by Sadie Reynolds
This semester Adjunct Chair Sadie Reynolds undertook a survey of Adjunct Faculty, with invaluable assistance from CCFT Director Maya Bendotoff and CCFT’s current Office Assistant Candace Ashley. CCFT conducted the study to gain insight into the current working conditions for adjuncts—to inform union negotiations, and to provide information on adjuncts to the campus community, including especially members of Cabrillo’s administration, and faculty.
Please read the entire report at your leisure if inclined (linked below). Below are a few important highlights from the study:
General Information
- Adjuncts comprise of about 2/3 of Cabrillo faculty, and we got a 46% response rate for the survey—actually a high rate for this type of survey and the highest rate Cabrillo has had for an adjunct survey yet.
- 50% of respondents have taught at Cabrillo for more than 10 years; this is long term employment for many our people.
- For 53%, Cabrillo is their primary source of income, and 43% work 50%-time or more; this is not a “side-job” for many adjuncts.
- Large minorities experienced unit cuts in recent years and receive fewer units than they would like each semester.
Benefits
- Only 16% of respondents reported currently using the district-paid benefit stipend (while approximately double that number are eligible).
- Respondents complain that district plans are too expensive and do not cover dependents (unlike all other employee groups).
- 6% report being covered through the Affordable Care Act, but this, too, has become complex for those who have dependents.
Ancillary Activities
- 75% of respondents report participating in non-coursework related professional ancillary activities.
- 73% of this work is not compensated.
- About a half of those who participate in this work do so for more than an hour per week.
Demographics
- Our adjuncts are overwhelmingly white (85%), and majority older (56% are 55 or over) and women (65%).
Please view the full report for more detail and charts presenting this information in a readable format. CCFT thanks you for your support of adjunct faculty.