Conrad Scott-Curtis
CCFT has several projects underway, including continued work on repeatability, faculty evaluation, funding for adjunct ancillary activities, and discussion with CFT and state political leadership concerning priorities for next year’s California state budget. Here, I’d like to give a preliminary report on one other activity we’re involved in: a joint CCFT-District study of faculty compensation levels at Cabrillo, relative to other community colleges, both those in the bay area and on the nearby central coast, and others statewide.
As many of you are aware, salaries for Cabrillo contract faculty fell significantly in statewide comparisons during the period from 2003 to 2008. For example, during this period salary in the highest non-doctorate category (Class 6), step 14 fell from 15th in the state to 51st in the state, out of 71 districts. During the four years prior to 2009, Cabrillo ranked 3rd from the bottom in pay raises among 70 districts in the state. Afterward, salaries stayed the same, or close to the same, in statewide rankings. In February 2009, Paul Harvell produced a detailed—and quite brilliant—study of possible factors involved in this dramatic change, which is available on the CCFT website here: http://devcp19.ccftcabrillo.org/news/issues/salarycomparisons/cabrillosalarystudy_feb09/. Clearly, factors that pertained in 2003-08 do not all pertain today; for example, during much of that period Cabrillo and most other districts experienced growth, and today we are seeing decline in enrollment number at Cabrillo at many other northern-California colleges, in particular. Formulas for capturing growth money are changing, and we have new state mandates to focus on Basic Skills, CTE, and transfer students. So the 2009 study does not speak directly in all ways to today’s situation. However, for those interested in putting in a bit of time to read it, Paul’s study provides background information and categories of comparison with other schools.
Today, CCFT and the District are involved in a much more modest study of total compensation (salary + medical benefits) between Cabrillo and several other colleges, mostly in our geographical area. Our goal is to establish a clear, and agreed-upon picture of Cabrillo’s relative position in compensation, which can then be used to articulate short- and long-term goals for Cabrillo compensation. Clearly, CCFT and the District will not always agree on what is possible, but developing a set of facts to use as reference is a good start.
In addition to comparing salary and benefits, the joint study group will examine the percentage of the base budget that goes to faculty salary, and changes over time in this marker. Benefits are harder to break out by employee group, but we will also take a look at the percentage of the base budget that goes to employee benefits, both over time and in comparison with other schools.
The parameters of the study are not yet completely established, but we are moving forward. Stay tuned for developments in the project we hope to have completed by March 1.
Other News
I want to take time to acknowledge the hard work of CFT throughout the state in electing Tom Torlakson once again to the office of State Superintendent of Education.
On another front, Josh Pechthalt, President of CFT, published an opinion piece in the Sacramento Bee 11/30, calling to keep the Prop. 30 tax increases in place. The proposition has provided $13.1 billion dollars to public education, while avoiding the doomsday predictions that the provisions would cause wealthy Californians to flee the state. At the same time, California has added 300,000 jobs and cut unemployment by 2.5%.
In addition, I look forward with interest to the appointment of Jose Medina (D-Riverside) to the role of Chair of the Higher-Education Committee in the State Assembly. Medina is a member of FACCC, a former high-school teacher in the Riverside Unified School District, and a former community college trustee, whose main commitment is to increased equity in access to higher education.
Finally, I want to wish all of you a smooth end-of-the-semester and a great holiday break. If I don’t see you at CCFT’s holiday party, Monday, December 8 from 3:30-4:30 in Room 225 of SAC East, I will see you next semester. (The holiday party follows a shortened CCFT Council meeting from 2:30-3:30, which all are also welcome to attend.)