Your PSUFA Contract
As adjunct faculty at PSU, you are covered by our collective bargaining agreement (CBA). The CBA is the contract negotiated between representatives of PSU’s administration and representatives of PSUFA-AFT. Our current CBA covers our bargaining unit through June 30th, 2025.
2021–2025 CBA
Updated 2021-2025 CBA (PDF)
Economic Reopener Highlights:
$35 increase to the minimum per credit rate in Fall 2023 and
an additional $45 increase to the minimum per credit rate in Fall 202410% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for all adjuncts in Fall 2023 and
variable 1.75%–3.5% COLA again in Fall 2024Increases to research assistant and research associate hourly rates in Fall 2023 and Fall 2024
$850 one-time bonus for adjuncts of 6 or more years who work during the 2024–2025 Academic Year
Increase to compensation for work done outside instructional appointments
Addition of compensation for curricular development
Increases to independent study rates
Increase to compensation for contract negotiation and union release
PSU pays 6% IAP pickup for eligible employees toward retirement
Establishment of $7,500 in funds for adjunct inclusion in departmental meetings and other work
Summary of 2020–2025 CBA (PDF)
Contract Highlights:
$30/credit raises to those at the minimum in Fall 2021, $25/credit raises in Fall 2022
1% cost-of-living adjustment for all adjuncts in Fall 2021 and again in Fall 2022
Sick leave raised from 80 to 100 hrs
$200 one-time bonus for adjuncts who worked during the 2020–2021 Academic Year
New Tech Fund to help adjuncts purchase computers and other necessary technology for work
Increased access to the Staff Fee Privilege, which provides discounts to adjuncts taking classes at PSU
Strengthened assignment rights and simplified professional evaluation process
Inclusion of adjuncts in annual “milestone” ceremony recognizing employees for their length of service at PSU
A commitment to
begin including adjuncts in dept. meetings and other dept.-level functions.
annual PSU-wide orientation events for adjuncts
greater inclusion of adjunct researchers in decisions that affect their working conditions
2015–2020 CBA
Summary of 2018–2020 Economic Re-opener Outcomes (PDF)
Our previous 2015–June 2020 CBA (PDF)
Contract Highlights:
Job security: After teaching for 8 credits or 2 years, part-time faculty will be given 1-year appointments. Another provision in the contract enables faculty to receive two-year appointments. A faculty member who has taught for at least 20 credits or for 3 years will be offered an evaluation by their Department Chair which, if successful, ensures they receive all future appointments on a two-year basis. This assumes that the department will be offering courses that the adjunct has taught in the past ( Article 8, section 3).
Professional Development: Our professional development fund offers grants of up to $2,000 per year to faculty for the development of their career and expertise. Funds can be used to travel to conferences, attend trainings and workshops, cover research expenses, and especially to help fund primary research in your field (Article 13, section 2).
Faculty Education: This fund pays for faculty to take career-related courses at PSU. Adjuncts who are pursuing an advanced degree at PSU are eligible for the fund, as are faculty who want to take courses to strengthen their skills, or to pursue other career options (i.e. one of our members in biology is using the fund to get a Masters of Arts in Counseling). The Fund allows faculty to pay only $24/credit for courses at PSU ( Article 13, section 1).
Adjunct Faculty Assistance Fund: Faculty who are experiencing financial hardship are eligible to apply to the Adjunct Faculty Assistance Fund. Faculty can apply during terms when they are working at PSU, or in the term after they last worked to help deal with the impact of breaks in employment. PSUFA pays out a portion of the total fund each term, with the funds divided among applicants according to indicated need. ( Article 15).
Compensation: Starting in Fall 2018 the minimum per/credit rate for adjunct faculty making between $928 & $984 will increase 6%. The new minimum per/credit rate will be $984/credit. In Fall 2019, minimum per credit/rates will increase to $1,009/credit and all part-time faculty will receive an additional 1.5-3.5% Cost of Living Increase (COLA) based on the local CPI-U. (Article 12).
Working Conditions: All adjunct faculty have the right to office space, including a desk, file cabinet and a space to meet privately with students, plus access to a computer, copy machine and storage space, as well as email and voicemail accounts. Faculty also have access to the Employee Assistance Program, which offers resources such as crisis counseling, legal services etc. (Article 7).
2013–2015 CBA
Our previous 2013–2015 CBA (PDF).