Contract Faculty – FAQs
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WHAT IS FACULTY DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES AND AM I REQUIRED TO COMPLETE IT? SRJC has identified 5 days on the Academic Calendar for professional development. These 5 days are paid working days and, as such, must be accountable to the state auditors. Thus SRJC must require participation in Faculty Professional Development Flex Activities and document how those 5 days are used. Please refer to the faculty contract/MOU for updated information regarding the Academic Calendar and paid working days: AFA Website. or Click here for Article 22 information
WHAT IS THE CRITERIA FOR APPROVAL OF FLEX ACTIVITIES? HOW IS MY FLEX OBLIGATION CALCULATED? The Mandatory and Flexible hours requirement for regular faculty members is a total obligation of 30 hours, and is prorated for those faculty members on pre-retirement workload reductions. For example contract faculty with a reduced load percentage of 50% is equal to 3 mandatory PDA hours per semester, 3 New Departmentally Determined Professional Development Activity hours, and 6 flexible hours over the year. For contract faculty members, the mandatory hour requirement is 18 hours for the year (6 hours for the Fall PDA Day, 6 hours for the Spring PDA Day and 6 hours for the Department Determined Professional Development Activity day). Your Flex hours obligation is 12.0 hours for the Academic year(6 hours in each semester.) Flex hours can be completed at any time during the Academic year; just follow the deadlines. Faculty members on sabbatical leave or other leave will have an adjustment made to their obligation. There is no obligation while on leave or teaching a semester abroad. If a partial leave is in place, then a partial adjustment will be made to the hours of obligation.
WHAT ARE THE DEADLINES FOR FLEX? For Contract Faculty the deadline for Fall and Spring is Tuesday, May 29th, 2024
CAN I JUST WORK AT MY REGULAR ASSIGNED DUTIES INSTEAD OF DOING FACULTY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT? No.
WHAT IS THE PROCESS FOR SUBMITTING FLEX PROPOSALS AND PARTICIPATING IN FLEX ACTIVITIES?
WHAT HAPPENS IF I CHANGE MY MIND LATER ABOUT WHAT I PLANNED TO DO? If you have submitted a proposal through the Flex Proposal Portal for approval but do not follow through with the activity, please inform Professional Development. You will need to submit a new proposal or select another activity.
HOW AM I NOTIFIED THAT MY PROPOSAL HAS BEEN APPROVED? Professional Development will send you an electronic notification following committee review and approval. If there are questions with your proposal you will be contacted.
CAN I DO INDIVIDUAL ACTIVITIES ON PDA DAYS? No, these days are mandatory and are set aside for institutional theme programs.
WHAT IS CONSIDERED A "DAY" FOR FACULTY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT? A day is considered, but not limited to, six (6) hours. For Notice of Absence (NOA) purposes, six (6) hours is the maximum number of hours in a full day.
HOW DO I KNOW WHAT WILL "COUNT" AS A FACULTY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FLEX ACTIVITY? WHAT ARE THE GUIDELINES FOR SUBMITTING FLEX PROPOSALS? Professional Development has a list of approved activities (Menu of Activities). Generally, individual or group activities are allowed if it addresses the necessary flex criteria and a connection can be established to the improvement of performance in the workplace. Approval for activities not on the Menu of Activities must be submitted through the Flex Proposal Portal BEFORE engaging in the activity.
HOW DO I VERIFY A FLEX ACTIVITY I HAVE COMPLETED? Flex activity's must be verified in your faculty portal. For detailed directions on how to claim flex approved activities click here WHEN CAN I DO FLEX ACTIVITIES? The "Flex” year begins July 1st. Flex activities can only take place during times when faculty are not scheduled in classes or during scheduled office hours. Flex activities will also not count any time the faculty member is participating in college service or other activities specified in their job description.
WHAT DOESN'T COUNT FOR FLEXIBLE HOURS? The following hours are not eligible for flex scheduling:
HOW WILL MY FLEX OBLIGATION BE CREDITED FOR HOURS I WORK IN THE SUMMER? The Title 5 requirements of the flexible calendar program state:
The Flexible calendar Program is based on the Fiscal Year: July 1- June 30.
