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On the Roadwith Rachel Hendrickson* I recently attended the Fall leadership training conference of the California Community College Association. The training centered around addressing the problems faced by part-time and temporary faculty. One particularly memorable session focused on the relationship between part-time and full-time Association members. The discussion was intense, with no one shy about raising such thorny issues as the rejection felt by part-time faculty on campuses and the concern full-time faculty felt about seeing their numbers shrink. Some of the people in the room had been part-time faculty before they transitioned into full-time. They brought a refreshing perspective to the issues. One thing was clear from the discussion—CCA members understand that a profession cannot afford to marginalize 50 percent of its members and still survive. One major problem facing part-timers is that, too often, when a full-time position becomes available, a part-time faculty member with the needed skills isn't considered competitive for the position. As part of the Association’s response to this situation, CCA vice-president Ron Reel and other CCA activists have put together programs in portfolio development and interviewing skills. With the help of CCA, part-time faculty are moving into the full-time ranks. Building on its expertise in faculty development and a video it has developed on part-time faculty issues, CCA has recruited more than 1,600 new part-time faculty members. It’s busily making plans to help some of them move into the full-time ranks. * —Rachel Hendrickson coordinates NEA higher ed activities. |
