Here’s a news bulletin, fellow adjunct: You’re supposed to work only part time under the Part-time Faculty Association contract with the University of Maine System. In this post explaining the 2017-19 contract, you will also find language that shows how that sometimes gets stretched. And you will find language that you cannot be forced into accepting more than one course section per semester if that is your choice.
This post covers workload, assignment of responsibilities, excused absence, use of your car, and a list of related rights that can make your work smoother.
When you teach, you are required to get two copies of your syllabi to your department chair or designee (read: administrative assistant) at least a day before the start of class. Ditto for two copies of a written final exam. The university is not required to provide you an office, so you are not compelled to hold regular office hours. But you are required to be accessible to your students.
The article on workload makes clear: an adjunct is not supposed to accept more than three courses per semester no matter how many of the seven constituent universities are involved. An exception requires written authorization from an administrator. Under the conventional 3-credit-hour standard, more than three courses in a semester is the equivalent of full-time work. And each adjunct is supposed to make sure administrators at each university where she or he teaches know about the work at the other System universities.
You should be given a university ID card, equal access to university libraries, photocopiers, and fitness centers. If you buy a parking pass, you should not pay full price. The contract says the parking rate at the University of Maine is $35; at University of Southern Maine, $25; and at the University of Maine at Presque Isle, $10. New language in the 2017-19 contract makes clear that adjuncts are eligible to serve as faculty liaisons in the System’s burgeoning early-college programs.
One area of frustration for some adjuncts involves reimbursement for auto travel. The full language is below. PATFA is aware of the limitations of that contract language and is working toward changing it.
Here is Article 13 – Assignment of Responsibilities, full text from 2017-19 PATFA contract:
“A. A unit member is expected to perform teaching duties in accord with the requirements of the University and of the particular school or college to which the unit member is assigned.
“B. Responsibilities of a unit member shall include instruction and reasonable instructional-related responsibilities as assigned by the appropriate administrator. Unit members will be available to students for consultation and assistance as may be practicable considering space limitations. Where possible the University shall make reasonable efforts to assist unit members in obtaining appropriate facilities for performing instructional-related responsibilities.
“C. Unit members shall file with the appropriate administrator, in a reasonable and timely manner as directed by the University, an accurate and complete grade list for all students registered in the course(s).
“D. Unit members shall provide the University in a timely manner with full information necessary for payroll deductions, tax obligations and employment eligibility verification.
“E. Unit members shall submit to the department chair or department designee two (2) copies of written course syllabi for each course taught at least one day prior to the first scheduled day of classes. When conducted, two (2) copies of the written final exam for each course taught shall be submitted prior to the exam. A summary of the course content and the basis for grading shall be included in the course syllabus. Exceptions to the above may be granted by the appropriate administrator.
“F. Unit members are expected to be available to perform contracted academic obligations at the University during the period of employment.
“G. In the event that there is no faculty office space provided and/or no other appropriate university space is available, the expectation that unit members hold office hours may not apply. However, the obligation to be available to students for consultation and assistance remains a required faculty duty.”
Here is Article 14 – Workload, full text from 2017-19 PATFA contract:
“A. Unit members shall be offered courses determined to be available by the appropriate administrator in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
“B. Unit members who have expressed their availability shall be informed of available summer session and mini-session course offerings in their department or division.
“C. Unit members may request to participate in university, college, department or division meetings, committees, councils and functions as provided in applicable governance procedures or documents. When such participation is permitted, the appropriate administrator shall accommodate requests which do not interfere with the unit member's assigned obligations.
“D. Unit members may accept assignments at more than one campus or in more than one department or division at a campus. Where such assignments are accepted, it is the obligation of the unit member to notify all hiring administrators. A unit member who does not provide such notice may be removed from the service list.
“E. Without specific written authorization from the administrators of the employing units, no unit member shall accept the assignment of more than three (3) courses in a semester irrespective of the number of campuses or departments or divisions offering assignments. Violation of this provision may result in termination and removal from the service list.
