Mendoza introduces AB 1343, the Faculty and College Excellence Act

April 17, 2007

Assemblyman Tony Mendoza today announced at a press conference his introduction of AB 1343, the Faculty and College Excellence Act (FACE). The FACE legislation is an effort to improve the quality of education in California's community colleges and state universities by bolstering a strong core of regular, continuing faculty, and addressing the lack of equity in pay and benefits for the increasing numbers of part-time and temporary full-time faculty. 

The press conference, held in the Sacramento office of the California Federation of Teachers (CFT), also featured officers from several faculty organizations who spoke in support of the FACE legislation.

Assemblyman Mendoza said he is carrying this bill "because I want to help students go to college, learn effectively, and succeed in college. You can pour money into every sort of scholarship and support program that comes by, but investing in faculty will provide the best return for your money.  If we expect to continue to attract high level, dedicated faculty, we will have to find ways to provide competitive salaries and dignity and respect to all faculty, including those who teach part-time."

CFT President Marty Hittelman stated, "Our students deserve to have faculty with whom they can meet and with whom they can have a continuing connection."  Hittelman, a community college instructor for more than a quarter century, posed a rhetorical question:  "And who would go into a profession where the future is likely to be one of living on the margin?"

A recent report from the U.S. Department of Education reaffirms the trend obvious to faculty in higher education in California and across the nation:  students are facing a future with fewer full-time faculty in colleges and universities.

Community College Association/CTA Vice-President Ron Reel told reporters that he hopes that the Faculty and College Excellence Act will reverse that trend: "The CTA looks forward to working with CFT to achieve the long standing goal of a 75-25 full-time to part-time ratio, and looks forward to the greater chances for success that that will mean for our students."

Faculty Association for California Community Colleges President Dennis Smith noted that "Temporary and part-time faculty are paid at half the rate of regular full-time faculty and normally do not receive health benefits. They are not usually involved in curriculum development nor are they able to provide office hours. They are most often excellent instructors but are prevented from providing a full service education to their students."

Susan Meisenhelder, former president of the California Faculty Association, pointed out that the California State University faculty narrowly averted a statewide strike in the past few weeks, and their top issues included maintaining teaching excellence.  "CFA supports this bill.  The growing reliance on temporary jobs is bad for our students and the faculty.  We need to turn this trend around.

Since 2003, the proportion of tenured or tenure-track professors has shrunk by 4%, or one per cent per year, in degree granting colleges and universities.  As a result, the American Federation of Teachers is supporting legislation similar to the FACE Act in several states.

FACE is supported by the California Federation of Teachers, California Teachers Association, California Faculty Association, and the Faculty Association of California Community Colleges.