Activities occurring through June 30 are earned in that academic year, and are credited to that year.
After July 1, credit is earned in the following academic year and credited to that year.
HOW DO I COUNT CREDIT FOR AN ACTIVITY? You receive one hour of credit for each hour of participation in an approved Faculty Professional Development Flex activity.
HOW DOES CONFERENCE ATTENDANCE WORK FOR FLEX ACTIVITIES? You may receive flex credit for attending a conference if a flex proposal is submitted in advance Link to Flex Activity Proposal Form . If the conference is on a teaching day, classroom instruction hours must be subtracted from total conference hours.
CAN I RECEIVE FLEX FOR PRESENTING A PRE-APPROVED FLEX WORKSHOP? Yes. You will receive triple flex credit equal to the number of hours of the workshop. When verifying flex activities in your faculty portal make sure to check the presenter credit check box for the activity you presented on.
HOW WILL I KNOW WHEN NEW ACTIVITIES HAVE BEEN ADDED SO THAT I CAN SIGN UP FOR THEM? The Professional Development office will maintain a Menu of Activities, updated when new activities are approved. Go to http://pd.santarosa.edu/menu-activities-0
CAN I COUNT AHEAD OR "BANK"? No, there can be no banking from one academic year to the next, however, credit can be given during summer (after July 1) for the 21/22 academic year.
IF I TEACH AN OVERLOAD AM I OBLIGATED FOR ADDITIONAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT HOURS? No, you are not responsible for additional flex hours.
IF I AM A CONTRACT FACULTY WITH A REDUCED LOAD PERCENTAGE AND I DO MORE THAN MY NUMBER OF MANDATORY HOURS ON PDA DAY, WHAT HAPPENS TO THE EXTRA HOUR(S)? The additional hours, over your mandatory obligation will be applied to your flexible hour obligation.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I DO NOT FULFILL ALL OF MY CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS FOR FACULTY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE ACADEMIC YEAR (PAY DOCKING PROCEDURES)? Since the Faculty Professional Development flex days are paid working days, your pay will be docked at your contract load rate by the number of unfulfilled hours unless you file an absence form using your sick leave or personal necessity leave. If your pay is docked (as opposed to using sick leave), this will also affect your STRS service credit; that year will be counted as less than one full year towards the total number of year required for retirement. All mandatory and flexible hours must be completed and verified by the semester deadline, unless an "Intent to Complete a Pre-approved Activity" form has been filed by the semester deadline. It is the responsibility of the individual faculty member to confirm receipt of all proposals and forms submitted and to confirm the accuracy and completeness of their Flex Program account balance prior to the Flex Program deadlines.
HOW DO I HANDLE A DISPUTE? If you wish to discuss a denied Flex activity proposal please contact Anne Donegan or Alexa Forrester
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Associate Faculty – FAQs
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WHAT IS FACULTY DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES AND AM I REQUIRED TO COMPLETE IT? SRJC has identified rotating flex days on the Academic Calendar for professional development. These days are paid working days and, as such, must be accountable to the state auditors. Thus SRJC must require participation in Faculty Professional Development Flex Activities and document how those days are used. Please refer to the faculty contract/MOU for updated information regarding the Academic Calendar and paid working days for associates: AFA Website Click here for Article 22 information
WHAT IS THE CRITERIA FOR APPROVAL OF FLEX ACTIVITIES? HOW IS MY FLEX OBLIGATION CALCULATED? Associate Faculty (including Unit A, not including Unit B): Fall 2023 - Wednesday and Friday Co-taught classes may generate pro-rated flex hour obligations for associate faculty members. Contact Professional Development if you co-teach a full-semester class to determine your obligation.
WHAT ARE THE DEADLINES FOR FLEX? Associate Faculty CAN I JUST WORK AT MY REGULAR ASSIGNED DUTIES INSTEAD OF DOING FACULTY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT? No.
