Office of the Provost and
Vice President for Academic Affairs
Implementation Plan for Adjunct Commission
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Introduction
The following implementation plan is action-oriented and includes both long-term and short-term improvements. Some changes can be made quickly, with relatively little cost and effort. Others will need to be implemented incrementally as resources are made available and further deliberation and decision-making takes place. In all areas, there is no need to “start from scratch.” There already exist at Boise State University best practices employed by individual academic departments and administrative units that will serve as an excellent foundation on which to build.
Leadership and Responsibilities
Leadership for initiating the implementation plan will come from a 2-year funded position entitled Coordinator of Adjunct Faculty Services (See Recommendation 3.1), the Provost’s office, and a continuing Adjunct Commission.
In addition, units and individuals will be requested to work with those providing leadership to carry out the implementation tasks.
Time Line
Priority items identified by the Adjunct Commission and the Provost are in bold and will be addressed during the 2007-2008 academic year. In April 2008, progress will be assessed and priorities for the 2008-2009 academic year will be identified.
| NUMBER | DESCRIPTION | TIME LINE |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Compensation and Benefits | |
| 1.1 | Use workload, degree, experience, and discipline-related market forces to clarify compensation tiers and appointments. | In progress |
| 1.2 | Offer compensation packages comparable to those at other Idaho institutions. | To Be Determined in April 2008 |
| 1.3 | Provide a tuition-waiver benefit that allows adjunct faculty to take classes (e.g. one course per semester or one course for x number of credits taught). | September 2007 – May 2008 |
| 1.4 | Develop an academic year contract option for adjunct faculty. | To Be Determined in April 2008 |
| 1.5 | When circumstances warrant, convert part-time adjunct faculty positions to full-time special lecturer positions. | Four more special lecturer positions created for SP08 |
| 1.6 | Investigate options for adjunct faculty to access health insurance benefits. | To Be Determined in April 2008 |
| 2. | Policies and Procedures | |
| 2.1 | Review and revise all policies related to adjunct and contingent faculty to ensure consistency of definitions (e.g. Investigate how concurrent enrollment faculty are defined: Are they adjunct faculty or affiliate faculty?) | To Be Determined in April 2008 |
| 2.2 | Adopt a new umbrella term for contingent faculty that includes adjunct faculty and other groups, rather than using “adjunct” to describe all contingent faculty. | To Be Determined in April 2008 |
| 2.3 | Clearly delineate responsibility, authority, and accountability for implementation for all policies and procedures related to adjunct faculty at either department or university levels. | September 2007 – May 2008 |
| 2.4 | Using department best practices that already exist at Boise State University, develop a template that academic departments will use to create a written policy for the selection, hiring, supervision, evaluation, and separation of adjunct faculty that is consistent with university and state policy. Department policies should be ready for implementation within a specified timeline. | To Be Determined in April 2008 |
| 2.5 | Review and clarify adjunct faculty workload policies and assign responsibility for monitoring the workload of individuals. | In progress |
| 2.6 | Develop data tools and reporting mechanisms to identify and communicate with adjunct faculty and track workload, teaching history, credentials, etc. | In progress |
| 2.7 | Using department best practices at Boise State University create a checklist for use by department administrative assistants related to the procurement of campus services for adjunct faculty (e.g. how to order keys, set up a GroupWise account, obtain an ID card, set up library privileges, etc.). | September 2007 – May 2008 |
| 2.8 | Adopt a philosophy statement describing the university’s intent and practices regarding use of adjunct faculty. | On the Adjunct website |
| 3. | Professional Development | |
| 3.1 | Create a Coordinator of position and/or organizational unit with coordination responsibilities. The coordinator would be encouraged to keep an ongoing Adjunct Commission or Advisory Committee. | Done |
| 3.2 | Engage in regular assessment of professional development needs that include assessment at the time adjunct faculty are hired. | To Be Determined in April 2008 |
| 3.3 | Create university-wide professional development opportunities for adjunct faculty. These opportunities should be based on needs assessments and should include programs, services, and workshops (e.g. mentoring programs, opportunities for community building). | In progress |
| 3.4 | Establish a career path that includes acceptable pay, benefit options, recognition, and predictable employment opportunities. | To Be Determined in April 2008 |
| 3.5 | Offer a university-wide orientation program for new adjunct faculty. | September and January programs well received |
| 3.6 | Offer incentives (e.g. stipends, travel funds) for adjunct faculty to participate in professional development opportunities. | To Be Determined in April 2008 |
| 3.7 | Create a section in Albertsons Library (accessible in the evening and on weekends) designed for adjunct faculty to reference books and materials on pedagogy. | In progress, electronic format |
| 3.8 | Collaborate with other higher education institutions within the area that hire adjunct faculty to provide join professional development opportunities. | To Be Determined in April 2008 |
| 4. | Work Environment | |
| 4.1 | Integrate adjunct faculty into the academic departments in which they teach by establishing regular communication, including adjunct faculty in work meetings and social gatherings, creating mentoring and/or networking relationships with tenure-track faculty, and granting voice and/or vote in decision-making. | To Be Determined in April 2008 |
| 4.2 | Since not all adjunct faculty have convenient access to a computer, develop a printed handbook for adjunct faculty that includes “how to” information (e.g. how to arrange for parking for a guest lecturer) | Extended Studies handbook now on Adjunct website |
| 4.3 | Maintain a web site for adjunct faculty that provides timely information, a discussion forum, and mechanism to provide feedback and suggestions. | We're up, will add a discussion board |
| 4.4 | Include adjunct faculty as voting members of the Faculty Senate. | September 2007 – May 2008 |
| 4.5 | Provide parking options that match teaching assignments (e.g. proportional cost for a “one evening” pass, options specific to each teaching site, payroll deduction for parking passes) | Investigating options |
| 4.6 | Allow adjunct faculty to pay the same rate as official faculty for childcare at Boise State University’s Children’s Center. | September 2007 – May 2008 |
| 4.7 | Provide a comparable work environment for all faculty:
|
To Be Determined in April 2008 |
| 4.8 | Encourage recognition/awards for adjunct faculty at the university and college levels (e.g. Social Sciences and Public Affairs) | Recent adjunct award listed on website |