“F. Unit members shall not be required to accept the assignment of more than one (1) course in a semester. Refusal of assignment under this provision shall not result in any change of service status for the unit member.
“G. Unit members may participate in the University’s Early College initiatives where appropriate and available and may be considered to serve as faculty liaisons between the University and cooperating teachers.”
Here is Article 15 – Excused Absence, full text from 2017-19 PATFA contract:
“A. A unit member shall upon request be excused without loss of pay from classroom responsibilities for up to four (4) consecutive days following the death of a member of the unit member's immediate family in order to attend the funeral and/or matters related to the death.
“B. A unit member shall upon request be excused without loss of pay from classroom responsibilities if summoned as a member of a jury panel or subpoenaed as a witness in a case not involving the unit member's personal litigation when such civic obligation conflicts with assigned responsibility. A unit member shall not be excused under this provision when appearing as an expert witness and receiving compensation for such appearance.
“C. A leave without pay may be granted for a period of up to one year so that a unit member may accept a state or federal elective or appointed position. The leave may be extended for up to three (3) successive one (1) year periods, for a total leave not to exceed four (4) years. Service units earned prior to such leave shall be retained.
“D. Proper and timely notice of the unit member's absence for these purposes shall be provided to the appropriate administrator.”
Here is Article 22 – Use of Personal Automobile, full text from 2017-19 PATFA contract:
“A. Unit members who use their personal automobiles for assigned non-campus University business shall receive reimbursement by the University at the same rate as paid by the State of Maine. If during the term of this Agreement, the official University or State of Maine mileage rates are increased, or if a higher rate is implemented for any group of University employees, the new rate shall be implemented for unit members.
“B. This reimbursement shall be calculated from the campus or the unit member's residence, which ever distance is closer, to the assigned non-campus location. To be eligible for reimbursement, the round trip distance must exceed thirty (30) miles. All claims shall be submitted on forms and at intervals as required by the appropriate administrator.
“C. Effective Fall Semester 1998 and for the term of this Agreement parking fees for unit members shall not exceed the following amounts for the academic year: UM $35; USM $25; and UMPI $10.
“Funds collected shall be used for the support of the parking programs.”
Here is Article 23 – Appurtenances, full text from 2017-19 PATFA contract:
“A. Unit members shall have normal access to campus library facilities with an appropriate, current University identification (ID) card. Unit members shall comply with all University regulations pertaining to library use.
“B. Unit members shall have normal access to campus parking facilities on a space available basis subject to University parking regulations. Unit members shall comply with all University regulations pertaining to parking.
“C. A unit member may request to attend an educational meeting, conference or convention during assigned classes. In such cases, the unit member must furnish a written request to the appropriate administrator within a reasonable period of time prior to the specific event. Bona fide requests shall not be unreasonably denied but the decision of the appropriate administrator shall be final.
“D. Unit members may ask appropriate administrators for financial assistance to attend educational meetings, conferences, or conventions, seminars, and credit or non-credit bearing courses.
“E. Unit members shall have normal access at reasonable times to University instructional media facilities or equipment for teaching related use subject to University rules and regulations.
“F. Unit members shall have normal access at reasonable times to duplicating equipment for teaching related use subject to all department or school/college or University rules and regulations. An effort will be made to allow access to these services during times classes are in session.
“G. Unit members shall have normal access at reasonable times to clerical assistance for teaching related use subject to availability and University rules and regulations.
“H. Unit members shall have normal access to campus athletic facilities.
“I. Unit members shall continue to be issued faculty I.D. cards where such cards are currently issued. Any updated faculty I.D. cards will be issued to unit members as soon as possible after assignment. These cards shall be issued for the academic year and shall not include the word temporary.
“J. The University shall forward to the Union a listing of campus and center bulletin board locations where faculty position vacancies are posted. These postings will be made in a timely manner and where available, published in existing electronic and/or print media.
K. The University shall make every effort to insure that unit members are aware of in-service workshops in their academic disciplines.”
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