The Austin Community College teachers union has asked the college administration for more time for faculty members to meet guidelines that could threaten their jobs, as well as a second opinion on the guidelines themselves.
A consultant from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the recognized accrediting body for Texas, reviewed the college in March and declared that it had hired too many teachers without the
proper credentials.
"We are looking at hurting the college with this advice," said union president Mark Goodrich.
Some faculty risk losing their positions at the college, if they do not gain the proper credentials before the fall semester. Some instructors with 20 years of experience at ACC may find their part-time positions at the college threatened, Goodrich said.
In March 2003, ACC renewed its accreditation with SACS, but it also received a warning.
In the review, SACS declared that ACC held too many faculty members "in exception." However, SACS did not specify how many faculty members could be excepted.
Instructors at the college are sometimes hired "in exception" when they have special knowledge skills or experience despite lacking credentials outlined by SACS, according to a memo by Interim ACC President Stephen Kinslow.
In 2003, SACS found that 147 ACC faculty - mostly adjunct professors - had been hired "in exception." Adjunct staff are hired in part-time teaching positions, mainly in fields that involve associate's degrees and technical occupations.
After a third review by SACS consultants, ACC decided to take steps to ensure the college is in compliance with the guidelines.
The instructors lacking in credentials can meet the requirements by taking courses, updating transcripts or possibly being moved into a new subject in which they are qualified to teach. While full-time instructors have been guaranteed positions in the fall, some adjunct staff may be forced to quit.
"We have never said that full-time faculty will lose their jobs," Kinslow said.
Many ACC faculty are concerned. The local chapter of American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO asked for more time for teachers to meet the standards at the ACC Board of Trustees meeting Monday.
The union requested that ACC seek a second opinion other than the first consultant from SACS, Goodrich said.
"The administration took this drastic view and basically, did not give much warning," Goodrich said.
If the issues are not resolved within two years of the original decision, then ACC could be put on probation or possibly lose its accreditation, Kinslow said.
"Again, the needs of the institution - getting off warning and reaffirming accreditation - are a higher priority than meeting individual needs," Kinslow said in a memo to staff members.
The college is also attempting to hire new full-time faculty members in areas most affected by high numbers of adjunct positions and possible layoffs.
Originally, ACC planned to add 45 new faculty members over a three-year period, Kinslow said. However, at the board meeting last night, the college intended to ask for 26 new teachers for the fall semester.
"This needs to be done in a way that does not injure students, seriously damage their programs or unfairly treat loyal faculty members who have been teaching in good faith," Goodrich said in a statement.
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