Adjunct memo from provost calls for training before fall course assignments
Published by May 9, 2018 | By Rafaela Teixeira
A memo was sent to all adjunct faculty by the Office of the Provost and President of Academic Affairs on March 15 that stated new requirements are in order for adjunct professors to be considered for class scheduling for Fall 2018.
The memo, which was sent via email through individual department heads, stated that adjuncts must submit an “updated CV,” and “Copies of SIR II summary reports and syllabi for courses taught during the last year” in order to be “considered for course assignment(s)” for Fall 2018.
In addition, the memo stated that “scheduling priority will be given to those who have completed”
Adjunct Refresher Training and Blackboard Essential Training courses. The training modules were included through links provided in the memo.
There was no signature on the memo or any indication that completing this training was voluntary. Adjuncts were given a deadline of April 16 to complete all requirements in the memo. There was also no mention of compensation for the ten-plus hours required to complete both trainings. Adjuncts were instructed to contact department heads with any questions.
The Tower reached out to a number of department heads, all of whom refused to comment on the matter.
“The new training is not required, but adjuncts who complete it will be given preferential scheduling in the coming semester,” said Margaret McCorry, spokesperson for Kean University. “It will be offered again for those who wish to take advantage of it in the future. This new initiative helps ensure our students have well-trained, high-quality instructors in the classroom, which is essential for student success.”
Dr. Jeffrey Toney, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, did not wish to give a personal comment.
Anthony Traverso, an adjunct professor in the recreation department, said the Adjunct Refresher Training took approximately three hours, while the Blackboard Essentials Training took over nine hours.
Traverso noted that everyone wants to be compensated for their time. However, if continuing to teach relies on refresher training, Traverso was glad to participate without compensation.
“I have not had experience with mandated adjunct training in the past, but I do not think it is a problem,” said Traverso. “It is good to keep up to date on policies and procedures and sometimes things change and this is a great way to get the changes out there.”
However, other professors were unaware of the refresher training and did not participate.
Meghan Gill, an adjunct professor in the communication department for almost 13 years, doesn’t remember whether adjuncts were mandated to take part in this training in the past.
“I know how to use Blackboard, however, from my experience, students complain about it not functioning properly, which becomes a liability for me as a professor,” said Gill. “I find Google Classroom to be perfect for my classes and students have open access to it. If it were mandatory for me to use Blackboard, then of course I would.”
Gill is also unsure of whether she would have taken the Adjunct Refresher Training had she known about it.
Gill also believes that all faculty, including adjuncts and full-time professors, should have taken part in the program.
“This semester Kean began offering new online training for our adjuncts about important University policies and best practices for using Blackboard,” said McCorry. “Full-time lecturers and professors receive similar training through Professional Development Days.”
An email sent from the Kean University Adjunct Faculty Federation president, Maria Krupinski, to adjuncts, urged them to contact the union to request compensation from their respective departments.
If departments fail to pay adjunct professors for their participation in the refresher training, Krupinski asked adjuncts to “forward the communication to the Union office” to act on the professors’ behalves.
“The Union is actively looking to ensure that the statewide and local agreements are enforced,” wrote Krupinski in the email.