Copyright© 2005 by School Services of California, Inc.
Volume 18 For Publication Date: December 2, 2005 No. 24
Board of Governors
Certifies District Obligation
for Full Time Faculty Hires
By November 20 of each year, the
Board of Governors determines whether adequate growth funds and adequate
cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) funds have been provided to allow full or
partial implementation of a district’s full-time faculty hiring obligations.
Generally, districts must employ a specified minimum number of full-time faculty
each fall term. This requirement is expressed in terms of full-time faculty
equivalent positions and is commonly refered to as the full-time faculty
“obligation.” In years in which the BOG determines that adequate COLA and
growth funds are available for full implementation, each district’s obligation
increases approximately by its percentage increase in funded full-time
equivalent students (FTES) in credit courses.
Current law specifies a goal of
having 75% of the hours of credit instruction taught by full-time instructors.
Most districts over the years have been unable to reach the 75% goal. The
difficulty in attaining the 75% goal reflects, in part, the chronic underfunding
of community colleges and also the specific failure of the Legislature to
designate adequate amounts of funding for “program improvement.” The
Chancellor’s Office budget request for 2006-07 includes $40 million to
boost progress toward the 75% goal.
The 2005-06 Budget Act includes $136.7 million for enrollment growth for general apportionment (a statewide average of 3% growth) and also includes $198.5 million for a general apportionment COLA of 4.23%. This appropriation fully funds the COLA called for under state law. Thus, the Chancellor’s Office analysis indicates that the 2005-06 Budget Act provides adequate growth and COLA funds for full implementation of the increases in district obligations to employ full-time faculty. Under this action, each district’s obligation would be increased by its percentage increase in funded credit FTES.
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