December 1996

What's Happening?

Things are moving along! Sessions this term with President John Buechner, Interim Chancellor Georgia Lesh-Laurie, Vice-President for Academic Affairs Richard Byyny, and the Educational Policy and University Standards Committee have demonstrated the potentials for change if part-time faculty at the University of Colorado make their voices heard. The University is in the midst of rethinking its policies and structures, and people are listening to us.

As the negotiations proceed, we learn ways of improving both our compensation packages and our professional status. For instance, part-time faculty need representation on the UCD Budget Priorities Committee to have input into campus budgetary decisions; we are the only major group on campus currently not represented in these important deliberations. We need evidence of your support to achieve this representation for both short-term and long-term progress.

The President's Initiative Fund presents us with another opportunity. By writing a grant proposal and presenting it through the Chancellor's Office, we
can ask for special funds to be applied to salaries. What should we seek? The options include a small overall pay increase, equity funds to raise the compensation for all lower division courses (currently $230 less than upper division courses and about $500 less than graduate level courses), or creating one or two full-time instructorships in especially burdened departments.

The UCDHA has also been invited to request a package of changes that are not immediately tied to compensation. The Educational Policies and University Standards Committee has agreed to consider an itemization of changes that could improve our professional status and working conditions. This list ranges widely, including advocating our attendance with voting privileges at departmental faculty meetings, regularized practices for allocating courses, options to participate in University group health plans, as well as representation on the Budget Priorities Committee. Even relatively minor matters such as campus directory listings and full-sized mail boxes can improve our day-to-day operations. Do you have any suggestions?
UCDHA Meeting

December 11

Wednesday

11:30-1:00

NC Room 3115

Bring your lunch.
AGENDA: These and future potentials require your input and participation—we are exploring entirely new ways of structuring part-time teaching on the UCD campus. In particular, we will look at the School of Education as a model for departmental relationships. We are also building a survey of part-time faculty for early next year. What questions do you want to see on it?

If you can come for any part of the meeting, don't hesitate to drop in; we need your input. If you cannot attend the meeting, please contact one of us with your ideas and suggestions.

•Lynn Holland, Campus Box 190; 744-9134

•Pam Laird, Campus Box 182; 722-7951