Dan Wells, Environmental Studies Lecturer talks about the field work that part-time faculty do with students
Part-time faculty members at UVM who are members of United Academics announced today that they will begin negotiations with the UVM administration next week.
Brian Tokar, negotiation team member, stated that the team will be looking for access to basic job security, benefits and the ability to advance. Tokar stated his hope that “the new administration at UVM would bring a fresh start in relations with students and faculty.”
Part-time faculty at UVM are anything but “contingent” and have long standing relationships with the institution, according to Sean Witters, English professor. “Part-time faculty bring specialized knowledge to UVM students that students wouldn’t otherwise be exposed to,” said Witters, who cited the contributions of specialists coming from non-academic fields, mid-career scholars, and faculty emeriti. Echoing Witters, Dan Wells noted that, “Part-time faculty do a significant amount of field work with students, taking them out to the mountains, fields and lakes of Vermont.”
Students also gave their support to the part-time faculty calling on the administration to respect the work that they do. Ashley Wolf, a junior in History, said that part-time faculty help build deeper connections with the community. Anna DeGloria, a junior in Environmental Studies stated her support and appreciation “for the availability and passion of our part-time faculty.”
United Academics represents 150 part-time faculty members and 600 full-time faculty at UVM, and is affiliated with AAUP and AFT-Vermont. AFT-Vermont represents faculty and professional/supervisory staff at the Vermont State Colleges as well as nurses and healthcare professionals.
Students speak out for respect for part-time faculty at UVM.
Read the Burlington Free Press Article here: http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2012120313028