Adjunct Faculty Participation in Shared Governance

Value Statement

The Austin Community College District recognizes the contributions of Adjunct Faculty to their departments and to the College and seeks to ensure that Adjunct Faculty can participate both in their departments and on college-wide councils, committees, and work groups.

Administrative Rule

1.  Participation in Departmental Governance

In recognition of the contribution of Adjunct Faculty to their departments, Austin Community College shall implement procedures by which Adjunct Faculty can participate in departmental governance.  Those who participate shall be compensated for their participation.

1. All faculty, full-time and adjunct, may attend and be heard at all department meetings.
2. All members of the Adjunct Faculty with an active eligibility status in the department are eligible to serve as voting members of the department.
3. The minimum number of Adjunct Faculty designated as voting members within a department shall be equal to the number of full-time faculty in that department. The department may designate more than the minimum number of voting Adjunct Faculty.
4. Members of the Adjunct Faculty who are willing to serve must express their interest in writing to their Department Chair no later than the third week of March. Department Chairs will notify all members of the Adjunct Faculty in writing of the deadline, and will announce voting members by the last day of March.
5. If the number of Adjunct Faculty who express their interest to serve is less than or equal to the number of full-time faculty in the department, then the Department Chair will appoint those members of the Adjunct Faculty. If the number of Adjunct Faculty who express their interest to serve is greater than the number of full-time faculty in the department, then an election will be held. This election will be held following the same procedures as for the election of Department Chairs (see AR 1.0500.02 and Guidelines 1.0500.02.1) except:
   1. Voting is limited to all adjunct faculty in the department. For purposes of this rule, “voting adjunct faculty” are adjunct faculty with an active eligibility status in the department in the current academic year.
   2. In departments that do not have an election coordinator, the Department Chair shall fulfill that role.
6. Adjunct Faculty shall be compensated for their participation in departmental governance as follows:
   1. The College shall establish a budget for the compensation of Adjunct Faculty for participation in departmental governance.
   2. Department Chairs shall record the hours of participation by all Adjunct Faculty (voting and non-voting) within their departments and ensure that the payment request is entered into college systems within 30 days after the participation occurred.
   3. Individuals’ compensation shall be proportional to their hours of participation and paid at the established hourly rate for adjunct faculty participation in shared governance.
   4. This annual rate shall be published on the Human Resources website and communicated to AFA leadership, instructional department chairs and deans at the beginning of each new academic year.

2.  Participation on College-wide Councils and Committees

In recognition of the contribution of Adjunct Faculty to Austin Community College and the value of shared governance, the College shall provide the opportunity for duly appointed Adjunct Faculty to participate on all Shared Governance Councils, Committees, and Work Groups relevant to Adjunct Faculty. Adjunct Faculty shall be compensated for their participation on College wide Councils, Committees, and Work Groups as follows:

1. The College shall establish a budget for the compensation of members of the Adjunct Faculty for such participation.
   1. Council, Committee, and Work Group Chairs shall record the hours of participation by Adjunct Faculty and ensure that the payment request is entered into college systems within 30 days after the participation occurred.
2. Individuals’ compensation shall be proportional to their hours of participation and paid at the established hourly rate for the academic year.

3.  Participation in Other Work of the College

In recognition of the contribution of Adjunct Faculty to the ongoing work of the college that occurs in committees and work groups that are not directly associated with shared governance groups (e.g., hiring committees), Adjunct Faculty shall be compensated for their participation on these committees and work groups as follows:

1. The College shall establish a budget for the compensation of members of the Adjunct Faculty for such participation.
   1. Committee or work group chairs shall record the hours of participation by Adjunct Faculty and ensure that the payment request is entered into College systems within 30 days after the participation occurred.
2. Individuals’ compensation shall be proportional to their hours of participation and paid at the established hourly rate for the academic year.