Fall courses are beginning, so here is an updated Q&A for all part-time faculty members in the University of Maine System. Have a question? PATFA now has a dedicated phone line, 207-262-7971. PATFA officers check it during the work week. And PATFA is on Facebook: PATFA@aftmaine. Like us.
All part-time faculty members in the University of Maine System are covered by the same contract.
So here are some frequently asked questions and brief answers, updated to help as you plan your work in fall 2017:
1. Who is covered by “PATFA”? The Part-time Faculty Association of Maine represents the nearly 1,900 adjuncts (part-time faculty members) who teach in any of the seven universities within the University of Maine System.
2. What is PATFA? It is a local union (No. 4593) of the American Federation of Teachers, which is affiliated with the American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO).
3. What does PATFA do? It is contractually obligated to negotiate with the University of Maine System on behalf of part-time faculty. In other words, PATFA is the sole bargaining agent for adjuncts (meaning the System can negotiate with no other entity on part-time faculty issues). And PATFA must bargain with the System.
4. Who qualifies as an “adjunct”? The System considers adjuncts “unit members” if 1) they teach credit courses or credit-equivalent developmental or basic courses; 2) have been doing so for at least two of the four most recent fall or spring semesters; and 3) are employed in the current semester. (Summers do not count.)
4a. I’m just in my first or second semester. Does that mean I’m not covered by the PATFA contract? ALL adjuncts are covered by the contract, but the System does not count you as a “unit member” until the third semester.
5. Do I have to join PATFA? No. You have three choices. 1) Become a voting member of PATFA by filling out a membership form. Dues will be deducted twice in the fall and twice in the spring; 2) Choose to have a representation fee deducted to cover the costs associated with negotiation and continued administration of the contract; 3) Contribute to an education fund.
6. How much do these choices cost? Dues are $70.30 per semester. Dues for members are withheld in October and November of the fall semester, and February and March of the spring semester. The representation fee totals $59.60 per semester. The education fund is the same as membership dues.
7. Does PATFA do more than bargain for a contract? Yes. Through its officers and campus representatives, PATFA works to protect individual unit members’ interests and rights. This can include working with administrators to solve problems, filing grievances, and communicating with full-time faculty, administrators, and part-time faculty members about their rights and responsibilities. PATFA cannot strike, but it works to resolve problems and enhance the work environment for all System adjuncts.
8. Which universities are involved in “the System”? The University of Maine in Orono; the University of Maine at Fort Kent; the University of Maine at Presque Isle; the University of Maine at Machias; the University of Maine at Farmington; the University of Southern Maine (with campuses in Gorham, Portland, and Lewiston-Auburn); and the University of Maine at Augusta (which has campuses in Bangor and Augusta and includes nine University College sites around the state).
9. Does the PATFA contract cover work at the Maine Community College System? No.
10. What do I need to know my first semester teaching part-time at one of Maine’s public universities?
A) Your supervisor should give you basic information about the specific job you are hired for at least 30 days before the start of the semester (but exceptions are allowed for last-minute course changes). All part-time faculty members are entitled to a faculty ID card; an @maine.edu email account; “normal access” to campus libraries; “normal access at reasonable times” to university instructional media facilities and equipment, duplicating equipment for teaching-related use, clerical assistance (with limits); and access to campus athletic facilities. Article 23 of the PATFA contract has details.
B) You must fill out an “availability form” (available online at http://www.uma.edu/assets/docs/admin/partTimeTeaching.pdf) and return it to your immediate supervisor, who keeps it in your personnel file. The form indicates the times you are available for work. You should update it annually.
11. What does the System keep in my personnel file? When you are hired, your supervisor is supposed to start a file that contains: A) an updated individual curriculum vitae (a résumé); B) all written evaluations; C) your availability form and notices of official teaching assignments; and any written reprimands; but no anonymous or unattributed materials. You have a right to inspect the file.
12. Will I be evaluated? Adjuncts may be evaluated “to maintain and promote academic standards and to assess qualifications and competency,” according to the PATFA contract. Every course concludes with students filling out evaluations; the contract calls for written evaluations by faculty or department or divisional chairs to be done every fourth semester.
13. What is “the contract” and is it different for full-time faculty members? The “contract” is the bargaining agreement between PATFA and the System. Full-time faculty members, classified employees, professional staff members, and other employees in the System are covered by different contracts.
14. Where can I get a copy of the contract? It is available online through the PATFA website (http://patfa.me.aft.org/) and through the University of Maine System website (http://staticweb.maine.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/PATFA-contract-2015-2017.pdf?565a1d). The current contract is 26 pages long, indexed, and written in plain English.
