I have decided to run again as the UMUC Europe representative of the UMUC Faculty Advisory Committee. I ran last year and finished in the top four, so my colleagues have encouraged me to give it another shot. Here's my pitch:

I have been singing about the dismal fate of the life-long adjunct (mp3) at faculty meetings for several years now. I will be one of the first European adjuncts on the FAC, and as such will have the improvement of our conditions on my agenda, but these coincide with the interests of adjuncts in Asia and Adelphi as well.

A glance at the FAC constitution shows that the FAC directly advises the provost and the president on every matter of university policy. While the FAC role is seen as advisory, it is in fact also representative. In recent years, the adjunct has been the exploited migrant worker of the U.S. university system. This has been bad for faculty and for universities. Therefore, my role will be that of an advocate for adjuncts all over the world. We need:

- an up to date pay raise consistent with current inflation rates. We haven't had a raise in three years!
- a clear career path to collegiate status if we so desire
- broader tuition remission benefits (beyond the current “scholarships”)
- access to health insurance and retirement benefits
- clearer regular policies for course assignments and seniority rights
- raising the current 15 credit limit on teaching loads.
- reducing class size, especially in DE courses. Current average globally is 28. Classes of over 30 are common.

In my capacity as a FAC member, faculty salaries in general and especially benefits for adjuncts are definitely at the top of my list of priorities.

See also: http://hatlie.twoday.net/stories/4357132/