Article 15: Seniority

15.1

Seniority for the purpose of this Agreement shall be defined as the number of terms taught as a part-time faculty member at CNM since June 1, 1993.

15.2

Veteran Status - In accordance with 15.5 below, veteran status shall be attained for all part-time faculty who have taught six (6) complete terms since June 1, 1993.  Time spent substituting or engaged in presenting or instructing in a seminar shall not be counted toward seniority or veteran status.

15.3

Loss of Veteran Status - a veteran part-time faculty member shall lose veteran status whenever he/she has not taught a course in three consecutive terms. When the Dean or Designee determines that a part-time faculty member will not be rehired for three consecutive terms and shall be dropped from the hiring pool, the part-time faculty member will be notified in person or in writing that they will no longer be assigned courses. The part-time faculty member may request a meeting with the Dean or the Dean’s Designee, in accordance with the provisions of sub-article 16.2, and ask for a reason for their non-renewal.

15.4

Part of term courses shall count toward the attainment of veteran status as if a full term had been taught. Time spent substituting or engaged in presenting or instructing in a seminar shall not be counted toward seniority.

15.5

Veteran status will be determined at the beginning of each term for the purposes of course scheduling only. Only instructors who meet the conditions of veteran status on these dates shall have veteran status during the term of this Agreement.

15.6

Veteran part-time faculty (as defined in 15.2) who meet or exceed the goals of their program, and the Strategic Objectives outlined in Articles 18.6 and 18.7, as determined through the evaluation and classroom observation process, shall be given first consideration in course scheduling after full time faculty course assignments have been made but before other part-time faculty. Such consideration does not constitute a guarantee of any particular assignment. The final authority for assignments resides with the Dean or designee.

15.6.1

The final authority when assessing whether a part-time faculty member has met or exceeded the goals of their program and the strategic objectives outlined in Articles 18.6 and 18.7, resides with the Dean or designee. The provisions in Articles 5.4 and 5.6 also apply. This performance assessment is not grievable.

15.6.2

Giving consideration to evaluations, classroom observations, and goal accomplishment, does not negate the other considerations associated with faculty performance assessment related to course scheduling; which includes but is not limited to, a review and assessment of student evaluations, the number of student compliments or complaints, and compliance with administrative requirements.

15.6.3

The parties acknowledge that student enrollment in any given term will impact course scheduling.

15.6.3.1

The parties also recognize that student enrollment is the primary factor in determining course offerings in any term and that management has the right to determine the number of face-to-face classes and online classes assigned to faculty and that these assignments, because they are based on operational need, are not grievable.

15.6.3.2

When the Division of Academic Affairs initiates the assignment process, Full-time Faculty shall be assigned five classes or the equivalent in those Academic Schools where full-time teaching loads are determined in a different manner.

15.6.3.3

After Full-time Faculty receive their assigned classes, Part-time Faculty shall be assigned classes. Every effort will be made to spread course assignments equitably between equally qualified and available part-time faculty. Final approval of the workload is subject to the approval of the Dean or the Dean’s designee and none of the class assignments are grievable.

15.6.3.4

After Part-time Faculty are offered requested course assignments, Full-time Faculty will be offered overloads.

15.6.3.5

Employees in administration and staff who desire to teach part-time will be assigned a course or courses by the same scheduling procedures as part-time faculty.

15.6.4

Veteran status has no relationship to an employee’s rate of pay.

15.7

The parties agree that the following language regarding the scheduling of classes for Veteran part-time faculty shall be a pilot program. Beginning in the Spring 2025 term, each school shall evaluate the number of Veteran part-time faculty who have received and accepted at least two (2) course assignments which are the equivalent of six (6) credit hours in each of the previous six (6) terms. Beginning with the Fall 2025 term, Deans or Associate Deans will make every effort to assign those Veteran part-time faculty, who meet the criteria outlined above, with at least two (2) course assignments which are the equivalent of six (6) credit hours for the next two academic years, provided past performance, enrollment, and faculty preferences allow for such assignments. Under this pilot program, the 2027 Summer term is the last term in which assignments using these criteria shall be considered.