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Article #942may I have your comments on the 'Instructors Bill of Rights'?
From: Lise Menn
Date: Fri, 03 Apr 1998 00:00
Date: Fri, 03 Apr 1998 00:00
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15913 bytes
>Date: Thu, 02 Apr 98 21:06:45 >From: <peter.spear@colorado.edu> >Subject: Agenda for April 7 meeting >To: in%"chairs-directors@lists.colorado.edu" > >AGENDA for A&S Chairs and Directors meeting on Tuesday, April 7, 3:30-4:30 > >5) "Instructors Bill of Rights" As you probably know, the BFA has been >working on a set of guidelines regarding appointments, salaries, benefits, >job security, and other matters that affect Lecturers and Instructors at >CU-Boulder. I have worked with Cathy Comstock, Chair of the BFA committee, >to come up with a version of the guidelines that might be applied >appropriately to A&S. We would like your input on this. A draft of the >proposals is attached below. (4:05-4:30, and subsequent meetings if necessary) > > >A&S GUIDELINES FOR LECTURERS, INSTRUCTORS, AND SENIOR INSTRUCTORS > >(DRAFT, 3/29/98) > > >The Boulder Faculty Assembly passed a Motion of Intent in 1993, >unofficially titled "The Instructors' Bill of Rights." As the title >implies, it was designed to promote fair, equitable and consistent >treatment of a group of people who teach a significant percentage of >classes at the University of Colorado at Boulder. > >The BFA Task Force on Instructors has in the past year revised the original >motion, in order to encompass the needs of all non-tenure-stream faculty >(with the exception of Research Assistants), in addition to Instructors. >The Boulder Faculty Assembly, working with the Chancellor and the office of >the Vice-chancellor of Academic Affairs, has asked that each College or >School discuss the revised motion and provide policy statements appropriate >to the conditions and needs of the unit to the VCAA in February 1998. The >following is the Arts & Sciences document establishing guidelines for the >treatment of Lecturers, Instructors, and Senior Instructors in the college; >it is prefaced by a short outline of its most noteworthy elements. > >Highlights of the A&S document: > >� The central concern was to bring fair treatment to those >non-tenure-stream faculty who teach on an ongoing, long-term basis in A&S. >Thus, the most important change is that anyone who has been teaching in A&S >at 50% or more for three years and wishes to be an Instructor will be given >that status. (Chairs or Directors who have strong reasons for wishing to >offer the same advantages to a Lecturer who does not meet those minimum >standards should contact the Dean's Office.) > >� This advantage will apply even to Instructors teaching in different >divisions or departments, through coordination by the Dean's Office. > >� Instructor status (as elucidated below) will carry with it a one- to >four-year contract, a higher minimum salary than previously ($30,000) and a >service element. > >� Important procedural note: In order to allow for consistency of benefits >and salary, all hiring of non-tenure-stream teachers (with the exception of >Research Assistants and Associates and Collegiate Professors) should be >done in accord with the definitional categories of Lecturer, Instructor and >Senior Instructor established here and in the BFA Task Force document. >Failure to do so can mean a loss of benefits or inappropriate pay scale. > >� Senior Instructor status will carry with it a higher minimum salary level >of $33,000, one- to four-year appointments, and the chance to apply every >seven years for a Professional Development Grant, offered as a means for >researching and updating pedagogy or other course-related subjects. Awards >would be on a competitive basis, in accord with the quality of the >application. > >� Since anyone teaching 50% or more for three years or more can be made an >Instructor, the amount paid per course to those teaching on a temporary, >per-semester, per-course basis will remain the same as in the last five >years (in most cases this is $4000), in order to concentrate limited >funding on consistent and improved salary for Instructors and Senior >Instructors. > >� While Lecturers by definition are assigned on a semester-to-semester, >per-course basis, the A&S Dean's Office does urge that Lecturers be given >as much advance notice of their teaching assignment as possible, within the >constraints of flux in enrollment. > >� All non-tenure-track faculty have the same rights to due process, >including issues of academic freedom, such as authority for grading policy >and course content, that tenure-stream faculty have. Faculty who feel >these rights have been violated should begin negotiations at the department >or program level. If the matter remains unresolved, they should bring the >issue to the Dean's Office, from where it will be sent to the Arts & >Science Council's Grievance Committee. > >� It is important to recognize that status as a Lecturer or >Instructor/Senior Instructor should not preclude the possibility of >applying for a tenure-track position, regardless of origin of Ph.D., nor >should it be viewed as entry-level preparation for such a position. > >� The BFA Task Force and A&S