15. How can I find out my rank, my seniority, and my pay? Ask your supervisor and look at the PATFA contract. The contract defines three important components: A) “service units” (essentially one semester equals one service unit); B) “service lists” (essentially a campus-based seniority list); and C) “rank” (usually as Lecturer I, II, or III or instructor, assistant professor, associate professor, or professor – each with a distinctive pay scale). Your monthly pay stub will list your rank. Article 19 of the contract gives specific minimum dollar amounts per credit hour.
16. How do I get paid? By direct deposit on the last business day of the month. Fall semester adjuncts are paid four times (September through December), spring semester adjuncts are paid five times (January through May), summer adjuncts are paid based on the length of their courses.
17. Can I have my pay divided over 12 months? Only if you are eligible for and accept an “Academic Year Appointment.” More about that below.
18. What is an AYA (Academic Year Appointment)? Available to adjuncts who have earned at least 16 “service units” (similar to 16 semesters) and who have taught at least two courses in each of the previous six semesters. The appointment means the adjunct agrees to teach whichever course the appointing university assigns; in turn, the appointing university agrees to offer at least two courses per semester to that adjunct. Adjuncts with AYAs may also be asked to serve on academic committees or perform related tasks.
19. Will my university let me know if I am entitled to a new rank? Maybe. Sometimes adjuncts are formally notified in writing of new options; sometimes supervisors are unaware that you are about to become eligible for a change in status. A wise choice is to keep track of your own status as well as the current contract’s options, and to alert your supervisor when you believe you are eligible for a change in status (for example, from Lecturer I to Lecturer II, which pays more per credit hour).
20. Does pay per course differ among the seven universities? No. If it does, you should let PATFA know.
21. May I teach as many courses as possible? Not within the System. Generally, you are not allowed under the contract to teach more than three courses per semester systemwide (i.e., at one or several campuses). On the other hand, you cannot be compelled to accept assignment of more than one course per semester if you so choose.
22. Am I eligible for health care insurance? Maybe. The System is required to offer group health insurance coverage up to the level of family coverage to adjuncts who teach two or more courses per semester and who have earned six “service units” (semesters). If you are eligible, the System will pay 60 percent of the premium cost. Some dental coverage is offered, too.
23. Am I eligible for retirement benefits? Adjuncts who have earned at least 25 “service units” (semesters) are eligible for a defined contribution plan through TIAA-CREF. The adjunct’s 4 percent contribution is matched by 10 percent from the System for any fall or spring semester in which the adjunct is employed by the System.
24. Do I get any break on tuition? Yes. A) Each adjunct who completes a semester teaching at least one course accrues a tuition waiver of up to 4 credit hours per semester. The waiver must be used within 12 months of being earned, and it can apply to summer courses. B) The spouse or dependent children of adjuncts are eligible for a waiver of one-fourth tuition if they attend a System university full time. This does not apply to mini-courses or summer courses.
25. Do I get reimbursed for use of my car? Only if the adjunct is on assigned, non-campus university business. The rate is based on what the state of Maine pays for reimbursement. The round trip must exceed 30 miles. The reimbursement is calculated from either the assigning campus or the adjunct’s residence, whichever distance is closer, to the assigned non-campus location.
26. Do I have to pay to park my car on campus? Several campuses have free parking. Under the contract, adjuncts shall not pay more than the following amounts for an academic year parking fee: University of Maine $35. University of Southern Maine $25. University of Maine at Presque Isle $10.
27. Do I get a work space or a telephone?
A) Work space. Usually. The contract says, “Unit members will be available to students for consultation and assistance as may be practicable considering space limitations.” The hiring university is supposed to make reasonable efforts to help adjuncts obtain “appropriate facilities” for teaching-related responsibilities.
B) Phone. The contract does not specify anything about office phones. All adjuncts are assigned a System email address.
28. Do I earn any paid leave? Not in the sense of vacation leave. But an adjunct can be excused without loss of pay from classroom responsibilities for up to four days following the death of an immediate family member.
29. What are the grievance procedures for adjuncts? Grievance procedures are spelled in carefully in two and a half pages of the contract. In general, the contract presents a course of informal procedure followed by formal procedure. PATFA designates one of its members as a grievance officer. See Article 17 of the contract for details.
30. Can I be fired? Yes. The contract lays out your rights as well as the System’s rights. Essentially, the process is fivefold: A) oral reprimand; B) written reprimand; C) suspension with pay; D) suspension without pay; E) termination. See Article 18 of the contract for details.
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Contacts:
Michele Cheung, PATFA president: mjcheung@maine.rr.edu
Tom McCord, PATFA secretary: tom.mccord@maine.edu
Snail mail: PATFA, Room 311, Belfast Hall, UMA-Bangor, 85 Texas Ave., Bangor ME 04401-4340. Office phone: 207-262-7971. FB: PATFA@aftmaine.
PATFA website: www.patfa.me.aft.org