46th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2003

REQUESTING THE NEW MEXICO LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TO APPOINT AN APPROPRIATE INTERIM LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE TO REVIEW THE USE OF PART-TIME AND NONTENURE TRACK FACULTY IN NEW MEXICO'S POST-SECONDARY EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND TO REQUEST THE COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION TO STUDY THE EFFECT OF THE USE OF SUCH FACULTY IN PLACE OF TENURED OR TENURE TRACK, FULL-TIME, PROFESSIONAL FACULTY ON EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS AND REPORT TO THE INTERIM LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE.

WHEREAS, a quality college or university must have a staff of full-time, permanent, tenured faculty to maintain high academic standards; and

WHEREAS, public colleges and universities are resorting to replacing tenured and tenure track faculty positions with increasing numbers of part-time and nontenure track positions; and

WHEREAS, courses should be taught by highly qualified people, whether full-time or part-time, tenured or nontenured, who are paid a professional salary and who are included in the academic processes; and

WHEREAS, various studies have shown that the majority of part-time faculty members teach under substandard conditions; and

WHEREAS, national professional organizations representing university and community college faculty, administrators and trustees have agreed that fair compensation for part-time and nontenure track faculty should be based on qualifications commensurate with tenure track faculty, with a goal of pro rata rather than per-course-hour rates;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the New Mexico legislative council appoint the appropriate interim committee to review the growing dependence on part-time and nontenure track faculty in New Mexico's post-secondary educational institutions; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the commission on higher education be requested to study the use and compensation of part-time and nontenure track faculty and, in consultation with the post-secondary educational institutions and faculty organizations, to consider policies designed to discourage over-reliance on such faculty for undergraduate instruction while protecting instructors who are performing effectively in such positions; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the commission on higher education make its report to the appropriate interim legislative committee by November 2003 with recommendations on the establishment of minimum salary and fringe benefits provisions indexed to tenure track faculty compensation for part-time and nontenure track faculty to better ensure fair employment practices and a consistent emphasis on quality instruction at all levels, from lower divisions through graduate instruction; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the members of the New Mexico legislative council, the commission on higher education and the president of each of New Mexico's post-secondary educational institutions.