Professional Staff Congress/City University of New York
sa aera cer NPR ae Site bce

25 West 43rd Street

oe PSC
New York, New York 10036 Cur ty

felephone: (212) 354-1252

November 18, 1985 _ PART-TIME PERSONNEL

Dear Colleague:

It gives me particular pleasure this year to review the rights of part-time faculty,
since this affords me the opportunity to tell you of the recent benefits the union
has achieved on your behalf. (Please note that if you are teaching in a continuing
education program, you are covered by a separate contract).

The purpose of this review is more than theoretical. Your most important right

is the one that allows you to grieve violations of the rights given to you by the
contract and university bylaws and policies. You cannot effectively exercise that
right unless you are familiar with your contractual terms and conditions of employ-
ment. I urge you therefore to study the following carefully and, whenever you
think that a violation has occurred, contact me as soon as possible. Because of
time limitations on the filing of grievances, prompt action is necessary. Then,

in consultation with union grievance and legal counsel, we can determine if a vio-
lation has taken place and what the most effective course of action may be.

Health Insurance Benefits: Under the 1984-1987 contract, adjuncts who are teaching
Six or more hours or the equivalent per semester and who have taught one or more
courses in the same department at the same college for ten consecutive semesters,
not including summer sessions, and who are not covered by other primary health care
insurance, will be provided with health care benefits. This coverage will begin

on February 1, 1986.

Waiver of Tuition Fees: Under the 1984-1987 contract, an adjunct who has taught

one or more courses in the same department of the same college for ten consecutive
semesters (not including summer sessions) and who is appointed to teach a course of
not fewer than three contact hours per week in the fall or spring semester, is
elegible for tuition remission for up to one course in that semester. On the graduate
evel, this will be on a space available basis.

Workload: Adjuncts are permitted to teach two courses or 60 percent of the department
average classroom contact load, whichever is less, atone unit of CUNY:—= plus one
additional course (not to exceed six hours) at another branch of CUNY.

It should also be remembered that as hourly employees, adjuncts who have teaching
responsibilities cannot be asked to assume any additional responsibilities without
remuneration at their regular hourly rate. This includes work at registration,
committee assignments and attendance at meetings of any sort. Adjuncts teaching
courses that require conference hours must be paid for those hours.

Salary Increments: Increments are based upon length of service. Adjuncts who

have taught six semesters over a period of three years (including summers), have not
received an increment during that period of time and are not at the top of the schedule
are entitled to an increment as of July 1 following the completion of six semesters.

”

Salary Increases: Increases, as distinguished from increments described above,

are not dependent upon length of service. The 1984-1987 contract provides for

a 5% increase effective September 1, 1984, a 5% increase effective September 1, 1985,
and a 6% increase effective September 1, 1986, all based on the August 31, 1984, salary
rate. Faculty at community colleges should receive a check in November which will
include the 1984 increase, whereas faculty at the senior colleges must await legis-
lative appropriation. We anticipate that this will occur early next year. (It should
be noted that many people at the community colleges are already being paid at the

new rate.)

Pay Dates: As a result of pressure brought by the PSC the chancellor has agreed to
pay adjuncts earlier in each semester. The new schedule calls for nine pay dates
each semester. This improvement represents a long sought after benefit for CUNY
adjuncts. Some colleges are still not meeting these payroll dates but your union
is working toward 100% compliance.

(over)


Observations: The current agreement provides for classroom observations by a member
of the department for the first ten semesters and thereafter at the request of either
the chairperson or the adjunct. The person being observed must be given 24 hours
prior notice.

Evaluations: The annual evaluation is a means of reviewing an employee's total
academic performance and professional progress. The contract requires evaluations
for four semesters. Thereafter, evaluations may be requested by the chairperson
or the adjunct and, if by the adjunct, they may be held no more frequently than
every four semesters.

Personnel Files: Observations and evaluations make up the bulk of your "personal"
personnel file. Nothing should be placed in it without your knowledge, signified
by signing the document. You have the right to append to the document any comments
you wish to make. To be certain that you are aware of all the file's contents,
examine it periodically.

Reappointment and Non-reappointment: Adjuncts are to be notified of reappointment

or non-reappointment by December 1 or April 1. Such notification shall be subject

to budgetary conditions, changes in curriculum and sufficiency of enrollment. Changes
in any of these which impact upon your employment must be communicated to you as

soon as the college is aware of the situation. A recent arbitration establishes

as a "benchmark" the first day that the adjunct teaches for determining the date
beyond which the offer to teach cannot be rescinded.

Jury Duty: Members of the bargaining unit who "are required to serve on a jury"
are entitled to be paid their regular Salary during such absences provided that they
give to the university any compensation they receive for jury duty.

Promotions: Adjuncts are entitled to be considered for promotion on the basis of

the same criteria that are applied to full-time staff.

Travel Funds: Adjuncts are eligible for travel allowances for attendance at pro-

fessional meetings and conferences on the same basis as full-time faculty.

Leaves: Adjuncts are entitled to miss one hour per semester for each hour they teach

per week without any loss of pay. The reason for such absence may be either illness
or personal emergency.

I urge you to report to me as soon as possible any violations of the rights
enumerated here -- especially in a nonreappointment matter -- and to contact me
any time that you have questions regarding your employment at CUNY.

The gains made by adjuncts in PSC contracts reflect continued efforts by the union
to advance our interests. If you are not yet a member of the Professional Staff
Congress, I urge you to get an application form by calling our office. Membership
in your union will give you a voice in setting union policy and will help strengthen
the reprsentation of adjuncts in university-wide affairs.

Sincerely,

(> fre
aw
Susan B. Prager

Vice President
Part-Time Personnel

/am

Opeiu #153
November 15, 1985
rev: 12/20/85