Concerns include shared governance, adjunct pay and lack of faculty input:
By: OLIVER PULCHER ONLINE EDITOR:
Both full-time and adjunct faculty spoke out at the April 25 STLCC Board of Trustees’ meeting to address concerns with morale, adjunct pay, shared governance and the need for more faculty input for decision making that affects the district.
Cindy Campbell, full-time professor at Florissant Valley asked the board to hold a listening session every other month to allow faculty and staff to share ideas, bring forward concerns and assist the decision-making process for the board.
“The six of you are elected representatives from service areas and have the privilege and responsibility to safeguard our college,” said Campbell. “You are charged with making decisions that best meet the community needs we serve and at the present, there is no opportunity established for the faculty and staff to bring items forward in a casual setting.
While speaking for the allotted two minutes at the board meeting, Campbell said that this open setting is the only opportunity faculty have to address the board. She said the lack of input affects morale for faculty and staff.
“I can honestly say I’ve never witnessed morale as low as it is now,” said Campbell.
For Roger Trietley, adjunct instructor at Forest Park, low morale has led to mixed emotions. Although he said the new adjunct contract has helped, adjuncts are not guaranteed that their jobs will continue.
“You cannot count on being back with the school,” he said. “There is a lack of transparency.”
Pay is also a concern, according to Susan Dawson, an adjunct professor at Forest Park.
“The board just gave themselves 10 percent raises but won’t budge above 2 percent for us,” said Dawson.
Linda Stewart, an adjunct at Florissant Valley echoed these thoughts. “We have the same credentials and the same work experience [as full-time faculty],” said Stewart. “Equal work deserves equal pay.”
Emily Neal, NEA president and Associate Professor of Political Science at the Meramec Campus, spoke to the board about the lack of shared governance present in decisions made by the college. Neal defined shared governance to the board of trustees, explaining that the concept is that faculty and administrators should have equal say in the decisions made with the college, especially as it directly affects their curriculum and their workplace.
The most recent of these decisions, which faculty claims was made without their consent was the decision to hold Provost listening sessions when faculty is off-contract, Neal said. “The fact that the Provost listening sessions are being held when faculty is off-contract is unacceptable,” she said.
