Support AB 2705 |
Dear Senator,
I am a concerned constituent of your Senate district and a proud member of UPTE-CWA Local 9119. Contingent faculty at our California community colleges take their roles as instructors and public servants very seriously but have been abused by the system for far too long. They are required to have the same qualifications as tenure-track faculty but are paid far less and have far fewer benefits. Many community college districts allow contingent faculty little or no input into department, curriculum or academic decisions.
Furthermore, students taught by contingent faculty are not allowed the same educational advantages as students who are taught by full-time faculty members because contingent faculty are often not given the opportunity to conduct office hours on campus. Currently, 69% of faculty at our community colleges are contingent.
Cleaning up California's Education Code language, AB 2705 (Williams) takes a modest step toward adequately describing their roles as contingent faculty members. It is time to stop demeaning the role of contingent faculty and to begin recognizing the key role that they serve in our education system. Both the Employment Development Department and Legislative Counsel have agreed that AB 2705 will have no effect on their ability to qualify for unemployment insurance if and when work is not available due to enrollment, funding, or program needs.
Thank you for your support of AB 2705.
I am a concerned constituent of your Senate district and a proud member of UPTE-CWA Local 9119. Contingent faculty at our California community colleges take their roles as instructors and public servants very seriously but have been abused by the system for far too long. They are required to have the same qualifications as tenure-track faculty but are paid far less and have far fewer benefits. Many community college districts allow contingent faculty little or no input into department, curriculum or academic decisions.
Furthermore, students taught by contingent faculty are not allowed the same educational advantages as students who are taught by full-time faculty members because contingent faculty are often not given the opportunity to conduct office hours on campus. Currently, 69% of faculty at our community colleges are contingent.
Cleaning up California's Education Code language, AB 2705 (Williams) takes a modest step toward adequately describing their roles as contingent faculty members. It is time to stop demeaning the role of contingent faculty and to begin recognizing the key role that they serve in our education system. Both the Employment Development Department and Legislative Counsel have agreed that AB 2705 will have no effect on their ability to qualify for unemployment insurance if and when work is not available due to enrollment, funding, or program needs.
Thank you for your support of AB 2705.