A Call to Action

California is clearly in a state of crisis, and if there is any light at the end of the fiscal tunnel, it is crepuscular at best. We have no idea how big a hit the community college system will be forced to take, and things are likely to get much worse before they get better. As evidenced by the recent demonstration in Sacramento attended by upwards of 10,000 chanting students, teachers, and other supporters, community college students and instructors are fed up with how they are treated by their elected representatives. Unfortunately, this is nothing new for part-time instructors. For decades part-time instructors have been taken advantage of by a system that insists on shortchanging our students and its workers by maintaining a two-tiered faculty. If we expect the legislature to do anything about it, we need to be active. We need to take our cue from activist students (present and past) and organize. That is what I am trying to do here at Merritt College by creating a site for non-contract faculty. I want to create a working environment for part-time instructors that enhances communication, organization, community, activism. Many of us full-time instructors want just consideration for our students, and we want justice for non-contract faculty!

— Jon Drinnon, English Instructor, Merritt College

Attention Merritt Part-time Faculty and Counselors

This site is in the process of being made available for your use. As people step forward to take over the content, I will facilitate revisions and additions. It is your site. My role is just to provide the vehicle and expertise so that you can make it your own, suitable to your own needs whatever you think those may be. I hope to be working with faculty and counselors to build a community of part-timers here at Merritt. I did that myself at DVC as a part-time instructor and saw what a difference it could make. Please contact part-time counselor Jesse MacEwan (436-2475) if you are interested in getting involved.

Jon

Check out the article on the "Boondoggle in California" related to the use of taxpayer money to provide part-time faculty parity. full story...