August 5th, 2019
Dear Colleagues,
Thank you for your continued patience and understanding as we work through the transition of quarterly and semester adjunct faculty to non-exempt status and academic year adjunct lecturers to 10-month contracts. I’m writing to share information about how Santa Clara is partnering with other private, non-profit universities to advance a legislative solution that may eliminate the need for these changes in the future, should the legislation successfully pass.
As you may recall, the need to transition our quarterly and semester adjunct faculty to non-exempt status was tied to the fact that the per-course payment structure has recently been challenged in California, impacting only private, non-profit universities (public universities as well as K-12 teachers in both private and public schools are exempt from this requirement). This situation was also a consideration in moving our AYALs to 10-month contracts, allowing us to maintain our AYAL’s exempt status as challenges to California state wage law continue.
While we continue to move forward with these necessary changes, we are also working closely with the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities (AICCU) to advance legislation (AB 1466) that will classify all educators in California as exempt employees. While there are no guarantees that this legislation will pass, please know we are doing our part to support this united effort as it will create clearer, more uniform standards that properly respect and recognize the professional nature of the work of part-time adjunct faculty.
This legislation has been developed in partnership with SEIU for California, and includes per-course rates that have been endorsed by the SEIU. I will continue to update you as this progresses through the lawmaking process. We believe this proposed legislation represents a fair, respectful, common-sense solution, and we will continue to voice our support through this process.
If you would like more information, please contact Amy Shachter or Ed Ryan in my office.
I hope you are enjoying a restful summer. We look forward to seeing you back on campus this Fall. For those of you beginning classes soon at the Jesuit School of Theology and the School of Law, I wish you a wonderful semester.
Sincerely,
Lisa Kloppenberg Interim Provost