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Non-tenure profs examine current policies |
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Thursday, 09 February 2006 |
by MALLORI MORRIS
News Reporter
Non-tenure faculty could see a change in their work conditions this spring when the Faculty Senate Non-tenure Track Faculty Committee presents a recommendation to the provost to update policies and procedures.
The committee’s plan is to compile a report of non-tenure complaints about current policies, including health benefits.
“Our mission is to look at policies related to non-tenure faculty,”
accounting lecturer and committee co-chair Kitty Rominger, said. “We
want to improve conditions for non-tenure.”
Rominger is full time, but non-tenure: she works contract to contract,
whereas other universities and departments within Appalachian allow
faculty to sign contracts for multiple years.
The report already addresses the issue of benefits for non-tenure and
half-time faculty, a call for longer contracts and a career ladder for
faculty to progress in titles, management professor and committee
member Dr. Hugh Hindman said.
Hindman said the issue of benefits for non-tenure faculty is just one
part of the recommendation, but it needs to be looked into further.
Hindman said, as the wording stands now, half-time faculty members
teach two classes and have to purchase their own health insurance.
Three-quarter time and full-time faculty automatically become eligible for benefits through the university.
Hindman said he does not understand how six-eighth faculty members,
teaching four classes one semester and two the next, are not considered
three-quarter time to receive benefits.
“If it’s in the health care plan we would have to get the state to
change it, but if it’s an
administration wording problem, it could get
changed tomorrow,” Hindman said.
Appalachian State attorney David Larry said the issue of benefits is a
state health plan and if
faculty qualify, they should get their
benefits.
The committee has already presented the recommendation to the
University of North Carolina system Board of Governors, who approved
the plan.
The committee is now modeling the recommendation after a study done in 2003 by the UNC system, Rominger said.
The study focused on complaints of non-tenure faculty regarding
policies and procedures they would like to see changed in the future.
Rominger said the committee is trying to adapt those findings to Appalachian’s recommendation.
“Of course it’s going to come down to money, and we know Appalachian is already stretched on money,” Rominger said.
Rominger said Appalachian is eager to hear about ways they can improve
non-tenure faculty changes without spending money, such as career
ladders or longer contracts, but issues involving money will be looked
at more carefully.
“It’s not something that has never been addressed in the past, it’s just something that has never been resolved,” Hindman said.
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