Senate / Union Relations
This page highlights the distinct yet complementary roles of the Faculty Senate and the Faculty Union at Cerritos College. While both organizations represent faculty interests, their responsibilities differ: the Faculty Senate focuses on academic and professional matters, whereas the Faculty Union addresses employment and labor issues. Despite their separate functions, both groups share a common goal of maintaining high academic standards and safeguarding faculty rights, ensuring faculty can provide the best possible education to our students.
MAJOR DISTINCTIONS
The Faculty Senate and the Faculty Union serve distinct but complementary roles at
Cerritos College. Here is an explanation of their differences:
Faculty Senate
- Role: The Senate represents the academic and professional interests of the faculty and ensures a faculty voice in academic decision-making and issues affecting the college. Its primary responsibility is to provide input on matters related to academic and professional matters, often referred to as the "10+1" areas under California Education Code and Title 5 regulations. These areas include curriculum, degree and certificate requirements, grading policies, educational program development, and other academic policies.
- Focus: The Senate is primarily concerned with issues that affect teaching, learning, and academic standards.
- Membership: The Senate consists of elected full-time faculty senators from divisions, in addition to two part-time faculty senators appointed at large. Leadership positions include president, vice president, and secretary.
- Examples of Work:
- Developing policies related to teaching, learning, and academic standards.
- Advising on hiring priorities for faculty positions.
- Representing faculty in academic and professional issues.
Faculty Union
- Role: The Faculty Union (Cerritos College Faculty Federation - CCFF) represents the faculty's employment and labor interests. It is responsible for negotiating the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with the district, which governs working conditions, salaries, benefits, grievance processes, and other employment-related issues.
- Focus: The Union focuses on protecting faculty rights, compensation, and workplace conditions.
- Membership: Membership consists of faculty who voluntarily join the union, though the union represents all faculty (members and non-members) in collective bargaining and grievances. Union leadership is elected by its members.
- Examples of Work:
- Negotiating salary schedules and health benefits.
- Advocating workload equity.
- Representing faculty in grievance or disciplinary cases.
Key Differences
Aspect | Faculty Senate | Faculty Union |
---|---|---|
Primary Focus | Academic and professional matters | Employment and labor issues |
Authority | Overseas curricular issues, program development, and professional matters | Negotiates contracts regarding employment terms and enforces labor rights |
Key Areas | Teaching, learning, and academic standards | Salaries, benefits, and working conditions |
Representation | All faculty on academic/professional matters | All faculty on employment/labor matters |
Mandate | Title 5, California Code of Regulations | California Educational Employment Relations Act (EERA) |
OVERLAPPING ROLES & MAINTAINING BOUNDARIES
The Faculty Senate and the Faculty Union each play vital roles in supporting the success
of faculty and students. Although they have different responsibilities, their roles
may sometimes overlap, particularly in matters affecting both academic/professional
issues and working conditions, such as academic freedom.
Staying Within Respective Roles
To prevent conflicts and preserve efficiency, it is essential for both the Faculty Senate and the Faculty Union to adhere to their respective roles. This adherence helps maintain clarity, avoid misalignment, and prevent overreach.
Faculty Senate
-
- Does Not Negotiate: The Senate cannot engage in collective bargaining or make decisions related to salaries, benefits, or working conditions.
- Focus on 10+1: The senate's purview is academic and professional matters, as defined under Title 5 regulations.
Faculty Union
-
- Does Not Create Policy: The union cannot create academic policies, such as curriculum standards, grading policies, or educational program development.
- Focus on Working Conditions: The union's purview is employment and labor matters covered under the collective bargaining agreement and the Educational Employment Relations Act (EERA).
Examples of Overlap
Outlined below are examples of potential intersections between the Faculty Senate and the Faculty Union, along with possible guidance on maintaining professional boundaries:
Example | Senate Role | Union Role |
---|---|---|
Faculty Evaluations |
Provide academic standards for faculty evaluations to be negotiated by the Faculty Union |
Negotiate process, procedures, and criteria for faculty evaluations after consultation with the Senate |
Professional Development | Develop policies related to professional development activities | Negotiates obligations, funding, and compensation for participation. |
Workload Issues | Address workload concerns affecting quality of education | Negotiate specific terms (e.g., number of instructional hours, office hours, compensation) to protect employment conditions |
Program Creation or Elimination | Oversea integrity and quality of academic programs | Negotiate how changes affect faculty positions (e.g., reassignment, layoff procedures, and workload distribution) |
Non-traditional Teaching Assignments | Ensure nontraditional assignments (e.g., dual enrollment) align with curriculum standards and academic integrity | Negotiate terms of compensation, workload (including modality of instruction), and support |
Professional Standards & Ethics | Develop policies and recommendations on professional standards | Ensure due process and representation for faculty facing allegations related to professional conduct |
Class Size | May establish class size limits based on pedagogical standards | May negotiate class size limits based on workload, compensation agreements, or other employment-related issues |
Student Hours (Office Hours) | Establish policies on how office hours are used to support student learning | Negotiate number, format, and compensation for required office hours |
Technology in the Classroom | Establish policies regarding the use of technology to enhance instruction | Ensure rights related to training, workload, and compensation |
Academic Freedom | Establish policies to safeguard academic freedom | Negotiate protections to ensure faculty are shielded from retaliation or unfair treatment. |
Effective Collaboration
In accordance with the 2006 Compact of Mutual Support between the Faculty Senate and CCFF, it is essential for the Faculty Senate and the Faculty Union to work together while also respecting their respective roles.
This may involve:
- Clear Communication: Regular meetings between senate and union leadership to coordinate efforts and avoid misunderstandings.
- Joint Task Forces: Creating joint task forces to address complex issues that span both academic and labor domains.
- Joint Statements: Developing unified positions when addressing overlapping concerns, such as advocating for resources that impact both educational quality and working conditions.
- Role Clarification: Ensuring that faculty and administrators understand the unique roles of each entity
to prevent jurisdictional overreach or boundary confusion.
By maintaining clear boundaries and fostering open communication, the faculty senate and faculty union can work together effectively to support faculty, students, and the mission of the college.
Stay Connected