BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE CURRENT CONTRACT

This summary of the contract entered into between PSUFA and PSU as of February 12, 2004 and effective through June 30, 2005 is intended to inform bargaining unit members of those portions of the contract that may be of highest interest to them. IT IS A SUMMARY ONLY. PLEASE REFER TO THE COMPLETE CONTRACT FOR DETAILS. The Article number is included for your ease in making such reference.

Article l.  RECOGNITION

Our union represents all faculty members employed less than half-time (0.5 FTE) during the academic year, and those employed during summer terms who have been a member of the bargaining unit during the previous academic year.

Article 4.  FAIR SHARE

If you are part of the bargaining unit represented by the union, even if you do not join (sign a card), you will have an amount called fair share (slightly less than the dues member pay) deducted from each of your paychecks. If you have a verifiable religious objection, the money can be paid to a nonreligious charity agreed upon by you and the union.

Article 6.  ACADEMIC FREEDOM AND RESPONSIBILITY

You are entitled to freedom in the classroom in discussing your subject, but this does not necessarily apply to controversial material unrelated to the subject. You also have freedom of expression to speak and write as an individual. This area is not subject to grievance.

Article 7.  RIGHTS OF MEMBERS

You are entitled to access to a desk or other appropriate working table, a filing cabinet, telephone, mailbox, and a room in which you can meet privately with students during your scheduled office hours. You are entitled to the same access to duplicating services, office supplies, computers, storage space, and support staff as other members of the Department or administrative unit during the regular Department office hours. Email and voice mail accounts may not be automatic but will be provided upon request to the Department chair.

The University will investigate promptly those conditions reported in writing to the Department chair as possible violations of safety or health rules or regulations, and conditions believed to be a hazard to persons or property. The member reporting the alleged unsafe conditions shall be promptly apprised of the result of the investigation.

Upon hire, employees shall be granted full library privileges for a period of one calendar year.

Article 8.  APPOINTMENT, REAPPOINTMENT, MULTIPLE-TERM APPOINTMENTS

Section 1. General

All appointments are on a fixed-term basis and are not tenure-related. Letters of offer to employ or re-employ members as Lecturers and Adjunct Ranks shall when feasible be sent at least five (5) weeks prior to the first class meeting. FTE for Lecturers and Adjunct Rank are on the basis that 1.0 FTE equals forty-five (45) course credit hours per academic year. The same standards and employment policies applicable to other professionals in the research unit apply to Research Assistants and Research Associates.

Lecturers, upon obtaining a terminal degree, will be appointed to regular academic ranks within the bargaining unit at the time of the next appointment or reappointment and members of the bargaining unit with the academic rank of Instructor shall be eligible to advance to the academic rank of Senior Instructor after completing nine academic terms of employment at the rank of Instructor.  Eligibility and process for promotion shall be consistent with university and departmental guidelines established for fixed-term faculty

Section 2. Reappointment

During winter term, the University will distribute a questionnaire to all members via e-mail.  If you wish to teach in the next year you should return the completed questionnaire to your department chair and make an appointment to meet with your department chair (or designee) to discuss your desire to teach in the next year.  In the event that several adjunct candidates for a given assignment are equivalently qualified, reappointment preference will be given to bargaining unit members based on seniority.  Seniority is achieved after six or more academic terms of employment as a member of the bargaining unit..

At the time of hire and subsequent reappointment, the department is required to explain its evaluation process. You are entitled to be notified no less than the day before any classroom observation.

Section 3.  Multiple-Term Appointments

When in the two previous academic years, a member has taught courses in four (4) of six (6) academic-year terms as the normal routine of the department, then, in subsequent years, the University shall offer the member a multiple-term contract, unless the Department does not offer a course the member is qualified to teach in two or three of the terms of the academic year, or the employee is found to perform unsatisfactorily in accordance with Article 16 (Progressive Sanctions).

Section 4. Additional Assignment Rights

If you have been awarded two or more consecutive multiple-term contracts by your department, you shall be entitled to teach a least one additional course in that department sometime in the following three (3) academic quarters, not including Summer Session.  Exceptions to this provision shall be granted if you are not qualified to teach an available course, or there are no available courses, or you refuse a course that is made available.

Article 9.  PERSONNEL FILES

The University maintains a personnel file for each member of the unit. You have the right to review your file at any time. Before anything derogatory is put in your file you should be shown and asked to sign the material. You have the right to respond and rebut any negative material.

Article 10.  GRIEVANCES

This Article provides for a procedure for the investigation and resolution of grievances. The term "grievance" means an allegation that there has been a violation, misrepresentation, or improper application of the terms of the contract.

You have the right of represent yourself in the grievance procedure but you may be accompanied or represented by a Union representative. Only the Union may advance a grievance to arbitration.

Article 12.  SALARIES

Section 1. Members at the rank of Instructor, Senior Instructor, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, and Professor will be employed at salary rates no less than the minimums that apply to full-time faculty at these ranks, provided that such minimums are at or above the minimums for Lecturers.

Section 2. As of Fall Term 2005, members of the bargaining unit who are employed as Adjunct, Lecturers, or Emeritus faculty will be appointed at a 9-month salary base rate no less than $29,250 which translates to $650 per course credit hour.  As of Fall Term 2006 the salary base rate is $30,420, which translates to $676 per credit hour.

Section 3. Pay for Research Assistants or Research Associates is no less than:

 



Members of the bargaining unite who are employed as Research Assistants or Research Associates will be appointed beginning July, 2006, for those on twelve-month appointments, or September 16, 2006, for those on nine-month appointments, at salary rates no less than the following:

Section 1. Faculty Education. The University provides a fund for faculty education of $20,000 per fiscal year for the payment of tuition for members. If you have worked four terms as a member of the bargaining unit, you may apply any term for a grant for career-related PSU courses. If accepted you will pay $24.00 per credit hour.

Section 2. Professional Development. After six terms of employment in the bargaining unit, you are eligible for professional development funds, which may include costs for research, travel, and conferences. The fund for professional development is $23,000 for each year of the current 2005-2007 contract. Grants of professional development funds are limited to $1,200 per eligible member per year.

Article 14.  HEALTH INSURANCE STIPEND AND FUND

Section 1. Voluntary Payroll Deduction for Health Insurance. The University provides a loan fund for members to borrow the sum of their premium cost needs for each year to pay for medical insurance.

Section 2. Health Insurance Fund. The fund is $80,000 each year for 2005-2007. If you have no insurance plan available to you through another source you may apply for cash assistance to buy your own insurance.

Article 15.  EXTENDED STUDIES

Everyone teaching in Extended Studies and its affiliated programs, who are or should be members of the bargaining unit (i.e., teach for-credit classes) should be provided the same information as other members concerning this agreement and their rights under it.

Article 16.  PROGRESSIVE SANCTIONS

Members shall not be disciplined or terminated during the term of their appointment without cause.

APPENDIX I:  LETTER OF AGREEMENT  (Developing Pilot Projects)

The University and the Union are working to develop a pilot project within two departments to improve job continuity and retention in hiring of part-time faculty.  The University and the Union will each appoint, within 60 days of signing the current agreement, three members to work with the selected departments to explore and test processes and procedures aimed at increasing job continuity and retention for members, and maintaining excellence in teaching and research.  The joint committee shall meet quarterly, or as needed, each year and will evaluate outcomes as an aid to bargaining the successor agreement in Spring 2007.

Download the full version:
AFT Contract, 2005-07