WHAT IS THE PROCESS FOR SUBMITTING FLEX PROPOSALS AND PARTICIPATING IN FLEX ACTIVITIES?
WHAT HAPPENS IF I CHANGE MY MIND LATER ABOUT WHAT I PLANNED TO DO? If you have submitted a proposal through the Flex Proposal Portal for approval but do not follow through with the activity, please inform Professional Development. You will need to submit a new proposal or select another activity.
HOW AM I NOTIFIED THAT MY PROPOSAL HAS BEEN APPROVED? Professional Development will send you an electronic notification following committee review and approval. If there are questions with your proposal you will be contacted.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN UNIT A AND UNIT B FACULTY? Unit B is only for the Seniors Program faculty and they have their own bargaining unit. All other associate faculty are in Unit A. AFA (the All Faculty Association) represents all faculty, both regular and associate, in Unit A. CFT (the California Federation of Teachers) represents all faculty in Unit B, the Seniors Program.
FOR ASSOCIATE FACULTY INSTRUCTORS, ARE LAB AND LECTURE HOURS COMPUTED SEPARATELY FOR FLEX OBLIGATION? No. Lecture hour and lab hour obligations are computed the same: one hour of lecture = one hour of flex, one hour of lab = one hour of flex, one hour of non-credit = one hour of flex.
WHEN CAN ASSOCIATE FACULTY COMPLETE FACULTY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES? Because associate faculty are paid on a semester-to-semester basis, you must complete your Professional Development activity within the semester you are employed by the District. Fall semester activities can be completed beginning July 1; spring semester activities can be completed starting during Winter Break. Please note: Associate faculty run the risk of not being paid for flex hours completed in advance of the semester, if a change to their teaching schedule results in a change (decrease) to their flex obligation.
HOW DO I VERIFY A FLEX ACTIVITY I HAVE COMPLETED? Flex activity's must be verified in your faculty portal. For detailed directions on how to claim flex approved activities click here WILL NON-CREDIT UNIT A INSTRUCTORS BE PAID FOR FACULTY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES? Yes.
HOW DO I COUNT CREDIT FOR AN ACTIVITY? You receive one hour of credit for each hour of participation in an approved Faculty Professional Development Flex activity.
HOW WILL I KNOW WHEN NEW ACTIVITIES HAVE BEEN ADDED SO THAT I CAN SIGN UP FOR THEM? The Professional Development office will maintain a Menu of Activities, updated when new activities are approved. Go to http://pd.santarosa.edu/menu-activities-0
CAN I COUNT AHEAD OR "BANK"? No, there can be no banking from one semester to the next, however, credit can be given during summer (after July 1) or winter break for the following semester. Please note: Associate faculty run the risk of not being paid for flex hours completed in advance of the semester, if a change to their teaching schedule results in a change (decrease) to their flex obligation.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I DO NOT FULFILL ALL OF MY FACULTY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT REQUIREMENT IN A SEMESTER( PAY DOCKING PROCEDURES)? Since the professional development hours are paid in advance, your pay will be docked by the number of unfulfilled hours. You must submit an absence form (NOA) prior to the appropriate deadline to use your sick leave or your personal necessity leave and in order to avoid payroll docking. If your pay is docked (as opposed to using sick leave), this will also affect your STRS service credit; that year will be counted as less than one full year towards the total number of years required for retirement. It is the responsibility of the individual faculty member to confirm receipt of all proposals submitted and to confirm the accuracy and completeness of their Flex Program account balance prior to the Flex Program deadlines.
HOW DO I HANDLE A DISPUTE? If you wish to discuss a denied Flex activity proposal please contact Anne Donegan or Alexa Forrester
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The following documents are outdated, but are retained for historical purposes and perspectives.
Tentative Agreement: Flex Program 2007-2009
Memorandum of Understanding 2007-2009
Click here to see MOUs for Flex Pilot Progam 2005-2007
Click here to see the Flex Pilot Program Clarification Statement, 2006