The Wave

by Lee Shainen, Pima Community College

Many of us have participated in and certainly all of us have seen "The Wave." It looks good. It even feels good. Its power, however, comes from the immediate sensation of seeing or participating in such unified, large-scaled cooperation and timing.

Such a wave is being coordinated around America and Canada for the week of October 28 - November 3. It's called Campus Equity Week. Don't miss it. It might not ever happen again.

Find out what's being planned at your campus. Perhaps help get something started. Check out the websites mentioned elsewhere in this newsletter. Talk to your colleagues about the issues that really need addressing. Then stand up on your seats shouting and waving!

Lest I sound like some maniac, I'd like to include my own personal, quiet way of waving. I believe in cooperation. I think, ultimately, that is the spirit that educational institutions must embody to maintain their rightful place in the preservation of a democracy. In other words, how we treat each other matters.

We are models for the citizen-students that pass through our classes. As such, we must not allow, or endorse through our silence, corporate patterns to dominate our educational system. What that means is that as educators we must not allow the enormous distinction between full and part-time faculty to continue. Full-time faculty members need to champion their profession by supporting and including part-timers in their associations, organizations, and campus meetings.

Remember, to the student, faculty is faculty. Should not we see each other that way as well?

At Pima Community College, where I serve on the Faculty Senate, we have recently changed the senate charter to include adjunct representation from each of the campuses. This amendment was passed with only one dissenting vote. That's cooperation! And, it really does feel good.

As chair of the Adjunct Committee, I am currently introducing the proposal mentioned in the box. It is adapted from the sample found on the AAUP national website <http://www.aaup.org/index.htm>. I imagine variations of it will be brought to faculty senates throughout Canada and America in the weeks to come. It is an exciting prospect and a wonderful opportunity for full-timers to demonstrate their solidarity with part-timers and their commitment to their profession.

Faculty Senate Resolution

Whereas:

There is no distinction made in the course fees or the curriculum of the classes taught by full-time and part-time faculty.

Whereas:

Students are entitled to equal access to all their instructors through established office hours.

Whereas:

The status of all faculty is undermined by the degree of exploitation the profession allows of its members.

Whereas:

Failure to extend to all faculty reasonable professional commitments compromises quality and risks the stability of the profession and the integrity of our standing with the public.

Be it resolved that:

Compensation for part-time employment should be the corresponding fraction for a full-time position having qualitatively similar responsibilities and qualifications. Compensation should include such essential fringe benefits as health insurance, life insurance, and retirement contributions.

Fully compensated office hours for adjunct faculty should be established and maintained. In addition, all faculty should be represented in ongoing meet and confer processes with the administration.