Community College Articles
Community College
News and stories of interest for full-time and part-time faculty teaching in the community colleges.
CFT releases statewide study of part-time faculty pay
Collaborative union effort leads to promising new tool for bargaining
A new CFT study has, for the first time, ranked compensation for part-time faculty throughout California and found that salaries vary dramatically across the state.
Judge rules trial required to determine legality of ACCJC actions
CFT lawsuit advances significant step toward fair accreditation in community colleges
City College of San Francisco started 2014 with some much-needed good news. San Francisco Superior Court Judge Curtis Karnow ruled that the school’s accreditation cannot be revoked until a trial determines whether the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, or ACCJC, acted unlawfully in sanctioning the college. Karnow said in his ruling that closing the college would be “catastrophic.”
The importance of adult education and including adult educators in consultation
Testimony of CFT's Jeff Freitas before Senate Education and Assembly Higher Education Committees
Thank you Senator Liu, Assemblymember Williams, and the committee members.
My name is Jeff Freitas and I am the Secretary Treasurer of the California Federation of Teachers. The CFT represents early childhood educators, K-12 teachers, classified employees, community college faculty, UC lecturers and librarians, and adult educators in the K-12 and community college worlds.
AB 1942 calls for fair accreditation of community colleges
Legislative strategy adds pressure to lawsuits against ACCJC
Sacramento—In front of a packed room of supporters at the State Capitol, Assemblymember Rob Bonta, D-Oakland, announced the introduction of the Fair Accreditation for California Community Colleges Act, which would reform the accreditation system for California Community Colleges.
Judge issues injunction to keep CCSF open
CFT President Joshua Pechthalt (left) talks with media outside San Francisco Superior Court on December 26. In the courtroom that day, Judge Curtis Karnow listened to arguments for a preliminary injunction to keep City College of San Francisco open.
The judge issued the injunction on January 3.
Perspective 2014
October 2014
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May 2014
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February 2014
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CFT leaders testify at Washington D.C. Capitol hearing
ACCJC given a year to come into compliance
December 13, 2013—CFT Secretary Treasurer Jeff Freitas (right) and AFT 2121 President Alisa Messer (shaking hands with Congressman George Miller) met with Miller while in Washington D.C. to attend the hearing at which the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) was given a year to come into compliance with 15 standards it has violated.
Fair accreditation: Congresswomen lead forum in support of City College
Fair accreditation, transparency demanded of out-of-control agency
Cañada College alumnus and Congresswoman Anna Eshoo called community colleges lifeboats and springboards for Californians. Congresswoman Jackie Speier said they keep our workforce vibrant. And state Sen. Jim Beall said seven of his nine siblings went to community colleges, the only way they could afford higher education.
Pilot colleges resist implementing two-tier fees in new law
FiFive of six districts not following program mandated in AB 955
In October, Gov. Jerry Brown signed the controversial Assembly Bill 955, which allows six colleges to charge students out-of-state rates for high-demand classes, such as English and algebra, during the winter and summer sessions. This means about $200 a unit, as compared to the current $46.
CFT undertakes study of part-timer compensation
Comprehensive statewide analysis will compare pay rates, schedule advancements
In a show of support for part-time faculty, the CFT committed this year to completing the first phase of a substantial study of part-time faculty compensation that may prove invaluable to those seeking stronger contract language for part-time instructors.
Union supports paths to full-time status for adjuncts
Delegates to the annual CFT Convention passed two resolutions submitted by the CFT Part-Time Committee calling for the union to pursue legislation that would help part-time faculty secure full-time employment.
Prop. 30 brings bounty of classes for students, part-timers
The passage of Proposition 30 in November of 2012 has been a boon to part-time faculty at Citrus College in Glendora, beginning with the winter term and continuing uninterrupted into this fall.
Dedicated part-timers take on extra student responsibilities
The fight for fair accreditation
As City College of San Francisco struggles to remain accredited, part-timers have played pivotal roles in maintaining the quality of instruction and services on which so many students depend.
Standing up for real accreditation
A succinct and pointed summary
During the Vietnam War an American officer famously explained, “We had to destroy the village in order to save it.” Apparently this was the approach embraced by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) in its shocking decision in July to terminate the accreditation of City College of San Francisco (CCSF).
San Francisco city attorney files suit against ACCJC
August 22, 2013, San Francisco—Today the city attorney in San Francisco filed suit against the ACCJC, charging, among other things, that “the private agency unlawfully allowed its advocacy and political bias to prejudice its evaluation of college accreditation standards,” and termed the ACCJC “a wholly unaccountable private entity.”
U.S. Department of Education sends notice to ACCJC
August 13, 2013—Today the U.S. Department of Education sent notice to the ACCJC that three elements of the CFT’s complaint needed to be addressed or the accrediting agency’s reauthorization will be in jeopardy.
AFT passes resolution in support of keeping CCSF open and thriving
The American Federation of Teachers has reaffirmed its support for the faculty of City College of San Francisco, represented by AFT Local 2121, and the entire CCSF community in their effort to restore accreditation. The resolution was adopted at the July 20 AFT Executive Council meeting.
The AFT recognizes the important educational role CCSF has played in the Bay Area and decries the irresponsible actions of the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) in revoking City College’s accreditation.
Massive Open Online Classes threaten quality of education
Low-cost educational alternative likely to widen digital divide
MASSIVE OPEN ONLINE CLASSES have been hailed by officials at the companies that run them (the three biggest are edX, Udacity and Coursera) as a way to provide access to classes at elite universities to everyone, but critics say that MOOCs — free online course with potentially thousands of students, many of them outside the United States — would undermine education quality, increase the digital divide and cost teachers their jobs.
CFT files complaint taking community college accrediting agency to task
April 30, 2013, Novato—Today the CFT and its City College of San Francisco affiliate, AFT Local 2121, filed a complaint or “third party comment” with the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC), and sent a copy to the United States Department of Education (USDOE).
CFT supports community college funding solution
Bill gives breathing space to colleges under accreditation sanction
CFT President Joshua Pechthalt speaks at a rally in front of San Francisco City Hall with Assemblymember Paul Fong, D-San Jose, who introduced AB 1199. The much-needed legislation will provide community colleges under accreditation sanction breathing room.