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I believe that it is important to understand the constraints under which all Leah Porter
Colorado public higher education operates. Colorado ranks 48th in the nation SSAC Representative
in funding for higher education, and has maintained a low ranking for many Candace Garrod
SFAC Representative
years. While the state has struggled to provide more funding for higher
education, those efforts have not always been successful, and even the President
successes have resulted in relatively minor increases that had to be spread Dr. Nancy J. McCallin
While the 28% increase in adjunct pay was not feasible given budget
constraints, it is important to acknowledge that the Board approved the Task
Forces recommendation that each college will annually increase average
adjunct instructor compensation by at least the same percentage as it
increases the average salary for all other employee groups. It is equally
important to note that we increased adjunct pay at a time when our state
financial support declined and when state classified employees received no
pay increase.
Other benefits provided to adjunct instructors include payment when classes are
cancelled just prior to the start of the semester and access to and a subsidy for health
benefits for qualifying adjuncts. This benefit provides as much as an additional $21,444
in annual compensation for qualifying adjuncts. Finally, we also make payments to
PERA for the state retirement plan.
Your other questions deal more generally with the Boards priorities regarding adjuncts.
The Board uses numerous methods (one of which was the Adjunct Instructor Task
Force) to identify issues that are important to our employees. Eight of the ten
recommendations of the Task Force were implemented when they were submitted.
The Board will continue to receive input from our adjunct instructors through the adjunct
instructor survey administered every other year and other methods such as our adjunct
instructor focus group convened to follow up on the Task Force efforts. The data we
receive through these activities will be used to evaluate our processes and identify
strengths and areas for improvement. These in turn, will be used to guide the Boards
efforts.
We were gratified to find that when surveyed in 2016, 74.7% of our adjunct instructors
responded that they were extremely satisfied. As part of our strategic plan, one of our
top priorities is to create the right work environment that attracts energizes, engages,
and excites our workforce. This will continue to be a focus moving forward.
The State Board for Community Colleges and Occupational Education is proud of our
adjunct instructors and the role they play in educating our students. Our mission is to
provide an accessible, responsive learning environment that facilitates the achievement
of educational, professional, and personal goals by our students and other members of
our communities in an atmosphere that embraces academic excellence, diversity, and
innovation. Adjunct instructors have played and will continue to play a vital role in
achieving this mission.
Sincerely,