Do you feel safe in the classroom? Are you concerned about your classroom freedom? Do you know your responsibilities?
Our 2017-19 PATFA contract covers some of this ground – but other university rules come into play here too. To help clarify, the Part-time Faculty Association (PATFA), which represents all adjuncts in the University of Maine System, is sharing details about the PATFA contract. This post covers academic freedom, health and safety, and non-discrimination language in the contract.
Here is our No. 1 tip: If you have a concern or serious problem with a student or students in one of your courses, communicate that to your immediate supervisor and to your university’s Human Resources contact. Both our contract and Board of Trustees policy say you should report a threat of bodily harm immediately to law enforcement as well. HR has a responsibility to you as an employee. Too many times PATFA has learned of adjuncts who report student problems to their university’s student affairs office or dean of students. Those people have a responsibility to look out for the rights of students. HR and your supervisor are supposed to be looking out for your rights.
Health and safety language also covers working conditions and even classroom maintenance. We know of one teacher who was mid-lecture when wind blew a window into the room, injuring one student. While common sense might dictate reporting such an incident to maintenance and campus security, PATFA suggests making sure HR and your supervisor know about it too. You are an employee, in charge of a class, and your paper trail would be important if the injured student wound up suing the System.
Academic freedom also covers a lot of ground. The PATFA contract language below is clear. But we include a link to two recently revised UMS Board of Trustees policies: “Institutional Authority on Political Matters,” revised March 19, 2018, and “Free Speech, Academic Freedom, and Civility,” revised March 27, 2017. They are long, but every adjunct should read them carefully.
Finally, PATFA urges some common sense. Before starting any course, make sure your syllabus contains the language your university requires or expects for such matters as student privacy, non-discrimination, academic dishonesty. And practice what you preach.
Here is Article 3 – Academic Freedom, full text from 2017-19 PATFA contract:
“The Board [of Trustees] and the Union acknowledge that academic freedom is essential to the fulfillment of the purposes of the University. The parties acknowledge and encourage the continuation of an atmosphere of confidence and freedom while recognizing that the concept of academic freedom is accompanied by a corresponding concept of responsibility to the University and its students.
“Unit members shall be free from any censorship, threat, restraint, or discipline by the University with regard to the pursuit of truth in the performance of their teaching, research, publishing or service obligation.
“Unit members shall have freedom in classroom presentations and discussion provided that the presentation and discussion are relevant.
“Unless specifically authorized, unit members may not act or speak on behalf of the University.”
Here is Article 24 – Non-Discrimination, full text from 2017-19 PATFA contract:
“The University and the Union agree not to discriminate illegally with respect to wages, hours, and working conditions based upon race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, including transgender status or gender expression, national origin, citizenship status, age, disability, genetic information, veterans status, or membership or non-membership in the Union.”
Here is Article 28 – Health and Safety, full text from 2017-19 PATFA contract:
“A. The University recognizes a responsibility to provide an environment intended to protect the health and safety of unit members, including applicable law and regulations, as they carry out their responsibilities. All unit members will abide by University safety regulations and will use appropriate safety equipment and protective clothing required and provided by the University.
“B. Each campus shall publicize a telephone number for use by unit members in the event of an emergency, designate available telephones for such use and designate an administrator who shall be responsible for the health, safety and security issues on that campus and for publicizing the campus's emergency procedures.
“C. Any unit member who in the performance of his/her job is the recipient of a threat of bodily harm by a student, member of the public, or faculty or staff, shall immediately report the incident to his or her administrator and to appropriate law enforcement officials as necessary. The unit member who is threatened may order the departure of the threatening person from the classroom or office.”
REMEMBER: This post is from PATFA, not Human Resources. Each part-time faculty member receives a “contract” from the provost that offers specific course work and specific pay. That is a contract. But the “PATFA contract” is also a legally binding document that affects you and the University of Maine System. (And don’t let anybody at one of the seven System universities say, “Well, we don’t do it that way here.” The PATFA contract is binding on all seven universities.)
From your PATFA Executive Council: Michele Cheung, USM, president; Jim Seymour, UMA, vice president; Pam Mitchel, UMF, treasurer; and Tom McCord, UMA, secretary.
Website: http://patfa.me.aft.org/
PATFA office: 311 Belfast Hall, UMA Bangor, 85 Texas Ave., Bangor, ME 04401-4340.
PATFA office phone: (207) 262-7971 (checked weekdays).
Facebook: PATFA@aftmaine
Email: patfa@maine.edu