P/T & F/T Faculty Teamwork

by Jack Longmate

AS PART-TIME FACULTY members step up their organizing efforts throughout California, many are faced with the task of working effectively with already-established full-time chapters.

Occasionally, there is friction on some campuses between full- and part-time faculty. The diverse and separate needs of full-time, and part-time faculty often forces them to form separate organizations. Instructors at Sierra College in Rocklin, however, are looking for the middle ground. Part-time faculty members in the booming Sacramento area campus are integrating the ranks of the full-time association.

“There was a desire to come together, and we are looking for ways to do just that,” said Mary Ann Cassell, a part-time math instructor. Cassell is a member of the interim governing council that is working to develop the structure of the new organization. The council is composed of both full-time and part-time instructors.

Organizing part-time faculty has been a challenge throughout California. Just trying to locate instructors around campus can be a major hurdle. But recruiting efforts by the Sierra College Faculty Association were made a bit easier when management “threw all” of the part timers into the mail room. Enrollment in the organization went from 15 part-time faculty members a year ago to 178 this year. While the number is healthy, there are 780 part timers teaching at Sierra. In contrast, there are 120 full-time instructors in the association out of a pool of 178 total full-time faculty.

“One of our main reasons for coming together is that there is only so much negotiating time and that often gets split between full and part-time faculty. We thought the administration would play us off against each other,” said Jim Weir, a part-time physical education instructor. “We’re reforming ourselves to do joint negotiations.”

The full-time faculty at Sierra is responding positively to the merger.

“We want part-time faculty speaking up for part-timers,” said Ralph Eavenson, a full-time English instructor who sits on the governing council. “I’m not confident I can speak up for them. Even when you think you know their issues. Unemployment hasn’t been an issue for full-timers since the 1970s.”

Part-timers are becoming well-versed on their own issues. From office hours to STRS deductions, part-timers have a laundry list of indignities they would like addressed. The mother organization, California Teachers Association, has made the organizing effort among full and part-time instructors easier over the years.

Changes in the dues structure has brought in more faculty and offering a single rate for part-time instructors has also resulted in a surge in their ranks.

The governing council of the association at Sierra has work ahead of it. The council is in the process of developing a constitution and bylaws as well as determining fair representation of full-time and part-time faculty on the board.

“We’re trying to develop a structure that will satisfy everyone,” Weir said.

At least one of the obstacles to recruiting committed part-time faculty members to the governing board has been an issue that already divides instructors: pay.

“Part-time faculty that serve on committees don’t get release time or paid stipends. We’re here out of the goodness of our hearts,” Weir said. “It really does become a huge time burden for us.”

And, while both full-time and part-time faculty members on the governing council acknowledge there is still much to do to get the new organization off the ground, they are aiming for a fall election.

“Once this happens, then we will truly be a unified group. We want to be one unit,” Cassell said.