Part-time Faculty Association

Bargaining unit eligibility
Part-time faculty are members of a collective bargaining unit, the Part-time Faculty Association (NEARI/NEA), if they teach at least two courses totaling at least 2 teaching units in any academic year.

All faculty who are a part of the part-time faculty bargaining unit must sign the authorization for the deduction of union dues or agency fees that appears on the appointment letter. Continuing faculty issued digital contracts via their RISD email must click the appropriate boxes to acknowledge their bargaining unit status and to authorize dues deduction.  This is a condition of employment.  If you are offered an appointment which would make you a part of the bargaining unit and you do not sign the deduction authorization on your contract, you will not be permitted to teach at Rhode Island School of Design.  The dues deducted are determined yearly by the RISD Part-Time Faculty Association. 

A part-time faculty bargaining unit member may sign an Association membership form at no extra cost.  Membership in the Part-time Faculty Association will extend to the faculty member certain rights and benefits offered by the Association, including the right to vote on Association matters.  Membership forms are available from the Executive Committee of the Part-Time Faculty Association.

Benefits eligibility
Bargaining unit members may also purchase (via salary deduction) health care, dental care and other benefits. The College will contribute towards such benefits for some bargaining unit members.

For more information refer to the Collective Bargaining Agreement, read about the plans here, and/or contact Melanie Gomes, Benefits Administrator, Human Resources, mgomes01@risd.edu, (401)454-6428.

Collective Bargaining Agreement
The Collective Bargaining Agreement by and Between Rhode Island School of Design and the Rhode Island School of Design Part-time Faculty Association (NEARI/NEA) is typically renegotiated every three years by a team of faculty elected by and from its membership and a team of RISD administrators, and their respective legal counsels.

For more information about the Contract, dues, or the PTFA please contact Susan Solomon, PTFA President, ssolom02@risd.edu.

Sabbatical
Bargaining Unit members are eligible for sabbatical when they have accumulated thirty-six (36) Teaching Units. Read more about eligibility and payment in Article X.A. of the Bargaining Agreement. Click here to be linked to the application form and information about the workflow of approval.