CALL TO ACTION: Proposed rule change for issuance of continuing contracts
To College Faculty, The State Board of Education is conducting a rulemaking hearing on November 29 in Heathrow at Seminole State College of Florida on Rule 6A-14.0411: Issuance of Continuing Contracts for college faculty Tom Auxter, UFF President, and Mark Richard, UFMDC President, will offer testimony as the union presidents. We need as many faculty to testify from their perspective. They should be diverse in terms of colleges, disciplines and years of teaching experience. We are asking for commitments to attend now and also submit your comments online. The “post-award performance criteria” will impact the future of all faculty. This rule change is not in response to identified problems. It is a political agenda from Governor Scott. The changes from the May, 2012 proposed rule to the current version are from the Governor.
Ed Mitchell
Submit your comment online All faculty should go online and register their opposition to the proposed rule change. To submit a comment on this rule, go to: https://app1.fldoe.org/rules/default.aspx Look for Rule “6A-14.0411” and click on “Submit Comment.” State that you are “writing in opposition to the proposed rule change.” State your name, college and discipline. Talking points on continuing contracts: Faculty are awarded a continuing contract after completing a rigorous process that includes:
• Be reappointed • Be recommended to the college President. • Completed faculty development hours. • Be recommended for a continuing contract by the College President. • Complete performance evaluations for each year. • Be approved by the College Board of Trustees. • Faculty on a continuing contract may be terminated for just cause.
Talking points in opposition to the proposed rule changes:
• Diminishes local control by the College Board of Trustees. • Moving to five years before eligibility will place Florida at a competitive disadvantage in hiring faculty compared to other states. • What does “quantifiable measurable effectiveness in the particular area of practice” mean? • How does “feedback from employers of students” measure the contribution of a single faculty member when the student was taught by twenty or more faculty?
Notice of Development of Rulemaking
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION RULE NO.: RULE TITLE: A RULE DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP WILL BE HELD AT THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE SHOWN BELOW: DATE AND TIME: November 29, 2012, 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. PLACE: Seminole State College of Florida, Heathrow Campus, 1055 AAA Drive, Heathrow, FL 32746
6A-14.0411 Employment Contracts for Full Time Faculty (1) District Boards of Trustees shall develop, maintain and distribute a policy governing the issuance of contnuing contracts and other employment contracts for employees serving in a full time faculty capacity as determined by the college. Such policy shall be consistent with this rule. (2) (a) Completion (b) Receive the r (c) Compliance with criteria established by the board pursuant to subsection (3) of this rule. (3) (a) Such criteria shall at a minimum include the following: 1. quantifiable measurable effectiveness in the particular area of practice. 2. continuing professional development; 3. currency and scope of subject matter knowledge, 4. student and faculty feedback and feedback from employers of students; and 5. service to department, college and community. (b) Such criteria may include the following: 1. educational qualificiations, efficiency, compatability, learning outcomes, character; 2. capacity to meet the educational needs of the community; 3. the length of time the duties and responsibility of this position are expected to be needed; and 4. such other criteria as shall be included by the board. (4) Each board may hire full-time faculty positions that are not eligible for continuing contract.
(5) (6) Each board shall by policy establish post-award performance criteria for faculty under continuing contract. Periodic review of continuing contract faculty through post-award performance criteria is intended to contribute to their continuing growth and development. (a) Periodic review shall occur at least every three (3) years. (b) Periodic review shall include, but not be limited to, factors as evidence of: 1. quantifiable measurable effectiveness in the particular area of practice; 2. continuing professional development; 3. currency and scope of subject matter knowledge; 4. student and faculty feedback and feedback from employers of students; and 5. service to the department, college, and community. (7) (b) The board may dismiss a full-time faculty employee under continuing contract upon (8) In addition, each college, after receiving input from the faculty, shall develop appropriate criteria to measure student success, which may include but shall not be limited to the following factors, as appropriate: (i) demonstrated or documented learning gains, (ii) course completion rates, (iii) graduation and/or certification rates, (iv) continued success in subsequent and additional courses or educational pursuits and (v) job placements in the appropriate field. Such factors selected by the individual college shall be used, as appropriate, for the particular field of learning and the individual faculty member, as consideration in determining whether to grant a continuing contract pursuant to (3) above. Such factors shall also be used, as appropriate, in the review set forth in (6) above. (9) (10) Each Board may award multiple year contracts, annual contracts or contracts less than one year to full-time faculty employees. No multiple year contract may exceed three (3) years. Each board that awards multiple year contracts, annual contracts or contracts less than one year shall establish rules and policies concerning such contracts. (11)In order to provide for a transition period for full-time faculty in the process for being considered for continuing contracts, each board may provide an exemption from the time requirements set forth in paragraph (2)(a) of this rule for faculty personnel being considered for an award of a continuing contract Specific Authority 1001.02(1), (9). 1012.83, 1012.855 FS. Law Implemented 1012.83 FS. History–Formerly 6A-8.33, Repromulgated 12-19-74, Amended 12-9-75, 2-14-77, 12-26-77, 7-16-79, Formerly 6A-14.411, Amended 7-20-04, |
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