AFT FACE - Write Your Senator about Academic Staffing Now!

Write Your Senator about Academic Staffing Now!

Monday, 28 September 2009

uscapitol_100 Earlier this month the U.S. House passed HR 3221, the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act (SAFRA). AFT supported this important legislation which pours billions of dollars into student and institutional aid. However, we have also been working to educate Congress that, not only is there a need to improve student access to college and to find more and better ways to help students succeed once they get there, policy makers also need to attend to what is happening with regard to academic staffing. AFT President Randi Weingarten articulated that message in her letter to the U.S. House prior to the final vote on SAFRA.

So now it is on to the Senate which, as we read today, is getting ready to move its version of this legislation. We have been busy visiting Senate offices to talk about the importance of academic staffing. However, if we are going to get Congress to use federal policy to direct attention to the state of our higher education instructional workforce-and ultimately to help repair it-we are going to need your help.

Visit the AFT Legislative Action Center and send a letter to your Senators urging them to support the inclusion of language in this bill that "would permit program money to be used to create additional full-time faculty positions or to provide more stability and equitable compensation for contingent faculty." And then tell all of your colleagues to do the same. It takes just a few minutes of your day, but will help send a powerful message.

Update: It is great to see everyone's comments here on FACE Talk, but it is your Senator who needs to hear from you. Please make sure you go to the Action Center and send the letter as well as leaving a comment here.

Posted by: Michael Eissinger on 28/09/09 11:08:02
Please, include language in HR 3221 that will allow schools to hire more full-time faculty, or strengthen the stability and equitable compensation for contingent faculty. Here in California, many of the public schools have had to cut back on staffing, at a time when student aid is available. This means that much of that student aid is being rerouted to the diploma mills like University of Phoenix, National University, and other schools who will take the students' money and give them a degree that is not necessarily worth the paper it's printed on. Colleges need financial aid money, but they need to have the faculty that can provide the education our students need.
Associate Professor of Computer Science
Posted by: Ursula Wolz on 28/09/09 11:57:33
Education is critical to the US Workforce preparedness in the 21st century. Without adequate preparation the NJ young people will be unable to maintain the standard of living their parents and grandparents established in this state. Public Higher Education is not a luxury, but a necessity equal to if not more critical than physical infrastructure, and public safety.
Graduate Student/Employee
Posted by: Ryan Davis on 28/09/09 12:44:36
I am graduating with two masters degrees; anthropology and environmental science. I was born and raised in Florida and I find the higher education system in shambles. Shared governance and tenure is under increasingly more pressure from University administrations. My international colleagues are beginning to look elsewhere (not in the U.S.) for furthering their education goals and I am thinking of doing the same. I believe that this 'brain drain' is a direct result of the lack of funding and support given to Universities as well as faculty. I strongly urge the Senate and all of Congress to realize the miscalculations in educational funding and policy and begin to address them so I don't end up getting a more lucrative offer elsewhere.
support HR 3221
Posted by: Fabio Gonzalez on 28/09/09 01:40:30
Our district is on its decline when it comes to staffing our faculty since budget crisis does not allow for employment.
Posted by: Maureen Martin on 28/09/09 01:41:21
Please staff our higher education institutions with full time, tenure track staff to improve the quality of education for college students.
History Professor/President of the AFT 6157 San Jose Evergreen
Posted by: David R. Yancey on 28/09/09 01:46:31
Dear Senators,
As both of you can easily see the need for adequate funing for education is terribly lacking especially here in your own state.

However, as the demand for education increases and the costs escalate there is a corresponding need for full time faculty to provide this education. The number of full time faculty fades as administrations incorrectly calculate a good education with just anyone in front of the class. Please support the AFT's efforts to increase the number of full time faculty and improve the funding and adjunct faculty.
Posted by: Mary Durkin on 28/09/09 02:25:46
Please pass a version of HR 3221 that would permit program money to be used to create additional full-time faculty positions or to provide more stability and equitable compensation for contingent faculty.

What adjuncts are paid in ILLINOIS is shameful!
Communication Studies Instructor
Posted by: Christina S. Avila on 28/09/09 03:33:54
HR 3221 should enable schools to hire more full-time faculty and, in addition, provide equitable compensation for all adjunt faculty. With instructors who are able to focus their time, attention, and energy into ONE school--and the students they serve at that school--comes far superior teaching AND learning, enhancing the educational experience for both students and instructors alike!
Mr
Posted by: gerald klein on 28/09/09 08:24:11
My thanks to Congress for passing HR 3221, the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act. Higher education needs to be a priority, especially in this down economy. I would also urge you to include language that would permit program money to be used to create additional full-time faculty positions. There needs to be stable and equitable compensation for contingent faculty. This language is needed to provide comprehensive funding for the future of our young college students and for returning students as well.

Thank you for your consideration,

Jerry Klein
adjunct instructor
Posted by: Dennis Moran on 28/09/09 08:52:47
Dear Senators: As much as I would like better conditions and more money I urge you not to spend money we don't have. Not all of us swallow the union line. thank you Dennis Moran, San JJose City College
Associate Professor of English
Posted by: Dr. Richard Katz on 28/09/09 11:21:20
The need for full-time faculty is increasingly urgent.

At my institution, Kean University, we now have 963 adjunct instructors and 362 full-time faculty. Six years ago we had 463 adjuncts and 397 full-time faculty.

