Part-time faculty have been members of CSU-AAUP since 1983. Their pay and working conditions are covered by our CSU-AAUP Collective Bargaining Agreement (Contract). With each new contract CSU-AAUP negotiates, part-time conditions gradually have been improved.  For example, in the 2021 contract, multi-semester appointments were created. In 2025 we won sick days for part-time members. There still is much to be done. We recommend that part-time faculty join our Equity For All Caucus to fight for even more rights.

Part-time rights come both from our Contract and from CSU-AAUP as an organization.

Contractual Rights

Part-Time Faculty rights are guaranteed by our CSU-AAUP Contract.  In the 2025-29 Contract, these rights include:

Pay that is not arbitrary

• There are currently six salary groups for part-time faculty determined by credentials and length of service.  These groups and the pay they received are outlined in our Contract. [Art.12.8]
• Part time faculty receive the same raises as full-time faculty if negotiated in a new Contract.

Sick days

• Part-time faculty may take 3 paid sick days per semester. They do not have to find another faculty member to teach their classes for them, but just must inform their chair. [Art.13.2.7]

Course assignments

• Course assignments are not arbitrary but are based on credentials, experience, teaching merit, and length of service. [Art. 4.6]
• Course assignments are determined by the department chair with the assistance of evaluations done according to department by-laws but with the recognition that student opinion surveys can be biased and should not be the sole means of evaluation. [Arts. 4.6, 4.11.8, 4.12.1]
• Part-timers must be informed of course assignments at the earliest reasonable opportunity. [4.7.1]
• Part-time faculty receive $300 if a course is cancelled within seven (7) business days of the first day of classes. [4.6.1]

Additional compensation for large classes

• Part-time faculty, like full-time faculty will receive additional compensation for classes with more than 40 students. [Art. 10.3]

Some job security

• Multi-Semester contracts are possible. [Art. 4.6]
• Alternative assignments can be given if courses are not available. [Art. 4.6]

Funds to for travel to conferences and for development

• Part-time faculty can receive funds for travel to and attendance at conferences, seminars, and workshops. 10% of the funds allocated for faculty travel and development are designated for the exclusive use of part-time faculty. [Arts. 9.5 & 12.10.1]
• Part-time faculty can apply for development grants “to enhance their ability to be productive and innovative professionals." A separate pool of funds is available for projects proposed by part-time faculty. [Art. 9.6]

Reduced tuition in the CSU system

• Part-time members are eligible for reduced tuition for themselves, their spouses and children at a CSU institution, one of the CT State Community colleges, and UConn. [Article 13.13]

Working conditions, including

• Voicemail access, secure storage,free printing and copying services, supplies that are reasonably accessible in the evening and on weekends must be provided for part-time faculty. [9.1.1, 9.2, 9.4.3]
• Part-time faculty get free parking. [9.3]

Emeritus status

• Department can award part-time faculty can be awarded emeritus status upon retirement.  Emeritus faculty retain their university email account, library privileges,  professional use of the title, invitations to university functions, desk space if available, faculty parking privileges and inclusion on the University distribution lists.

Shared Governance

• Part-time faculty have the right to be represented in their department, including access to minutes of all meetings and committees. [Arts. 5.16, 5.22]
• They also can serve on the Faculty Senate. [Art. 5.8]

Academic freedom

• Protections of academic freedom apply specifically for part-time members. [Art. 4.2.1]

Representation & support same as full-time members

• Part-time faculty receive the same CSU-AAUP support and advocacy as full-time members in potential disciplinary matters and for mediation with management in cases of conflicts.
• Part-time faculty can file grievances and will be assisted by CSU-AAUP if they are deemed appropriate by a grievance committee.

Contingent Faculty Bill of Rights

• CSU-AAUP is committed to improving the work experience of our part-time members. That is why we endorsed this bill of rights. For more see below.

Additional rights for CSU-AAUP dues-paying members

Part-time members are eligible to join the CSU-AAUP Equity for All Part-Time Faculty Caucus.

• It meets regularly on Zoom during the semester, and
• it organizes events for Campus Equity Week each winter.
• Email them for more information.

Labor conferences. CSU-AAUP regularly pays for part-time faculty members to conferences including:

• The biennial international conference of the Coalition of Contingent Academic Labor (COCAL), which is a grassroots coalition of activists in North America working for contingent faculty: adjunct, part-time, non-tenured, and graduate teaching faculty. They seek to bring “greater awareness to the precarious situation for contingent faculty in higher education, organize for action, and build solidarity among our colleagues.”
• AAUP summer Institute
• Labor Notes biennial conference
• National Center for the Study of Collective bargaining in Higher Education conference