RAFO Salary Survey - April 2004

Your views are very important to RAFO as we develop a new salary proposal, but we will be presenting it on May 6, so we need your response by April 30.

First, please provide some contact information:

First Name
Last Name
College
E-mail

QUESTION 1

Should the salary schedule be "flattened?"

Explanation

The current salary schedule has four "steps," defined by the "number of semesters previously taught," with salary ranging from $2525 per course to $3575. "Flattening" the schedule would mean reducing the number of steps and/or the salary differential between them. A perfectly flat schedule would have one step with all unit members making the same amount per course.

The concept of a step-based salary schedule is very common in collective bargaining , including for faculty contracts. In negotiations for the first contract, RAFO initially proposed a single step based on parity with full-time faculty salaries, but ended up compromising with RU on the step system. In part, this followed the example of Columbia College. The fourth step on the schedule was only added for the final year of the existing contract.

Step-based salary schedules have the advantage for employees of rewarding seniority and for employers of paying some employees less. The disadvantages for employees is that it undermines solidarity and may provide a financial incentive to assign less work (fewer courses) to those higher on the salary schedule.

Supplementary (optional) questions

How many steps should there be on the salary schedule?

How much difference in salary should there be between the top and bottom steps? (consider percentage and/or dollar amounts)

QUESTION 2

Should a premium be paid to adjunct faculty with terminal degrees in their field?

Explanation

The current salary schedule does not mention credentials or degrees at all. Some colleges (including many area community colleges) do award a higher salary for those with PhDs (sometimes for coursework beyond the Master’s).

Paying a premium to holders of advanced and/or terminal degrees may provide some cost savings to the University because it typically permits a lower base salary. RU has stated that most adjuncts do not hold terminal degrees. It is also an acknowledgement that teaching is a professional activity, in which credentials (and not just seniority) are relevant to salary. That is, it rewards professional accomplishment and, for those not yet there, encourages professional development. The University may find such distinctions useful in making the case to accreditation agencies that its teachers are qualified and may also help it to meet elements of its strategic plan.

Supplementary (optional) questions

If there were such a premium, how much should it be?

Do you have the terminal degree in your field?

QUESTION 3

Should there be a contractual guarantee of "customary course load?"

Explanation

This does not seem like a salary question, but getting only one course at a higher rate when one has customarily gotten two at a lower rate can mean a cut in salary.

Job security has become a major concern of adjunct faculty, especially with recent cuts in the number of sections offered. The contract now being negotiated addresses this in part by providing "bumping" rights to senior adjuncts. RAFO has noted that this only protects (some of) those who've already been assigned courses. There are no guarantees that adjuncts (especially those at the top of the salary schedule) won't simply be assigned fewer courses (and thus suffer an effective salary cut). Roosevelt has responded that if this were to happen simply on the grounds of cost savings, RAFO could file a grievance based on the "assignment" section of the contract (Art IV, Sec. E). An explicit contractual guarantee of "customary course load" would strengthen job security for those most senior. Another approach is to "spread the wealth," i.e. to assign at least one course to as many unit members who want courses, and only then offer additional courses to unit members (possibly beginning with the most senior).

Supplementary (optional) questions

What has been your "customary course load" (if applicable)?

Have you received fewer sections than that in recent semesters (assuming you still want to teach that load)?

QUESTION 4

How would you rank the importance of these three approaches?

Additional Comments?


The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts today. Let us move forward with strong and active faith.
F.D.R., March 1, 1945

Last revised on April 21, 2004 by the Webmaster.