April 25, 2023

Dear Adjunct Faculty,

A few important reminders from the Adjunct Faculty Association (AFA), your union.

1. High Impact Practices Awards Nominations: This new award recognizes adjunct faculty members who have done exemplary work in implementing high-impact practices into their courses.   High-Impact practices (HIPs) include: active learning, collaborative learning assignments and projects, learning communities, Oakton’s Faculty Persistence Project, problem-based learning, service learning, internships, undergraduate research activities, writing-intensive courses, e-portfolios, embedded academic skill instruction/transparency in design (TILT), universal design for learning, open educational resources and open pedagogy, digital learning tools, growth mindset, fostering connections between students and: faculty, fellow students, or the College, equity-infused syllabi and curricula, and capstone courses.  Nominations are due May 8th.  Please use this form to nominate your colleagues.

2. Senior Lecturer Status Applications:  All adjunct faculty who have completed 22 semesters of service are eligible to apply for Senior Lecturer status.  In order to be awarded this status, you must have consistently demonstrated professional development shown by timely and complete continued eligibility reports, as well as strong classroom performance.  Classroom performance will be assessed using the most recent classroom observation report (if one is not available, a letter from your chair or dean will suffice).  Applications are due May 19th.  Please use this form.

3. End of the Year Celebration and Salute to Retirees:  Please join your adjunct faculty colleagues for an end of year celebration and a salute to our recent retirees.

Sunday, May 7th, 4-6pm at North Branch Restaurant in Glenview.  Members and retirees are free.  Non-AFA members and guests are welcome at a cost of $25/person.  RSVP no later than Wednesday, May 3rd.

4. Elections for AFA Officers:  Elections will be conducted in May electronically with a paper option.  Please watch for information.

5. Interested in Joining the AFA?  Visit our website (oaktonadjuncts.com) for more information.

Mary Hope

April 5, 2023

Dear Members of the Adjunct Faculty Association,

Thanks to everyone for your on-going support during this challenging and sad time of transition in leadership of the AFA.  Cheryl’s absence has been deeply felt, and we appreciate your patience as we navigate without her, learning as we go. At this juncture, I wanted to take a moment to update you on several key member issues.

Time of Remembrance for Cheryl L. Thayer, Friday April 14th, 2-3pm in person in the Boardroom at the DP campus.  Join IEA President, Kathi Griffin, for a more formal time to remember Cheryl and her legacy.

Deep Gratitude to Cindy DelMedico

I’m honestly not sure how long Cindy has been the AFA Treasurer, but after an extensive tenure as our treasurer and IEA regional treasurer, Cindy is retiring.  She is leaving some very big shoes to fill.  If you might be interested in this paid position, please see elections information below. Training will be provided!

AFA Elections in May

You may submit a nomination of an AFA member for one of the four AFA board positions:    President,  Vice President,  Secretary  or  Treasurer.  Nominations must include the following information:

· Nominee’s Name:

· AFA Board Position

· Nominee’s Email Address:

· Nominee’s Phone (optional):

Send this information to the AFA Elections Committee by completing the form at this link: https://forms.gle/osWQwrVZi14tYatr8 , Or by sending it via email to: oaktonafaelections@gmail.com  by Tuesday, April 18, 2023.

A member may either nominate a colleague or themselves for a board position.

The Elections Committee recommends that if you nominate someone else, be sure the nominee wants to be nominated, can be an active participant in AFA activities, and knows that the term for a board position is 3 years.

Illinois Education Association Elections

You should have received in the regular mail and via email an electronic invitation to vote in IEA elections for members of the Higher Education Council and delegates to the National Education Association Representative Assembly.  Having recently attended the Illinois Education Association Representative Assembly, I would like to make the following recommendations:

Higher Education Council Members:

Jeremy Allen Jacqueline McGrath Jay Fulgencio Jim Grimes

Matthew Rillie

NEA RA State Delegate (You can vote for 42, but I don’t have that many recommendations)

1. Debra Ward-Mitchell 14. Gina Harris 20. Jim Grimes

22. Kathi Griffin 23. Elizabeth Ojeda-Jiminez

30. Karl Goeke 32. Karen Moore 36. Michael B. Williamson

37. Albert Llorens 40. Rebecca Gamboa 48. Tom Tully

53. Bill Farmer 60. Matthew Rillie

If you have questions about getting your ballot, contact Kim Trader at kim.trader@ieanea.org.  Elections close at 4pm on April 26th.

Course Assignments: Please let us know if you are having any issues with your fall course assignments.  With declining enrollments, we know that schedules are not ideal in many cases.  We are here to help with questions or concerns!  The current seniority list is posted on the AFA website.

Save the Date for Year End Celebration honoring recent Retirees.  Sunday, May 7th, 4-6pm!

Looking forward to celebrating with you all in a few weeks!