As student enrollments have increased, full-time faculty to student ratios have deteriorated.

Over the same six year period student tuition and fees have increased 65%, which means students are paying more, lots more, for less.

If congress is serious about higher education, this crisis in staffing must be remediated.

Thank you.
Associate Professor of English
Posted by: Dr. Richard Katz on 28/09/09 11:26:24
The crisis of full-time faculty staffing is increasing. Art my institiution, Kean University, we now have 963 adjunct instructors and only 364 full-time faculty. Six years ago we had 463 adjuncts and 397 full-time faculty.

As student enrollments have increased 15% and their tuition and fees increased 65%, full-time faculty to student ratios have deteriorated.

Students are paying more, lots more, for less,

Congress must address this most serious of higher education staffing.
Associate Professor of English
Posted by: Dr. Richard Katz on 28/09/09 11:41:54
Six years ago at my institution, Kean University, we had 463 adjunct instructors and 397 full-time faculty.

Now Kean University has 963 adjunct instructors and 364 full-time faculty.

At the same time administration size has increased 30% while student enrollments rose 15% and tuition and fees increased 65%.

In short students are paying lots more for a larger administration and a smaller full-time faculty. Students pay more; get less.

This is a scandal Congress must address if it is serious about higher education
Adjunct Professor, VP Union Chapter
Posted by: John L Smith on 29/09/09 10:10:50
Good Evening Colleagues:
The Federal Legislation to ensure additional full-time faculty positions, and to provide stability and equitable compensation for all Adjunct Faculty should be supported nation wide.
Adjunct Faculty comprise approxiametly 80% of the faculty at Essex County College, Newark, NJ
lecturer
Posted by: shawn tran on 30/09/09 04:29:18
Please support our college professors by allowing money going to states and institutions to be used to address academic staffing issues--specifically to hire full-time faculty and/or improve the compensation of contingent faculty.
Thank you.
Professor Smartass
Posted by: Michael Dixon on 07/10/09 02:16:18
Thanks for this great campaign! We need to make sure that any language in a bill is not OPTIONAL or revokable as too often happens with state legislation.

It would also help stimulate the economy if part time and non-tenure track faculty had enough money to do more than just survive and pay their student loan bills.

Hell, if I made more, I might even buy one of those foreclosed houses sitting empty.
Refuse to hire a Great Teacher
Posted by: Carla Richardson on 01/02/10 05:45:45
I was terminated while on Medical Leave and now am suffering a eviction, utility shut off, and no food, Myra Green, and Zelda Johnson of the Baltimore City School System has made this decision and i have not been to work in 3 wks to warrant any judgement of any sort, Ihave requested meetings with the Union leader and they said he is in total agreement with them and they will not pay or allow medical treatment and I was hurt on the job and subjected to constant harrassment but now I want my full compensation so that I can pay me rent, utilities, car note, furniture to help with recover all the things that Workers Compensation Allows for a full recovery to return to work they have tried to put over as a delusion that the State of Maryland does not take great care of its workers and I know for a fact they do, it is just their no good heart and selfish low down attitude that has generated this hate crime and I have contact the city police, State's Attorney's office, FBI to have these sinister people arrested and punished to the fullest extent of the law, I was down at the Supreme Court filing charges and the EEOC in Washington states I will not be seen or heard for another 6-8 weeks, how are my bills going to be paid, I was terminated and unemployment has denied me for no reason again and I qualify this has been a trend and I have been the target long enough, I demand help and now Carla Richardson 443-869-6711 6040 D Barstow Road Baltimore MD 21206 I am available for questioning and i am through the police going to the public media on all of the guilty parties.
Adjunct Instructor
Posted by: Raye Robertson on 06/02/10 05:52:35
Dear Michigan Senators:

If you care about the quality of higher education in our state, please do whatever you can to turn around the "race to the bottom" our schools are engaged in when it comes to the treatment of non-tenured and contingent faculty members. We are grossly underpaid, are given no health care benefits and are expected to teach more than half of the classes on Michigan's campuses! To make a living, many of us teach 4-6 classes spread out between several campuses, working 60 hour work weeks -- all to be considered and treated like part-time, contingent workers! Our work is important to the future of Michigan's economy and people -- we deserve better, and the young people of Michigan deserve a school system that values its teachers! Michigan schools should be budgeted to allow for more full-time faculty and part-time faculty should at least be eligible for fractional health care coverage from each institution, if not from a robust public option.
Thank you,
Raye Robertson
Roseville, Michigan
Adjunct Professor
Posted by: marne Foster on 09/02/10 10:14:00
Why are you cutting funds to basic skills? The green jobs of the future will NOT be filled because the majority of those desiring the jobs lack the basic skills to pursue them at this point. Why don't you change all this? You can you know.
Adjunct Instructor
Posted by: Raye Robertson on 25/02/10 07:31:00
There is a staffing crisis in American universities, and it's time to mandate/support the creation of more full-time faculty positions and to provide stable and equitable compensation and benefits for contingent faculty. The conditions under which adjunct (contingent) faculty members work is a national disgrace. We teach more than 50% of the classes in many universities, for little more than minimum wage, no benefits and no job security. This treatment of a whole class of professionals as vertitable "day laborers" is ultimately bad for American education. Our students deserve teachers who are given the support they need to deliver their best!