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ADJUNCT/CONTINUING ED FUND TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED

ADJUNCT FUND SEEKS NEW SUPPORT
Temporary Halt to Applications

From the May/June '08 Clarion

As part of the last contract settlement with CUNY, the PSC received $500,000 to develop a grant program to support professional development work by eligible adjuncts and continuing education teachers.  

At the time, the PSC negotiators knew it would be very successful and urged CUNY to make this an ongoing fund. However, CUNY said the University needed proof that there would be a clear need for continuing funds. That proof is now well in hand. 

From April 2007 to July 2007, the Adjunct Professional Development Fund awarded $198,820 in grants. Since September 2007 the fund awarded another $280,180 in further grants, for a total of approximately $479,000. During this 14-month period, the fund received more than 360 applications and awarded 277 grants. 

SUSPENSION 

The Adjunct Professional Development Fund is administered by a four-person committee appointed by the PSC president, which meets monthly to approve applications.   

At its last meeting, the committee decided to suspend temporarily acceptance of new applications until such time as the University agrees to the PSC demand to continue support for the fund. (Funds still on hand may be needed to support grants already approved. Though all proposed spending under a grant application must be approved in advance, the exact cost of some items may not be known until after the work is done.) 

“The union urges adjuncts and continuing education teachers to help us tell the University how this fund has assisted them in their research, creative projects, and in attending classes and conferences,” said committee member Norah Chase. “The strong demand for grants from the fund and the work the fund has supported testify to the scholarly talent among CUNY’s part-time faculty.” 

Chase asked adjuncts and continuing education teachers who have received grants from the fund to email accounts of their work and the difference that support from the fund has made. (Send them to Clarissa Gilbert Weiss, the fund administrator, at cweiss@pscmail.org .)

 

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