1. Part-timers have been told they cannot design online courses (but may teach them). I intend to ask the senate to support part-timers in being invited to propose, design AND teach online courses, just as with any other course taught in the traditional format.
2. The judicial committee is in the process of revising the part of the senate constitution which addresses the adjunct senate representative. Currently, there is one adjunct senator, elected for a two-year term by the part-timers. Historically, the Senate president-elect assists in that process and the candidates are nominated in the Spring semester. A vote is typically held at the beginning of the fall semester. One of the problems with this section of the constitution is that it requires that one be working at Cypress during the term they serve. While this sounds logical on the surface, it presents quite a problem for part-timers, given that there are times when, for various reasons, one might not be teaching for a semester, through no fault of their own. This has been the case with the past senator and is now the case with myself. The consitution needs to include a contingency plan for such situations (such as allowing a senator to serve, if they wish to do so, even though they might not have a class this semester). Further, I intend to ask the committee to add a clause to allow for TWO adjunct senators. 2/3 of all faculty at Cypress are Part-time. We currently number approximately 450 people. Because of our numbers, we should be represented by two senators on the senate.
3. Cypress College has no official policy regarding whether or not a part-time faculty member can sit on a hiring committee.
I read this to mean that we can, AND SHOULD, volunteer to be on hiring committees for deans, full-time faculty positions, part-time faculty positions, and administrative positions. 2 out of 3 faculty at Cypress are part-timers. We deserve to have a say in hiring decisions, since these decisions affect us more than any other group on campus! I intend to ask the senate to suggest a policy for including at least one part-time faculty member on all committees.If there is anything you would like to have me address with the senate, please let me know. You may email me at [email protected]
