It has been very disturbing to me to sit and watch the administration at each and every bargaining meeting completely disregard the role that full time faculty members play at PSC. What I really mean is how the administration’s lawyer interprets the role faculty plays, because nobody else on the administrative side ever says anything anyway (yet they get paid quite nicely to bargain, hmmmm?)
Without our quality instruction, we would not be known as one of the best community colleges to attend. Adjuncts are great, but let’s face it, a college can’t exist without the dedicated full-timers. There are so many of us who could be working at higher profile jobs, making more money, but we chose to stay local, give back to the community of Pensacola, and do what we love: TEACH. For the first time, I am second guessing my decision for working here. Instead of worrying about what lesson I am going to be teaching the following day, I find myself worrying more about how my job is going to be affected again by changes the administration is trying to make. At the root of this worry is how the administration is trying to change the load points for several departments. Have any of them (admin) visited these specific departments and really dug into what goes into running these various programs? Absolutely not. To say that because a program doesn’t make enough money for the college, we are going to reduce the money going to the instructors running it is just ridiculous. All this is managing to do is pit departments against each other, instead of uniting us. If this logic is what salaries should be based on, then why are department heads, deans, VPs, and even the president paid so much more? What money do they generate for their areas? Better yet if faculty have to suffer, then shouldn’t other PSC employees sacrifice something too? I want an administrator to explain to me, to my face, why my hour of instruction is worth less than someone else’s hour of instruction! Each department has a crucial role at the College, but more importantly, in the community. The college should be supporting every faculty member equally, because that is the right thing to do. I have an even better idea: if the administration wants to save money, then how about they consolidate some of the administrative positions for once?
I think it is time to get this story out to all the trustees and more importantly the public. It is time for our community to understand how little respect the faculty are receiving here at PSC and because of that we now have no RESPECT or CONFIDENCE in the abilities of our administration!!
Thank you to all those faculty members in leadership roles and on the bargaining team willing to put their time and essentially their careers on the line to represent the best interest of all faculty. They may be trying to get rid of some of our best faculty, but we will not give up the fight. WE ARE PSC….and students keep coming back for us, not the administration.
4 comments:
Well said!!!
Together we are strong....WE are PSC, let's show the administration at bargaining and the board meeting that we are not going to sit back and take such disrespect.
I have been in this profession since 1970 and I have never felt as undervalued as I do at this institution. I have worked in numerous institutions both around this state and in other states, and have NEVER encountered such disregard and blatant lack of respect as this administration directs toward its faculty. If money is the only bottom line, then our administrators are so short-sighted it is amazing! For example,if the nursing department loses its accreditation because of the decrease in load points, students will not register for their program, the college will lose money and students will go to UWF. What an example of poor leadership!
Thank you to the bargaining team and everyone working to get the word out. You are appreciated by those of us who depend on you.
Do you remember a few years ago when Dr. Sam rolled out the Learning Centered College concept? I believe he could have rolled it out more effectively, but everyone was talking, arguing, debating, and reflecting about teaching styles and learning. The main point is that we were discussing teaching and learning. Sadly, that’s not the case anymore. Now we are mainly talking about load points, losing faculty rights, OPA, micro-managing our office schedules, the proper way to display the PSC logo (after getting approval), lack of communication, etc. I wish the Administration would treat us like professionals again and let us get back to teaching.
I have been in this profession for nearly 30 years and taught at multiple colleges and universities. Never have I seen such incompetence in an administration. There is so little understanding or regard for what we do and the efforts we put forth in educating our students.
We give of our personal lives. We give from our hearts. We sacrifice because of our passion. This semester alone I've worked every single weekend. Not just a couple of hours each day, but five to eight hours on both Saturday and Sunday. Grading, teaching, prep, professional development, committees and the nearly forbidden community service fills my week. I can't do it in 35 scheduled hours. But God help me if I leave a couple of hours early one day if I don't get approval (in writing) of my supervisor.
And our administration says we don't do enough. That we don't generate enough money. That we should swallow their draconian demands and work unworkable schedules. That we should simply embrace a new category of faculty which will work even more abusive hours with no opportunity for job security.
I am ashamed and embarrassed for our College. I don't understand how such presumtively smart people can be so stupid. I, too, lack confidence in our administration. There needs to be change or the quality of education and the credibility of our college as an institution of higher learning will be damaged. Hopefully not beyond repair.
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