, Part Time Faculty have huge support from Full Time faculty in our efforts toward parity. A recent MOU signed in November 2024 is another step forward. This MOU will begin the process to “re-rate” our Part Time Faculty on parity mechanisms.

Part Time Faculty, please read the messages from District VP Grice (March 13, 2025) and Guild President Kamei (December 5, 2024). According to District VP Grice, a form/portal will be established with instructions for submission of documentation of education and relevant professional work experience by Tuesday, March 25. The deadline to submit these forms is April 15! Submissions of these forms are essential in order to understand the impact of changes in steps/columns on the pay schedule.

Shout out to Mike Allen and Roger Bowerman and the rest of the negotiations team for moving forward in the quest for part-time faculty parity at Glendale!

On the state level, CFT has fought for Part Time Faculty healthcare support resulting in changes in Ed Code and state budget allotment for ongoing part time faculty healthcare support. This is a 100% reimbursement for part time faculty healthcare costs to the district. Glendale is now participating in the program that means you can get healthcare coverage for zero dollars per month!

As a member of the CFT Part Time Faculty Committee and a member of the One Faculty Task Force, I am so pleased to share with you our next phase in the One Faculty Campaign! Check your email for my message sent March 18 and read all about the One Faculty Vision Statement and FAQs regarding this campaign.

Under the current political climate and with the order to dismantle the Department of Education, it is imperative to be united as one voice to preserve access to affordable education for our students. Furthermore, as a united front, we can better preserve academic freedom for all faculty and students.

Eliminating the two-tier system will help all faculty in California Community Colleges by sharing the work and reaping the benefits of working together in an equitable environment that will ensure the success of our students. The current two-tier system restricts academic freedom for almost 70% of our faculty! On the state level, this movement is receiving support from organizations such as FACCC, ASCCC, and CPFA among others. CFA, the union for CSU, adopted a resolution to eliminate the two-tier system at their 2024 annual conference.

On the national level, our umbrella organization AFT is already supporting initiatives exploring ways to eliminate the two-tier system. AFT offered workshops on this subject at regional and national conferences. The national organization HELU (Higher Education Labor United) is also exploring the possibility of a one-tier system at four-year institutions.

The Dance is actually a Danceathon. Eliminating the two-tier system means changes in Ed Code, and this requires legislation. This will be a long process, but we need to stand united NOW. Unity is paramount to move forward to ensure the success of our students at Glendale. We need to stand united against the dismantling of the Department of Education to ensure the success of all future students.

Join me in this Dance! Rise Up in Unity!

Juli Wolfgram

2nd VP for Part Time Faculty