Thank you so much to everyone who attended the 2021 adjunct orientation. We were so pleased to have such a great turnout.
Adjunct teaching can sometimes feel isolating, especially in the time of COVID. We hope one takeaway you got from orientation was that there are multiple people, at your union and PSU, who are eager to help you succeed. Everyone only had a few minutes to talk about their services, but we’re hoping this cheat sheet can help refresh your memory about certain services and benefits, and at the very least get you pointed in the right direction should you need assistance.
PSUFA Is Your Union
There are multiple unions that make up PSU. One way to think about unions is that they are “tiny democracies.” PSUFA has elected council positions. We advocate for our members, administer benefits (more on that later), negotiate for better pay and benefits, and work to improve your position at PSU. There are roughly 1,500 adjuncts who teach at PSU. We are by far the largest group of people who teach at PSU and are essential to how the university runs and functions.
Many of the resources and benefits you will see in this report are here because your union fought for them. But your union can only function with your support. Please become a member of the union here.
General Member Meetings
These are like our town halls. They take place every term. This is where you can share your input as a union member. We want to know what you want us to work on, or bargain for, or put our time toward. We make decisions based on what our members want us to do. Our next GMM is November 5, from 4 to 6 p.m. on Zoom.
Annual Reports
Check out all of our annual reports—including the latest from the 2019-20 year—online here.
PSUFA Support/Grievances
Do you have a problem at work? Concerned about your assignment rights/the amount of courses you’ve been given? Contact PSUFA’s chair of grievances, Lyndsie Compton (psufa.lyndsie@gmail.com)
Office of Information Technology (OIT)
OIT offers full office of tech service through their website. They are open from 8 a.m. until midnight every day. They can help you via telephone, chat, or email. The help desk can also help you work with the technology that is in your home. If you’re struggling with your technology at home, please reach out.
Some links:
Computer Labs and Printers
There are several computer labs open on campus. Check here to see their availability.
You can also print at these labs. You have 500 printing credits per term. That said, each department also has its own resources when it comes to computer access and printing, so check with your departments as well to see what is available.
Library Checkout
You can check out a lot, including equipment like laptops and wifi hotspots, from the library. These are available for students, but also for adjunct faculty. Please note the audio-visual section.
Transportation and Parking
The Part-Time permit is designed to fit the needs of Faculty/Staff members traveling to campus on a part-time basis. Part-Time permits are $120/monthly and payroll deductible. This permit option is valid three days/week. Faculty/Staff members will be able to choose which three days of the week their permit is valid at the time of purchase (ex. Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays). If an employee's schedule changes, the valid days can be changed up to three times over the life of the permit.
You are eligible to for an employee transit pass, which is $50 for a monthly Trimet pass (usually $100). The deadline for the October pass has passed, but if you apply by Oct 10 you will be set for November. You can ride the Portland Streetcar for free any time of day, any time of year. All you need is your PSU ID card!
Department Resources
All adjuncts have rights to office space on campus. Check with your department office manager about where and how to access adjunct office space.
The University and the Union agreed during bargaining last year to increase adjunct inclusion in the life of their departments. You have the right to be kept in the loop about your department’s decisions and plans through their meeting minutes. We are also working to build adjunct involvement in their department meetings over the next few years.
Any mandatory department or PSU-wide event or meeting must provide compensation to you at the committee service rate of $25.25/hr. Your department is responsible for those contracts and they should be arranged in advance of the event.
Your department will offer you a professional evaluation after 20 credits or three years, whichever comes first, with that the possibility of a 2 year contract.
Office of Academic Innovation
OAI is what other universities sometimes call a teaching and learning center. They have digital learning resources, online learning, face-to-face learning, assessment, service learning, multimedia resources, and more.
Faculty Help Desk
You can get help via phone, chat, email, or live forum. Can help with D2L issues, but also with general teaching issues.
This is a new site to help with remote teaching.
Opportunities for Professional Growth:
Certification of Innovation in College Teaching. Originally devised for graduate students, but is also great for adjuncts.
Academic Innovation MiniFund Program
Faculty Academic Writing Program
Faculty Book Club
Workshops
They host lots of workshops! Check out their calendar to see what’s coming up.
Adjunct Professional Evaluation
After teaching five four-credit classes or 20 credits, adjuncts are eligible for a 2-year contract. OAI can help with this process in terms of course observation, writing a teaching statement, and more.
Contacts: Janelle Voegele (voegelej@pdx.edu) and Raiza Dottin (raiza.l.dottin@pdx.edu)
Office of Global Diversity & Inclusion (OGDI)
Julie recommends printing out and referencing this sheet whenever you need it. It has information about the Disability Resource Center, Title IX, sexual violence, CARE program, religious accommodations, accommodations for pregnant students, and more:
Contact: Julie Caron (titleixcoordinator@pdx.edu, jucaron@pdx.edu)
Student Support
Contact: Mike Walsh (walshme@pdx.edu)
Benefits
PSU HR Resources
Sick Leave: Adjuncts accrue sick leave at 1 hour per 30 hours work. You can see how that accrues online in your Banweb account. Contact HR for more information for when and how you can use it. We also have new emergency paid sick leave. COVID-19 sick leave.
Retirement: Adjuncts begin to qualify for some retirement benefits after passing a state mandated 600 hours worked in one calendar year. You will be notified and asked to make a choice between a traditional PERS pension plan, or the ORP optional retirement plan, which is done through TIAA and Fidelity. It’s a one-time irrevocable decision. There is an employee and a limited employer contribution for both plans. There’s not a wrong choice, but there is probably a choice that works better for you. We encourage you to do research and be active about your decision. PSU also offers assistance with setting up your own individual retirement funds.
Employee Assistance Program: Free program that can provide personal and financial counselling, discounts on products, and many other useful services. EAP Cascades Center does a great job of accumulating information. There’s a lot here. Worth taking time to look through to see various benefits. Pick “PEBB” from dropdown (PSU isn’t on there). Definitely an overlooked benefit!
Question: How can people who teach remotely use sick leave?
Nathan’s answer in chat: There are some questions above related to how sick leave works in respect to the inherent flexibility (and responsibilities) of an adjunct position. This may be especially true for those who are working entirely remote during the term. It's true that flexibility and remote elements may mean that sick leave is not needed in some circumstances. However, if you are sick over a more extended period of time or have a conflict that cannot be effectively managed through the flexibility of your position, sick leave can help to ensure that time that you take will result in full pay during any absence (including OFLA/FMLA leave). As relates to teaching/research obligations during any health event, please contact your department for procedures.
Helpful Links:
Contact: Nathan Klinkhammer (askhrc@pdx.edu, nklink2@pdx.edu)
PSUFA benefits
There are three PSUFA benefits, all of which are offered once a term. You can read in depth about them at https://psufa.org/benefits.
The Adjunct Faculty Assistance Fund provides financial support for part-time faculty and researchers at PSU who are experiencing financial hardship.
The Faculty Education Fund offsets the cost of tuition for part-time faculty who wish to take career-related PSU courses.
The Professional Development Fund provides grants to part-time faculty members to cover the cost of professional development opportunities including travel, conferences, workshops, research, and more.
Contact: Jacob Richman, PSUFA operations chair (psufa.jacob@psufa.org)
Return to Campus
If you feel sick, contact SHAC. We also encourage assigned seating for in-person classes.
Student Health and Counseling Center (SHAC)
All employees, including adjuncts, can now get free COVID testing there by appointment
Contact: coronavirusresponse@pdx.edu