CUNY part-time teachers who do full-time work are trying to improve their situation

What is it about?

In order to save money and because it does not always respect the work that its employees do, the CUNY administration prevents many workers from being labeled full-time, even though they actually work full-time schedules. CLIP and CUNY Start teachers, in particular, work 30 hours each week, 25 of which are actual contact hours with students, and yet CUNY labels these instructors part-timers, and, as such, they are denied decent wages and many benefits such a tuition reimbursement.

Featured Image

Why is it important?

Throughout America, but especially in metropolitan areas, tens of thousands of immigrants want to attend college, but their English skills are sub-par. Tens of thousands more graduate high school without the academic skills needed to get into college. In New York City, about half of all community college students are non-native speakers or Generation 1.5ers, and about 70% of students need remediation in at least one subject. Despite this permanent demographic fact, CUNY teaches these students with adjuncts and part-time instructors, many of whom cannot afford to meet basic needs like rent and food. This is part of a national, orchestrated campaign by backward-thinking, right-wing politicians (many of whom are actually Democrats, as is the case in NY State) who are trying to devalue the work that higher education professionals do. My article focuses on how CUNY is part of this unfortunate nationwide trend.

Perspectives