Dean's Office recommend that >Instructors and Lecturers have a representative voice on all faculty >governing bodies, although they will necessarily be excepted from matters >appropriate only to tenure-stream faculty, such as personnel decisions. A >representative seat for Instructors or Lecturers in Arts and Sciences will >require approval of the Arts and Sciences Council. > >� The BFA Task Force would like to express great appreciation to the Dean >of Arts & Sciences, Peter Spear, for his eagerness to improve the condition >of non-tenure-stream faculty, and the many hours of his time and thought >this document demanded. We are also indebted to VCAA DiStefano and AVC >Todd Gleeson for the extensive information and consultation they gave to >make this a viable document. And special gratitude goes to Chancellor >Byyny, whose encouragement and support from the beginning has been crucial >to making this a successful campuswide endeavor. > > > >* * * * * * > > >Each level is discussed in terms of 1) DEFINITION, 2) SALARY, 3) BENEFITS, >4) EVALUATION, 5) PROMOTION. > >I. LECTURER > >1. DEFINITION: Lecturers are hired on a semester-to-semester basis. They >have no regular faculty rank. Their appointment may range from less than >50% to fulltime. This category applies mainly to those teaching >intermittently or for fewer than three years in A&S. Recognizing that >flexibility due to flux in student demand is important, the BFA Task Force >at the same time urges that departments show their consideration for anyone >in this role by giving the earliest advance notice of a teaching assignment >possible, and keeping the principle of continuity of employment in mind >when assigning classes. > >In order to promote a sense of equitable, fair treatment, approval by a >hiring committee, e.g., existing executive, budget or salary committee, is >required. This committee could also be consulted for evaluation. > >2. SALARY: Because A&S is seeking to establish a fair and equitable salary >for ongoing Lecturers at UCB by moving any Lecturer who has been teaching >for three years at 50% or more into the status of Instructor, with >corresponding salary benefits, the pay per course for Lecturers will remain >at its present amount, which is typically $4000 for a three-credit course. > >The Dean's Office plans to reevaluate the appropriateness of that figure >and its relation to external factors every three years. > >3. BENEFITS: University of Colorado at Boulder gives full, ongoing health >benefits once a person teaches for a semester at 50% or more and continues >teaching, even if his/her teaching load later drops below 50%. (Note that >the person must be hired as a Lecturer, not as an Honorarium Part-time >position for this to apply.) TIAA retirement benefits begin after teaching >at 50% or more for a year; they accrue from that point on in proportion to >the amount earned per semester. > >Full instructional support, such as supplies, a University ID, the staff >support given to tenure-stream faculty, and office space if available, also >should be provided. > >While individual groups granting teaching awards have the ultimate >jurisdiction, The Dean's Office urges that Lecturers be eligible for >teaching awards. (For excellent teachers who may be constrained to this >position for years due to limited availability of classes or their own >inability or lack of desire to teach more, being nominated for awards and >then denied the chance to compete can be a source of continual frustration.) > >4. EVALUATION: Units may evaluate in a variety of ways, including Faculty >Course Questionnaires, class visits, and/or the Faculty Report of >Professional Activities. Consistency and clarity of policy in this regard >are important. The A&S Dean's Office urges that a written statement of >policy be provided from the beginning of employment. > >5. PROMOTION: All Lecturers are eligible for promotion to Instructor after >teaching a 50% load for at least three consecutive years. Exceptions are >possible for Lecturers who are constrained to fewer courses than the >minimum or who have taught for fewer than three years, upon recommendation >by the unit chair or director and approval by the Dean's Office. > > >II. INSTRUCTOR > >1. DEFINITION: The title of Instructor is a regular faculty rank. >Instructors hold at least a Master's degree or the equivalent. They have a >contract for a one-to-four year appointment. The appointment can range from >50% to fulltime. All ongoing Lecturers who have taught in A&S for three >years at 50% time or more are eligible for this rank. (Exceptions for >those who have taught fewer than three years and/or in appointments under >50% are possible upon approval by the Dean's Office.) > >A Fulltime Instructor workload evaluation will normally be 75% teaching and >25% service. When a department and instructor agree, that proportion may >also include a percentage based on research. Other proportions are >possible upon recommendation by the unit chair or director and approval by >the Dean's Office. A fulltime teaching load will be three classes a semester. > >In order to promote a sense of equitable, fair treatment, approval by a >hiring committee, e.g., existing executive, budget or salary committee, is >required. This committee could also be consulted for evaluation. > >2. SALARY: Beginning minimum salary will be $30,000 a year. Higher >beginning salary requires approval by the Dean's Office. > >All Instructors are eligible for annual merit increases, subject to >department evaluation. (This is existing Regents' policy) > >3. BENEFITS: Instructors ordinarily will be given one-year contracts, >renewable indefinitely at the unit's request. Multiple-year contracts up to >four years are possible at the department's request, with approval by the >Dean's Office. > >It is strongly recommended that Instructors be eligible to participate in >faculty department meetings with the standard exception of personnel >matters for individuals of an equal or higher rank. The opportunity for >involvement is an important means of shifting the unintentional culture of >exclusion that non-tenure-stream faculty may experience, an exclusion which >can affect the well-being of their students and their department as well, >due to lack of information on the Instructor's part. Since Instructors >often teach classes which introduce potential majors to the department, it >is of benefit to all concerned to maintain strong lines of communication >and collegiality, especially in regard to pedagogical and professional issues. > >Instructors are eligible for the opportunity to apply for travel money and >research grants. Eligibility for teaching awards is also highly >recommended by the Dean's Office. > >Instructors should be given full instructional support, such as supplies, >University ID, the same staff support that tenure-stream faculty have, and >office space if available. > >4. EVALUATION: Evaluation should follow the original workload evaluation >assignment in regard to emphasis on teaching, service and/or research. The >A&S norm will be 75% teaching and 25% service. When a department and >instructor agree, that proportion may also include a percentage based on >research. Since basic funding is required in some disciplines for research >needs such as access to laboratories and equipment, however, the decision >as to whether the department is willing and able to provide that support >should be agreed upon by both the department and the instructor before >research is made a percentage of the work evaluation. > >Instructors must be given a sheet describing the terms of evaluation and >expectations of the position by the department or program. (Existing >Regents' policy.) > >5. PROMOTION: Instructors may be promoted to Senior Instructor after a >probationary period and evaluation by the unit. The probationary period >ordinarily will be seven years in A&S (this may include three years spent >as Lecturer), although exceptions are possible upon recommendation by the >unit chair or director and approval by the Dean's Office. > > >III. SENIOR INSTRUCTOR > >1. DEFINITION: Senior Instructor normally calls for a terminal degree. >The length of appointment can range from one to four years. Senior >Instructors shall have the same rights as Instructors, with the following >additions: > >2. SALARY: The minimum Senior Instructor salary in A&S will be $33,000. > >3. BENEFITS: Health and retirement benefits are the same as described for >Instructors. > >After teaching fulltime for seven years (including time spent as an >Instructor or Lecturer), a Senior Instructor should be eligible to apply >for a Professional Development Grant, offered as a means for researching >and updating pedagogy or other course-related subjects. Awards would be on >a competitive basis, in accord with the quality of the application. > >Given the likelihood that most Instructors and Senior Instructors will be >teaching many of the same introductory lower-division courses repeatedly, >the BFA Task Force has asked that, when feasible, departments consider >assigning courses of special interest-classes which are upper-division or >in their field of specialization, for instance-to Senior Instructors. It >is to everyone's benefit to help teachers avoid the enervation that can >occur without contact with engaged and sophisticated students. > >4. EVALUATION: Same as for Instructors (above). > >5. PROMOTION: Senior Instructors are at the top of this job class. They >are eligible for Emeritus status upon retiring. > > > Lise Menn Professor and Chair Linguistics Department - Box 295 University of Colorado Boulder CO 80309-0295 303-492-1609; fax 303-492-4416 BEWARE PROCRUSTES BEARING OCCAM'S RAZOR
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X-Google-Language: ENGLISH,ASCII X-Google-Thread: 100e15,1930261c246601ea,start X-Google-Attributes: gid100e15,public From: Lise Menn <lmenn@clipr.Colorado.EDU> Subject: may I have your comments on the 'Instructors Bill of Rights'? Date: 1998/04/03 Message-ID: <891628787.21564@news.Colorado.EDU> X-Deja-AN: 340588470 Distribution: cu Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Sender: daemon@lace.colorado.edu Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" X-Note1: message-id generated by recnews X-Note2: mail msgid was <3.0.1.32.19980403115451.00889d30@clipr.Colorado.EDU> Organization: University of Colorado at Boulder Mime-Version: 1.0 Reply-To: lmenn@clipr.Colorado.EDU Newsgroups: cu.linguistics