Copyright© 2000 by School Services of California, Inc.
By the Way . . .
Use of Part-Time Faculty in the Community Colleges. Over the past
five years the use of part-time instructors in the California community college
system has become a political lightening rod. Numerous pieces of legislation
have been sponsored by union and faculty organizations with the goal of proving
part-timers with more compensation and benefits. The concern about the use
of part-time instructors is not new, going back more than 15 years when AB
1725 set a staffing goal of 75% full-time faculty and no more than 25% part-time
faculty. As the system is quite aware, the ratio of 75/25 varies greatly
among the 71 community college districts. Last year, legislation was approved
that required the California Postsecondary Education Commission (CPEC) to
study the use of part-time faculty by community colleges. CPEC's report is
expected to be submitted to the Legislature early next year.
Because of the political activism of some part-timers, reaching a compromise on the use of part-time instructors has not been easy. Management tends to view the issue as one of local control based on resources, flexibility and student needs. Part-timers use rhetoric such as "misuse" and "abuse" of temporary faculty. They also speculate that reducing the number of part-timers will reduce administrative cost and stress, simplify employment structures and allow greater focus on student success. Hopefully, the CPEC study will provide policy makers with an objective and balanced view regarding the use of part-time faculty, and the Legislature and Governor will provide the necessary fiscal resources to improve their compensation and benefits.
According to the Chancellor's Office 1998 data, in 1982 there were 25,319 part-time faculty employed in the system compared to 30,747 in 1998. The average hourly rate of pay of part-timers is $40.84. The average annual salary for a full-time instructor is $59,295.