With gratitude,

Mary Hope*

February 6, 2023

• Preference Forms:

  • Preference Forms for Summer 2023 are due today, Monday, February 6th.

  • Preference Forms for Fall 2023 are due Thursday, February 16th.

  • Remember, the more options you give the better!

• Safe College Online Training:  As with all mandatory trainings, it is appropriate to use your office hours to complete the latest round of cyber security training.  You can find this training from Vector Solutions here.

• Leadership Transition: The By-Laws of the Adjunct Faculty Association provide for an orderly transition of leadership in the event of the death of the President of the AFA.  The Vice President becomes the President for the remainder of the term of office (August 1, 2023) and appoints a Vice President for the remainder of the term.  As a result, Mary Hope Griffin from the Department of Humanities & Philosophy is now the President and expects to name a new VP shortly.  Elections for new AFA Officers will be held later this Spring.

• Meeting Pay: Since commitment forms for the meeting package were not due until February 1st, payment for attending the beginning of the semester Department Meeting are just being processed now. Course cancellation pay is also only being processed now. Please be patient, as several of the division offices are currently short staffed.  We are working with the administration to help facilitate a more efficient and timely process.

• Student Success Funds: Applications for the Student Success Initiatives (a/k/a 12 LHE Funds) funding are due on Wednesday, April 5th.  See Email from Ruth Williams from January 30th.

• Senior Lecturer Status: Applications for Senior Lecturer Status will be available soon.  Please watch for further information.  See section 9.5E of our current contract for details of who will be eligible.

• Contacting the leadership of the Adjunct Faculty Association:

Email:  afaoakton@gmail.com

Website:  oaktonadjuncts.com

Phone number/texts:  (224) 423-5144

Open Office Hours: First Friday of the month, 9-10am via Zoom

AFA President’s in-person Office Hours – Room 2110 DP:
Mondays 11-1, Thursdays 9-10:45

or by appointment with Mary Hope Griffin (either via Zoom or in person)

Text, email, or add an appointment to Mary Hope’s Oakton Google calendar.

• Remembering Cheryl: A Padlet board has been set up to honor and remember Dr. Cheryl L. Thayer, AFA President.  Please feel free to add to the board or leave a message on the AFA Office door.

November 23, 2022

A few important reminders from the Adjunct Faculty Association leadership as the semester winds down, but first a special shout out:

Congratulations to Shannon Sloan-Spice, winner of the Ray Hartstein Prize in teaching excellence, and

Tess Lesniak co-winner of the team award in High Impact Practices.

(President Smith, Shannon, Provost Lott, President of the Oakton Education Foundation. Second photo is Marion Staats with Tess flanked by President Smith and Provost Lott.)

Mandatory Compliance Training must be completed by November 30th.  It is appropriate to use office hours to complete these trainings.

Please click this link for detailed instructions on how to the training modules.

Tech Grant Funds are still available.  You must apply by December 1st. Funds are to support the purchase of software, tech licenses and, new this year, small technology purchases to support your teaching. Hardware purchases should be $400 or less.  Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.  For questions, please contact Mary Johannesen-Schmidt (mjohanne@oakton.edu).

Open Enrollment in the Healthcare Marketplace: expert help in navigating available for free at Oakton on December 1st.  See attached flier.

Absences if you need to cancel class, you must inform your division office as well as your chair.  If you know in advance that you will be absent, please arrange for a substitute; division staff can help you with this.  If you need to switch modalities for a particular class session, please contact your division office and your chair, as well.  These are all contractual obligations.

Orientation Week Participation Package  Mark your calendars now for Orientation Week, January 9-12.  Full Calendar will be available shortly, but see the attached flier for information about the virtual Faculty Retreat on January 12th.  If you sign up and attend 3 hours of sessions during the week, you will be paid 0.048 LHEs.

Schedules for Spring  If you have any questions or concerns about your schedule offer for the spring semester, reach out to an AFA Board member, attend our next open office hours on December 2nd via Zoom  or email us at oaktonafamembers@gmail.com.  Here is a way to consider and review your upcoming semester schedule of courses –

• Scheduling is affected by sections 2.4, 2.5, and Attachment B of our contract, with seniority being the primary driver for course assignment.

• Check your offer of courses to make sure you have been offered the appropriate number of LHEs.

• Make sure you understand the modality and timing of the courses offered. Check if your course is a “reserve” section or already listed on the schedule.

• Per our contract, adjunct faculty have a responsibility to communicate in good faith with chairs and deans.

• Remember that course assignment and course re-assignment (also called bumping) are separate processes and have different guidelines. The preference form informs both of these processes, but provides guidance and does not dictate or limit assignments for either the administration or the faculty member.

Student Care Coordinator: a new coordinator has been hired.  Please see the attached information sheet with more details about how she can help you help your students.

