Do you know which course sections you will teach in Spring 2016? In most cases, adjuncts at the seven University of Maine System universities should have received a proposed assignment by Nov. 20 (about 60 days from the start of classes). “Official” assignments – usually in the form of a course contract – usually come about 30 days from start of classes.
Spring 2016 classes at all seven universities start either Jan. 19 or 20.
We point this out (and reproduce the PATFA contract language below) because we have noticed that some UMS adjuncts have been left in the dark on assignments this fall – even as the course sections they usually teach have been scheduled on Maine Street as “staff.”
We believe a good-faith reading of the PATFA contract means a section that has been taught by the same adjunct for several semesters should be scheduled on Maine Street with that adjunct’s name.
Here is the language from Article 12, PATFA contract (still in force):
“A. Assignments shall be made by the appropriate University administrator. Such assignment shall be for a specific course or other duties.
B. An official assignment occurs only upon receipt of written notification from the University.
C. Unit members shall receive information regarding their proposed teaching assignment for the next semester at least sixty (60) days prior to the start of that semester when possible and shall receive the official assignment at least thirty (30) days prior to the start of that semester when possible.
D. Changes in official assignments may be made in the event of unusual or unforeseen circumstances or by mutual agreement of the unit member and the appropriate administrator.
E. Courses may be retracted at any time by the appropriate administrator, or may not be offered to a unit member due to lack of work or enrollment or budgetary or programmatic considerations.
F. Unit members shall receive a cancellation payment when an official assignment is retracted within one (1) month prior to the first class meeting. Such payment shall be five percent (5%) of the amount which was to be paid for the course.
G. Unit members shall receive a cancellation payment when an official assignment is retracted after the first class meeting in the amount of five percent (5%) plus a proportional basis for any actual classes met.
H. In the event the retracted official assignment was a course determined by the appropriate administrator to have required significant academic preparation or to be a course not previously taught by the unit member, cancellation payments specified above shall be ten percent (10%).
I. Assignment of unanticipated courses which require the services of unit members shall be made as soon as possible after the appropriate administrator renders that determination.
J. When course assignments to part-time faculty are known prior to publication of a course offerings schedule, the name(s) of the unit member(s) will be published in that schedule. ..."
Your PATFA board: Michele Cheung, president; Jim Seymour, vice president; Pam Mitchel, treasurer; Tom McCord, secretary