Frequently Asked Questions
When does this current contract expire?
This current contract will expire November 3, 2025.
How much are my union dues?
For full time faculty, dues are 1.25% of base salary for the Academic Year (Fall & Spring Semesters). For part time faculty, dues are 1.25% of your net pay for teaching, office hours and dept. meetings for the Academic Year. No dues are deducted for summer employment (this applies to both full and part time)
Why are dues a fixed percentage?
This system is based on the belief that we all share the burden equally. In other words, the more you make, the more your share. The previous system had a flat rate for full time and flat rate for part time regardless of your earnings. This was very unfair, particularly for part timers who were teaching only a couple classes paying the same dues as those teaching a "full" part time teaching load.
Who determined the dues structure?
The current structure was the result of a unanimous vote taken at an all-faculty meeting in Spring 2002. The new structure became effective Fall 2002.
Where do my dues go?
The majority of the dues go to pay our affiliation fees to the American Federation of Teachers and the American Federation of Teachers – Massachusetts. Other expenses include union office staff (Assistant to the President), stipends for the Officers and Division Reps, honorariums for the other Executive Committee members, arbitrations, consulting fees, office equipment, conventions, conferences, business dinners, faculty emergency assistance, non-profit contributions, copying expenses, interest bearing accounts, emergency strike fund, etc.
Who determines how many conversions (part time to full time) there are?
The Union negotiates the number of conversions.
Who determines which part-time faculty members receive conversions?
Academic Affairs makes those decisions. The Union cannot have hiring input without jeopardizing its bargaining rights (Yeshiva).
How often does the Union Executive Committee meet?
The Committee meets every Thursday from 1-2 p.m. in the Davis Room in the 150 Mass. Ave. building, during the Academic Year. The Committee also meets with management once a month during the Academic Year. Summer meetings are called as needed.
Can any faculty member attend a Union Executive Committee meeting?
Union Executive Committee meetings are open to all faculty. Prior e-mail notification to the Union would be appreciated. Because of the confidential nature of some issues discussed in the meetings, the Committee may vote to go into Executive Session and non-committee members will be required to leave.
What is a contact hour (teaching hour)?
Actual "clock time" spent in the classroom.
What is a weighted unit?
Classroom teachers are credited with 1.25 weighted units for each contact hour; Ear Training and Performance courses are credited with 1.18 weighted units for each contact hour. Ensembles, Labs and private lessons are unweighted (one unit for each contact hour).
Why are there weighted units?
To compensate classroom faculty for additional time spent for preparing and grading tests, homework, examinations, projects, etc.
How do I ask for a raise?
The deadline to submit your written request to Sr. VP for Academic Affairs for salary/wage renegotiation is March 15. Article 9, B.2 says you can't ask for wage renegotiation more than once every three years except in case of promotion.
In the case of promotion, Article 35, section C.2 sets the amount of the raise for your rank, but, it says you can apply for a raise higher than that, in Article 9, section B. You'll have to articulate "exceptional circumstances" (B.4) and you have to submit it within 15 calendar days.
To ask for a wage renegotiation meeting, ask your Chair. Your Chair is usually the Provost's Designee in this process.
Look at the criteria for the your new rank in the contract, and write a short document showing how you are meeting and exceeding those. Include: Service to the College, Service to the Profession, and what you've been doing in your own “professional development”. Include a couple of quotes from student evaluations. Bring this document to your meeting with your chair and make your case.
See the following video for an in-depth look at the promotion process.
When can I apply for Promotion?
FULL TIME:
Instructor to Assistant: apply by October 15th of your 6th year in rank
Assistant to Associate: apply by October 15th of your 6th year in rank Note: An approved professional development program must be agreed upon with the department chair approximately one year prior to application for promotion. (e.g. cir. October of the fifth year in rank)
Associate to Professor: apply by October 15th of your 8th year in rank
PART TIME:
Instructor to Assistant: apply by October 15th in or after your 12th semester in rank
Assistant to Associate: apply by October 15th in or after your 12th semester in rank Note: An approved professional development program must be agreed upon with the department chair approximately one year prior to application for promotion. (e.g. cir. October of the fifth year in rank)
Associate to Professor: apply by October 15th in or after your 16th semester in rank (Summer 12 wk. teaching is included in the semester count for part time faculty but 5 wk. teaching does not)
What steps should I take to apply for promotion?
Solicit the support of your department chair and your division dean approximately one year before you intend to apply.
For promotion from Assistant Professor to Associate Professor, be certain to set-up your chair approved professional development program at least one year prior to your application for promotion.
Download the promotion and guidelines form from our website, or request them from your department chair or Academic Affairs. Read them carefully and follow the directions.
Download the Criteria for Promotion and Reappointment guidelines from our website, or request them from your department chair or Academic Affairs. Read them carefully and be sure you meet all the criteria.
Be sure to begin putting your promotion dossier approximately six months before your application date (April).
Have at least one other faculty member read your dossier before you submit it. Also, if possible, show your completed dossier to your department chair before you officially submit it.
Be sure to include a statement in your dossier saying, if promoted, you intend to express your right to re-negotiate your compensation.
Make certain you submit your final application and dossier on or before October 15th.
How do I apply for wage re-negotiation? When should I apply?
All part-time and full-time faculty are eligible to attempt to individually re-negotiate their compensation once every three years. To enter the process, faculty must send a written request to Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs on or before March 15. In the event of a promotion, part-time and full-time faculty have an additional opportunity to re-negotiate their wage. In the case of promotion, a written request to the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs may be submitted not later than fifteen (15) calendar days after notification of promotion. All faculty will be notified whether or not they receive a wage re-negotiation on or before May 1.
When do I apply for re-appointment? How do I reply?
All full-time faculty apply for re-appointment every three years in the third year of their contract; regardless of rank. Faculty must submit by November 1 a self-evaluation that evaluates the previous three years in the areas of teaching, office hours, service to the college, and service to the profession (not required, but recommended for assistant professors). Also, faculty must demonstrate their involvement in faculty development (i.e.: conferences, clinics, research, books read, focused listening, etc.). Part-time faculty do not apply for re-appointment. Part-time faculty on three-year contracts are automatically issued a new three-year contract if they have taught not less than 27 units each year for the previous three academic years and received satisfactory performance evaluations for each of the previous three academic years. Part-time faculty on one-year contracts (“as needed” contracts) will be issued a new contract yearly at the employer’s discretion.
How do I file a grievance?
Contact the Union office by phone or e-mail or contact the Grievance Officer directly to discuss your concerns.
What are grievances?
Any violation of the Faculty Contract Agreement constitutes a valid grievance. Typical issues are:
Compensation
Teaching load
Service to the college
Benefits thresholds (health, dental, 403b, etc. PT only)
Evaluations
Discipline
Re-appointment
Scheduling
Discrimination
Harassment, sexual or general
Who will represent me in the grievance process?
The Grievance Officer or any other Executive Committee officers – President, Executive VP, VP FT, VP PT, Secretary/Treasurer. The Union Office in conjunction with the grievant will make the choice based on who is best qualified to represent the grievant with his/her issue.
How many steps are there in the grievance process?
There are potentially four:
Department Chair level
Division Dean level
AA/Provost level
Outside Arbitration
How long is the process?
Step 1 to Step 2 takes between 15-30 days; Step 2 to Step 3 takes between 15-30 days; Step 3 to Step 4 takes not more than 30 days.
If a grievance goes to arbitration, how long does it take to get a hearing with the arbitrator?
Three to six months.
After the arbitrator hears the case, how long does it take to get a decision?
Depending on the number of hearing days, six months to one year.