best continuing #adjunct story…#EqualPay4EqualWork

…Suzanne Hudson and Don Eron

…Colorado HB14-1154 introduced by Rep Randy Fischer, also instrumental, with Don Eron and Suzanne Hudson, in their other NTT equity campaign -- the one Don and Suzanne got that AAUP award for.

Yes, the bill at the hearings was HB1154 ~ same bill, out on the next round. Remember that Sesame Street video about Bills? Lots of steps so pay attention because you could be doing this in your state someday. 




March 2, Don wrote, 

CPR interviews Caprice Lawless

If you'd like to run a brief news item, I've attached a statement of support issued by the NFM, which we received yesterday. The statement is spot on--and very much appreciated. 

So: a warm thanks to our brothers and sisters in the New Faculty Majority! 

It's been a busy few days. 

Suzanne, Caprice, and I, along with seven eloquent adjuncts from Front Range CC, met with the Senate Majority Leader. On Tuesday a few of us are meeting with the Speaker of the House, to try to persuade him to prioritize HB14-1154. 

Thanks, as always.  Best, Don

NFM Letter of Support for Colorado HB1154

Colorado HB14-1124: #EqualPay4EqualWork

…Today TuesJan 21, Don Eron wrote #adjuncts on the adj-l list. Links, docs, etc referenced below will also be aggregated on a separate page along with other items relevant to this important campaign. 

Dear Colleagues,

For those of you who are interested in following the progress of the "Community College Pay and Benefits Equity Act of 2014," the Colorado House hearing will be on February 3 at 1:30 pm.

Documents will be posted on BOTH the "Equal Pay Bill 2014" page of, the Front Range Community College's AAUP web site, and on the  Colorado Conference of the AAUP web page.  [Ed note: the plucky Colorado Adjuncts are also on Facebook if you'd like to leave them a congrats message]

Clarice Lawless, Front Range CC, at the mic

The press release about our press conference on the steps of the State Capitol last Friday on the Front Range page includes a video of the press conference, embedded player and link. There were nine speakers -- five adjuncts, the house sponsor, the senate sponsor, an AAUP speaker (me), and an AFT speaker.

Contingent faculty, tenure and academic freedom

Don & Suzanne at signing of
landmark CO legislation

…by Don Eron, originally posted to COCAL's contingent faculty email list, popularly known as adj-l, and republished here with Don's permission. His elegant and thoughtful examination of tenure and contingency in current higher education was part of a larger discussion on the COCAL listserv email that included Jack Longmate and Seth Kahn, among others. To access the complete thread, titled, "Contingent faculty, undocumented workers (and tenure)," subscribe online or by sending adj-l@adj-l.org a blank email with "Subscribe" in the subject line.

Dear Colleagues,

Jack [Longmate] suggests that offering tenure as a remedy to the problems that stem from contingency--in other words, to the problems that occur when faculty do not have tenure--is a "hard sell." As somebody who has long advocated that all faculty, at every rank and job description, should be granted tenure after the successful completion of a probationary period, I can agree with Jack that selling tenure as a solution is a "hard sell," not only to tenured faculty but perhaps to Jack and others on this list, although it shouldn't be so.

CO Governor signs Contingent Faculty legislation

Just in from Don Eron, news too good & too important not to share immediately with as many #adjuncts/#contingent faculty as possible. Pass it on ...dance on tables...

Don writes, 

Colorado HB 12-1144, the Contingent Faculty Bill, was signed into law this afternoon.

The photograph was taken after our post-signing wind-down strategy session. On my right is long-time contingent activist Suzanne Hudson, my partner in all things; on my left is Representative Randy Fischer of Ft. Collins, who wrote the legislation; on Representative Fischer's left is Sue Doe. In my left breast pocket, undetected by the camera, is the Governor's pen, one of several  used in signing this historic legislation. 

More information and pictures, including of the signing on the Colorado AAUP website

We did it

Posted via email from Academentia

Legislative Triumph in Colorado!

A giant step forward for #ContingentFaculty everywhere, HB 1144 passed the Senate, now awaits expected signing. The good news story we've been following has the ending we hoped for. In my opinion, it also speaks to future possibilities for Program for Change, authored by Jack Longmate and Frank Fosco. "Colorado Adjunct Project" team member and long time contingent faculty activist, Don Eron of the Colorado AAUP writes [emphasis and links added], 

Dear Colleagues,

You will be interested to learn that on Tuesday Colorado House Bill 1144, the so-called "Contingent Faculty Bill," was passed by the Democratic-controlled State Senate, 22-12. This followed on the heels of a dramatic, and surprising, 36-29 victory last month in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives. House Bill 1144 is now on the desk of the Democratic governor, who is expected to sign it.

The law will give state universities and colleges the option of engaging in binding employment contracts with NTTF for up to three years. Previously, all faculty not on a tenure track had been declared by Colorado law to be at-will employees.

Reading Room: about reading highered + links of my own

Yes indeed, Joe Berry's COCAL Updates, Omnivore and Michael Meranze's "In case you missed it..." (Remaking the University) links are fine and dandy, but I have a feed reader too and links of my own, collected here for a change. This might also explain why I might miss articles in IHE and CHE and run short of time to pore over comments. News Flash! Not everyone in the universe checks them or even the Grey Lady first thing.

So much more is written about higher education, contingent workplace conditions, education and the economy than on just those august pages. Depending on either or even both for all your higher and other education news is just another way to stay trapped in the Ivory Silo©. Think too of the great adjunct writing online that doesn't make it into those pages. Why let commercial, advertising soliciting gatekeepers dictate what you read? Look for the Adjunct Label...