"Infrequent Flyer"
Octboer 1, 2001
"Infrequent Flyer"
Octboer 1, 2001
Mendocino College Part-time
Faculty Association
October 1, 2001 infrequent flyer
Visit our website---www.mpfa.org
Dear Part-time Faculty Colleague,
2001 has been a year of great change. Here at Mendocino College this month, we get a new MC president in the form of Dr. Marilyn Brock. Our thanks to part-time mathematics instructor Mike Pappin, who served on the screening committee that helped select the new president. Geri Burrell has joined King Collins as our representation to the MC Academic
Senate, and Victoria Patterson has agreed to serve on the curriculum committee.
MPFA is beginning a phone survey of part-time faculty this fall in order to find out what you would like to see us doing in the future. Remember--as you think about and respond to this survey--to let us know what YOUR talent, skill and abilities are, especially those you are willing to share. MPFA needs you. Please tell us where and how you can help the college, other part-timers, and yourself.
2001-2002 Negotiations We gave the MC District our positions back in March, and we are anticipating a written response this month. The two major issues we took to the District were 1) our pro-rata pay proposal, that would peg part-time compensation to a percentage of full-time pay, and 2) tightening our rights of assignment based on prior and current assignments.
As you are only too aware, part-time compensation (regal though it may seem at first glance), does not include time spent on such incidentals as preparing for classes, grading, communicating with students outside of class or counseling session, or even meeting with our full-time and part-time colleagues. Full-time instructor compensation is based on the assumption that these tasks involve as much time-or more-than actual hours spent in the classroom. We hope that the pro-rata proposal is the first step toward true equity pay for all faculty. The eight percent hourly increase we got last year (and six percent increases in the previous two years) doesn't address the real inequity.
Assignments have proven to be a difficult issue for our "unit members"---everyone who teaches or counsels part-time, MPFA member or not. We have pushed for language that gives those of us who have taught or counseled effectively in past semesters rights to continuing or future assignments. The administration has been reluctant to accept language that gives us true rights to such assignments, and we will push for language that makes it possible for us to know where we stand. This is the only way we can be recognized as integral parts of a college community that cannot-as things currently stand-exist without the continued labor of us "temporary" employees.
If you have any thoughts about negotiations contact Neill Bell at 463-1461, or visit your website, www.mpfa.org.
Or attend the next MPFA board meeting at 5:30, Thursday, Oct. 11, Ukiah Brewing Company (State at Perkins Streets, Ukiah).