The Adjunct Faculty Committee will be holding elections in April. We will be
adding several new people who will give the committee needed energy for some
very important issues ahead. Some of our members have been involved for
years (some as long as 20 years) and have been instrumental in such issues
as raising Adjunct’s salaries from their low rates of the 1980s and have
helped secure benefits for adjuncts, including tuition remission.
Several members of the AFC met with Fr. Peter on January 18th, and
introduced him to the committee’s work and summarized some pressing issues.
At a reception by the AFC held in his honor on January 25th , Fr. Peter
presented to attendees the results of his efforts in response to our
concerns.
Below is a summary of some of our advocacy on behalf of Villanova Adjuncts
and Fr. Peter’s responses and/or our next steps:
Health Benefits: The option to “buy into” health benefits is no longer
available to adjuncts, but many adjuncts need health insurance and would
like to save in a pension program. Fr. Peter spoke to HR and was told there
does not seem to be any reason why adjuncts cannot participate with
contributions to V.U.’s medical and pension programs. This is great news and
we are keen to pursue this issue with our new committee members.
Tuition Remission: Adjuncts and their families are eligible receive
tuition remission after a certain number of years, although attending the
Law School has been eliminated. According to the Adjunct Handbook, children
of adjuncts accepted into Villanova could apply for housing if places became
available (usually during second semester). We are working to clarify and
further explore the on-campus housing issue for children of adjuncts who’d
like to live on campus. Tuition remission is void if an adjunct’s child
wants to have V.U. housing.
Teaching Award: On-going projects include recognition of excellent
teaching that adjuncts offer to the University. We are trying to establish
an adjunct teaching award equivalent to the Lindback (which is given to
full-timers). We want the adjunct award to be given at the same ceremony in
which the Lindback is awarded. Fr. Peter saw no reason why there could not
be an adjunct award at the usual ceremony. The Faculty Congress supports the
AFC in this issue, and is working with the AFC to establish an award and
secure funding for it.
Pay Scale for Long-Term Adjuncts. Some adjuncts (many with PhDs) have
been teaching at Villanova for 10 years or more, while receiving the same
pay as a one-semester graduate student teaching a course. Since last summer
we have been working with the Faculty Congress to create a graduated
pay-scale for adjuncts based on length of service to the University. We are
pleased to report that the administration has initiated a pay-scale based on
years of service which will go into effect in the Fall of 2007; however, the
percentage increase will need to be monitored to assure that eventually, the
most senior adjuncts receive adequate additional compensation. Right now the
pay increase for seniors will be taken from new hires, whose salary will be
frozen at last year’s rates. This issue will need follow up with the
administration to insure that the “reasonable” pay increases we discussed in
June will be implemented in a timely manner. Fr. Peter fully supports
increased pay for seniority.
Jeanne Brody, Chair, AFC
Adjunct Faculty Committee
