Spring 2020 – Coronavirus Issue
Volume 31, Number 2
Part-time faculty face travails of remote teaching
Within the span of just two weeks, California community colleges, along with the rest of American higher education, were forced into the perhaps the largest and most radical pedagogical shift in its history. Teachers were forced in short order to teach classes which fall into a kind of quasi-netherworld between face-to-face instruction and formal online instruction. Read these inspiring stories of faculty in transition.
Part-time faculty leaders meet the challenge of pandemic
While not without problems, several local union leaders — who are part-time faculty — report here that beyond the initially hectic and at times frenzied initial process of transitioning to remote instruction, instructors have more or less still been able to teach a semblance of their face-to-face courses. How local unions are organizing to succeed during the crisis.
Consequences of the pandemic have hit hard
In the wake of the COVID-19 crisis, part-time faculty are facing threats to their economic security, including loss of income, access to health insurance, and their capacity to pay for housing and utilities. Here are recent actions taken by the federal government and state of California to provide relief for people facing these challenges. Find relief info for housing, utilities, student loans.
For faculty facing partial of full loss of employment
Our new Unemployment section summarizes relief available under the CARES Act and especially its unemployment portion (Pandemic Unemployment Assistance) as it relates to “normal” Unemployment Insurance. See CFT’s helpful guide to unemployment insurance.
AFT’s call to action — “An Army of Temps”
Part of the tragedy of the COVID-19 pandemic is that for those who were already at risk, it has laid their situation bare. AFT released the results of a national survey last week and revealed these part-timer realities:
- 64 percent of contingent faculty reported making less than $50,000 a year;
- 31 percent of contingent faculty reported making less than $25,000 a year, placing them below federal poverty guidelines for a family of four;
- 40 percent of contingent households struggle regularly, or during summer and winter breaks, to pay the bills.
QUICK TAKES
COVID-19 resources from CFT
We are continually updating our rich collection of resources on everything from face coverings to unemployment. Here’s a sampling of what’s available:
- FAQ for Members – with a section for Unemployment
- Union Toolkit — AFT workplace rights and personal health bulletins
- Learning at Home — official resources and a CFT-curated collection
- Culture & Calm at Home — when you just need a healthy distraction
CFT cancels conference for part-time faculty
The CFT’s Part-Time Faculty Conference scheduled for April 17-18 was canceled due to the coronavirus outbreak. The union is considering when and how it will be held in the future.
Union scholarships for continuing college students
Children or dependents of members in good standing are eligible for $3000 or $1000 scholarships. The deadline for continuing college students to apply for a scholarship is June 15. Learn more about the CFT Raoul Teilhet Scholarships