A part-time faculty member earns reemployment preference after five quarters of service (either true part-time or full-time overload) in a division and having met the evaluation requirements. The latter includes an administrative evaluation completed by either the dean or his/her designee (a full-time, tenured faculty member) AND a completed student evaluation. Evaluations (both student and administrative) completed as part of the tenure process or as part of the regular full-time evaluative process apply toward REP. That is, a full-time faculty member does not need to complete additional, separate evaluations for the overload assignments, provided the overload assignment is in the same division as the full-time assignment. But, Article 7.10.3 specifies that if the dean or designee fails to complete an administrative evaluation within the first three quarters of service, and the faculty member has a completed student evaluation on file, the faculty member earns REP after only three quarters.
1. Right to an Assignment
The primary benefit of REP is a guaranteed right to an assignment each quarter, provided one is available and the faculty member is qualified for that assignment. While many, but certainly not all, districts have reemployment rights for part-time faculty, FHDA is fairly unique in how part-time assignments are distributed to those with REP. One key distinction is that in our district full-time faculty teaching overloads do not have seniority over part-time faculty when it comes to Article 7 assignments. The seniority list for those with REP is determined by the date of the first part-time/overload assignment. Thus, a part-time faculty employee first hired in Fall 2015 has seniority over a full-time faculty member who started teaching overload assignments any quarter after Fall 2015. A full-time faculty member can only teach an overload after all others with REP have been given assignments, and to have a right to future assignments, they must earn REP by teaching overloads for five quarters.
The seniority date assigned to the each person with REP is the date of the first part-time/overload assignment. Again, full-time faculty teaching in their own departments are not required to perform additional evaluations in order to receive REP. Also, when a part-time faculty member with REP is hired into a full-time position in that division, they maintain REP and their “hire date” on the REP list.
2. Due Process Rights
Once REP is attained, part-time faculty have specific due process rights if the administration wants to remove REP and no longer offer assignments. In contrast, a faculty member without REP has no right to an assignment in a quarter, even if assignments are available. The administration has no obligation to offer an assignment to a faculty member without REP.
3. Personal Necessity Leave Rights
All part-time faculty employees are granted one day of personal necessity leave per quarter of employment, regardless of REP status. However, only part-time faculty with REP may use the day of personal necessity leave for attendance at a professional conference.
4. Funding for Professional Conferences
Part-time faculty with REP are eligible for up to $1600 per year to defray the cost of attendance (registration, travel, meals, etc.) at professional conferences. Part-time faculty without REP are not eligible for any conference funding. See Article 36 for more information.
5. Eligibility for Partially Paid Health Benefits
Part-time faculty with REP who work at least 40 percent in an academic year are eligible to participate in the part-time health benefits program the following plan year. Part-time faculty who qualify can enroll in any of the CalPERS health plans, and the District’s contribution to the plan is a percentage of the Kaiser Plan cost. Faculty who participate in the plan and have an annual load of 0.400 to 0.499 receive a District contribution of 50 percent of the Kaiser plan cost; those with a load of 0.500 to 0.599 receive a District contribution of 60 percent of the Kaiser plan cost; faculty with an annual load of 0.600 to 0.670 receive a District contribution of 70 percent of the Kaiser plan cost.
6. How do I know if I have REP?
Each division is required to post REP lists that are updated each quarter. Article 7.12.1 in the Agreement states that updated copies of the REP lists will be posted in division offices, and pre-pandemic that was the case. During 2020-21, REP lists were posted through MyPortal, but are no longer up-to-date. FA will work with the District to update the online lists. In the meantime, ask your dean or division assistant where the current list is posted and let us know if you have any issues.