Letter from our President Cornelia Alsheimer -Barthel

Cornelia Alsheimer-Barthel

                                            Sep 25, 2022, 11:58 AM

to Fulltime, adjuncts, Faculty

Friends,

I hope this message finds you well.  This past week has marked a big change for all of us who teach and work on campus as the administration has eliminated the indoor mask mandate. As of September 16 masks continue to be strongly recommended but not required as long as we remain in the “low” tier. Should COVID rates increase into the “medium” or “high” tiers, masks will be required again according to our COVID mitigation plan. 

The FA is aware that this has created relief and joy for some of us while it is causing great concern  for those faculty who belong to the groups who carry a high risk for COVID-19 or live together with others who do.

The Faculty Association had fought hard to reach an agreement with the District that would include an option for individual faculty to require mask wearing in their classes/work space. This effort was also supported by a most recent Senate vote asking for the right of individual faculty members to require mask wearing in their indoor classroom or work spaces through the end of Fall semester.

Unfortunately, the District did not agree to an option for individual faculty to “require” masks in their classes/work spaces. While faculty can “request” masks to be worn in their classrooms and offices, there is no obligation for the students to comply. 

As the next best alternative the FA has negotiated in a Memorandum of Understanding a number of support measures that the District is offering to every faculty member upon request.  Specifically:

• faculty will be allowed to switch their classes into a larger classroom, a classroom with working A/C,  or a tent setting.  Also, the District will provide full support in locating a classroom/tent, moving class material etc. If desired they will also provide plexiglass shields/enclosures. 

• ESD faculty can choose to serve the student in a classroom if available or outdoors or another available larger space or - if not available - reschedule the appointment. Library/LRC faculty will be provided a workspace behind plexiglass shields/enclosure or may offer remote/ phone service. 

• Faculty members who seek a Covid related accommodation can utilize the regular interactive HR accommodation process which for example could result in moving their classes online. Our HR department will make every effort to complete the interactive process within one week after the application.

• Where possible, faculty will be provided keys to all available doors and windows in their classroom upon request.

Also important: No faculty member will have accrued leave deducted for taking time needed for absences due to COVID related illnesses, quarantine order, self-quarantining or similar reasons. And the District will allow all Part Time faculty who meet the minimum length requirements for participation to continue on the PT faculty health plan without meeting the usual minimum load requirement. 

On another note - following a formal FA inquiry the administration sent to you on Monday information about a special Loan Forgiveness Program for Public Service Employees (PSLF)  that full time and part time faculty could qualify for under specific circumstances. While the announcement came late our HR department will make sure that the needed employer forms that now come in will be processed as fast as possible as the deadline for submission is coming up on October 31. Important for any part timers who submitted forms before: Please contact HR immediately as it is very possible that you were not given the appropriate credit of 3.35 hrs of work for every classroom hour. HR would like to correct this, but would need you to resubmit your forms. 

Please do not hesitate to reach out to us if you have any questions or concerns. We are here for you. 

Your Faculty Association Board

facultyassociationexecutiveboard@pipeline.sbcc.edu

(805) 708 4173

Cornelia Alsheimer, Ph.D.

Leadership is a result of the actions one takes rather than the position one holds.

Co-Chair, Accounting & Finance Department

President, Faculty Association

721 Cliff Drive,

Santa Barbara, CA 93109

(805) 708 4173

alsheime@sbcc.edu