PFT has compiled a list of FAQ’s to help answer questions faculty may have regarding wages, remote working and teaching, and evaluations. The FAQ’s can be downloaded and viewed here:
Note: This is a companion FAQ to the FAQ on Class Assignments (linked from FAQ & Resources ).
DOWNLOAD FAQ ON CLASS CANCELLATIONS
Q1: Who makes decisions on class cancellations?
A1: The administration makes any and all cancellation decisions. With specific limitations placed by Article 18 of our Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) discussed below, the administration makes cancellation decisions as part of their “right of assignment.”
Q2: What is “right of assignment”?
A2: Our administration has the responsibility and right to assign and cancel classes as they see fit so long as the cancellations do not violate our contract, the law, or established District policies and procedures. This right is afforded in California Government Code Section 3543.2.
Q3: If I am in the preferred hiring pool how can the administration eliminate my class by cancelling it or refusing to offer it?
A3: Part-time faculty, by definition in Education Code Section 87482.3, are temporary employees and their assignments are contingent on enrollment, funding, program changes, etc. This Section of law goes on to say “no part-time faculty member shall have reasonable assurance of continued employment at any point…”
On a related note, this lack of reasonable assurance is why part-time faculty qualify for unemployment benefits between semesters (PFT holds workshops every semester to assist PT faculty in securing these benefits – check in at pft1603.org for dates, times, and locations).
Q4: What are the limitations to class cancellations?
A4: The single enforceable limitation to class cancellation is the class minimum defined in Article 18, Section D of our CBA: “The minimum class size shall be set at 20 for vocational/technical classes, and 25 for all others. ” Once a class meets this enrollment minimum, the administration may not cancel the class.
Article 18, Section D, Paragraph 3 outlines formation of a committee composed of PFT & Senate faculty along with administration. This committee is supposed to meet and develop
“criteria and processes used to determine when so called ‘low enrolled’ courses will be canceled or continued.” This committee makes their recommendations to the chancellor. The enrollment review dates you (and/or your department chair) received follow those recommendations.
Q5: What does “low enrolled” mean?
This is a working draft revised on 3/1/2020. Please share additional questions, comments, or suggestions with union@pft1603.org.
A5: Fundamentally, a “low enrolled” class is one that does not meet the minimum enrollment standards (25 students for regular classes and 20 students for CTE classes).
Q6: Why does the District cancel classes before the first day of class when we know students enroll at that time?
A6: California Education Code Section 87482.8 provides one week of pay for all part-time faculty who have their classes cut less than two weeks before the first class meeting. The District has made the decision to cut classes early in order to avoid paying faculty according to law.
Q7: So, how can I maximize the chance of my “low enrolled” class running?
A7: In addition to meeting the minimum enrollment numbers, Article 18, Sectrion D, Paragraph 2 lists some reasons for keeping low-enrolled classes. These include:
a. Classes needed for transfer;
b. Classes needed for completion of a certificate;
c. Classes where there are a limited number of work stations;
d. Classes for students with disabilities;
e. Sequential classes;
f. Basic skills and remedial classes
The administration’s right of assignment allows for the cancellation of classes but it also allows them to allow these classes to run. Working with your department chair and/or administration to advocate for your class is the best way to keep “low enrolled” classes.
Q8: My class wasn’t “low enrolled” and/or meets the criteria outlined in Q7, but it was cancelled anyway. What can I do?
A8: Please inform your administrators (dean and VPI), through your department chair, if necessary, that this is in violation of Article 18, Section D, Paragraph 1 of our CBA. Ask them to remedy this violation immediately by citing the contract language. If your class is not reinstated, please let your PFT representatives (campus co-chairs and/or part-time committee co-chairs) know, so that we can enforce our contract.
This is a working draft revised on 3/1/2020. Please share additional questions, comments, or suggestions with union@pft1603.org.
At an Emergency Meeting on March 11, 2020, the Peralta Community College District Board of Trustees voted to approve the following changes to the academic calendar:
- Spring Break (originally scheduled as the week of April 13-18) has been moved to the week of March 16-21, 2020.
- Flex Day (a faculty training day originally scheduled March 19, 2020) will now be held on Monday, March 30, 2020.
These changes, made with appreciated support of the Peralta Federation of Teachers (PFT), are a response to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) intended to increase social distancing and better protect our community.
Yesterday, on March 10, 2020, Chancellor Regina Stanback Stroud announced that face-to-Face classes at Berkeley City College, College of Alameda, Laney College and Merritt College are cancelled on Wednesday, March 11, Thursday, March 12, Friday, March 13, and Saturday, March 14, 2020.
Cancelling classes March 11-14 allows instructional faculty to attend trainings offered at their respective college and evaluate optional resources for potentially transitioning their classes to remote forms of instruction as needed. College administration will communicate times and locations for trainings.
The health and safety of members of the Peralta Community remains our top priority. PCCD will continue to follow the guidelines and best practices for institutions of higher education as recommended by the Alameda County Public Health Department, the California Department of Public Health, the California Community College Chancellor’s Office, and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Faculty opting to use remote forms of instruction will begin doing so following Spring Break on Monday, March 23, 2020, and continue through Saturday, April 4, 2020 (faculty may continue to teach face-to-face, however, we strongly encourage faculty who can opt to use remote forms of instruction to do so).
Resources for faculty regarding remote methods of instruction are available at:
- Emergency Remote Teaching Resources
- Academic Continuity and Academic Preparedness (see left panel) https://web.peralta.edu/academicaffairs/
Resources for students regarding preparation for online and hybrid classes are available at https://peralta.instructure.com/courses/442.
Please note: The Colleges and District Offices will remain open. Administration and staff are expected to report to work unless they are ill. The aim of this approach is to maintain academic continuity and proactively take steps to protect the community by reducing the number of people gathered in public spaces.
The latest updates from Peralta regarding COVID-19 are always available at https://web.peralta.edu/health-services/coronavirus/. Peralta serves a diverse community of learners and we are committed to maintaining a welcoming environment of belonging. Please treat each other with respect and kindness in these challenging times. You are all important members of our community.
All advocates of part-time faculty equity are encouraged to attend!
Friday, March 13, 2020
12:00- 2:00 p.m.
In person meeting and lunch is canceled.
Join the meeting remotely here:
Time: Mar 13, 2020 12:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android: https://cccconfer.zoom.us/j/314662101
Or iPhone one-tap (US Toll): +16699006833,314662101# or +16468769923,314662101#
Or Telephone:
Dial:
+1 669 900 6833 (US Toll)
+1 646 876 9923 (US Toll)
Meeting ID: 314 662 101
International numbers available: https://cccconfer.zoom.us/u/adFZXL3B9K
