MLA Action for Allies Questionnaire

Modern Languages Association (MLA) is making plans for the next Action for Allies Campus Equity Week event upcoming in October 2017. MLA is asking for your help and cooperation as we plan for the future. We are seeking updated information about situations for contingent faculty (including non-tenured lecturers, adjuncts or other part-time faculty and graduate students who teach) at campuses all over the country. In recognition of the fact that contingent labor now serve as 50 – 75% of the faculty at most colleges and universities, we encourage all institutions of higher learning to consider examining the situation of contingent labor at your own campus and within your own program or department.

Please help us create an updated view by providing answers to the following questions. There is a space at the end of this questionnaire for you to provide additional comments or ask questions. Please answer the questions for your specific department or program. If you are a Dean, then please answer for your college or division.

1. Do you know the percentage of faculty in your department/program who are contingent? Please consider all non-tenure track lecturers, adjuncts and graduate students who teach.

Yes. Please fill in the approximate percentage of contingent faculty                                                         ______

I know we have contingent faculty, but I’m not sure of the percentage                                                  ______

We do not use contingent faculty or the number is very low                                                                        ______

2. Our department/program has a system in place for recognizing academic or scholarly achievements of non-tenure or tenure-track faculty. For example, are faculty eligible for on campus awards; are there awards specifically for contingent faculty; contingent faculty scholarly achievements are noted on a faculty website.

If yes, please note specific examples within your department: _____________________________________________________________________________________
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If no, our dept. does not have formal recognition of contingent faculty, please note the reason:  _____________________________________________________________________________________

Not at this time but we plan to develop the following in the future _______________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________

3. Our department/program provides financial support and/or travel funds for contingent faculty professional development, i.e. presenting at conferences, workshops or training, participation in national or international committees or boards which constitute service to the profession.

Yes, contingent faculty receive support commensurate with the tenure/tenure track faculty      ______

No, our dept. does not support professional development or travel for contingent faculty           ______

4. Our department provides support for contingent faculty professional development that differs from the support provided to tenure-line faculty. Please describe the types of support available.                 ______
5. Our contingent faculty have access to resources on campus including the library, campus-provided training and office support staff such as copying, messages, etc. Please give us more specific information in the following:

Contingent faculty have full access to library resources.                                        YES      NO

Contingent faculty have access to faculty development opportunities such as workshops, training and on campus professional development.                                                         YES      NO

Contingent faculty are compensated for participating in service or faculty development.                                                                                                                                         YES      NO

Contingent faculty have full access to office support staff for copying, relaying messages, etc.                                                                                                                                                                           YES      NO

6. Contingent faculty have access to private offices or space where they can meet with students privately to comply with FERPA guidelines.    YES     NO
7. My department/program has written renewable contracts for contingent faculty. YES   NO
8. My department/program has a written promotion plan in place for adjuncts and non-tenured lecturers.    YES    NO

If yes, please give some specifics telling us a little about contracts and promotions work in your dept.

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Please provide any additional comments if you feel might be helpful including issues not addressed here or items which should be considered in the future.

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