Input Requested on Generic Syllabus: Fill out this brief survey about how our generic syllabus elements do or do not foster a sense of racial equity and inclusion in our classes and wraparound support services.

You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you.  What you do makes a difference and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make. –Jane Goodall

Thanks for making a difference!

The AFA Board, Cheryl, Mary Hope, Linda, and Cindy

As you know, next Wednesday is College-wide Learning Day.  No classes are in session before 5pm.  If you are normally teaching during the day on Wednesdays or holding office hours, you are required to attend sessions during those hours.  Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend the whole day.

You do NOT need to attend in-person even if you are usually teaching in-person on that day.  We have received clarification from the college on this issue.  You are encouraged to attend on-campus, as non remote staff are required to be on campus in an effort to create a sense of community.  As a further enticement, the college is providing both breakfast and lunch for free.  Any sessions you do attend can be counted toward your continued eligibility requirements.

Here is the registration link.  If you want food, you need to register by the end of the day today.

Looking forward to seeing many of you next Wednesday!

Mary Hope

Dear Adjunct Faculty Members,

The Adjunct Faculty Association has been informed that our Friday paychecks will include retroactive pay due to raises negotiated in the current AFA contract. The amounts of the payments vary, depending on how much you taught and where you are in the salary step scale in our contract. This amount will equal the difference between the current step and the step from section 9.1 of our old contract multiplied by the number of LHEs.

If you check your pay stub in banner, there will be a line that indicates what amount is for Retro Pay. You should receive a payment if you worked Fall 2021, Spring 2022, or Summer 2022 terms and were entitled to move up a step in the salary schedule. While our overall raise is 2.99%, the actual rate will vary by step, and the old step already represented a 2.9% raise. You can find the step schedule in section 9.2 of the AFA Contract. Should you have any questions about the retroactive pay, please send them to Human Resources (hr@oakton.edu). You are welcome to copy the AFA on your email.

You should also have received an email from the Center for Professional Development about mandatory Sexual Harrassment Prevention and FERPA training. According to section 3.3 of our contract, you may use your office hours to complete this training. Questions should be sent to cpd@oakton.edu.

Reminder, the AFA holds open office hours this Friday from 9-10am. Join us on Zoom.

We hope this information is helpful.

Happy Fall!

Cheryl L. Thayer, President Mary Hope Griffin, Vice President

Adjunct Faculty Association

Dear Fellow Adjunct Faculty Members,

Preference Forms for spring are due September 28th. You should have received a notification from your dean last week. You can find the forms in My Oakton (Home -> Resources by Area -> Academic Affairs -> Forms/Adjunct Faculty -> Adjunct Scheduling Preference): https://www.oakton.edu/facstaff/entrenous/facforms/adjfac.php

Chairs have until October 26th to provide assignment offers.

Mask Mandate will shift starting on Monday, September 19th. Masks are no longer mandatory but remain strongly encouraged. If you require accommodation as a result of this policy change, please contact HR immediately as indicated in the communication from the Covid Team earlier last week. You may not, however, unilaterally impose a mask mandate in your classroom.

The Continued Eligibility and Observations Schedule has been changed as a result of the new contract. In the end, it will be a more routine calendar (every 5 years, no more counting terms), but in the meantime, some observations may feel closer together. We ask for your patience with the process.

Faculty Happy Hour is Thursday 9/22 from 3 – 6 pm at Plateia, 9860 N Milwaukee Ave in Glenview. Hope to see you there!

As summer winds down, we wanted to bring a few important items to your attention and reiterate information you may have received from your division office.

1. Orientation Week August 15-18, 2022
   • Orientation Week Package: as part of the new contract, you can sign up to attend three session hours and be paid 0.048LHEs using this form: Orientation Week Package Form.  Mandatory department meetings and union meetings are ineligible. You must register for and attend sessions found in the Orientation Week Schedule.
   • AFA Meeting will be on-line on Wednesday, August 17th 5-6pm.

Registration: https://oakton.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0rd–urj0qE9OvJ6QGsSR7dUhrKs2F7tAH

• Orientation Session on the New Contract will be Wednesday 3:30-5pm: Registration: https://oakton.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYqdOmvqDsqEtBMqe3jYOmzYzchHtPHgGUh

Current Contract:

Adjunct Faculty Association Contract Final 7-14-2022

• Department Meetings: don’t forget these important and mandatory meetings.  Information about time/place is in the Orientation Week Schedule and will be sent out by your chair. If you plan to commit to attending 6 out of 9 division and department meetings and receive .25LHEs, use this form: Meeting Commitment Package Form. It is due September 1st.
• Gmail Sessions: Confused by your Oakton email?  Attend one of the gmail sessions during Orientation week.
• Information Fair/Scavenger Hunt about Faculty Resources will be Monday, August 15th, 3:30-5:30 in person in the 1600 Rooms on the Des Plaines campus.  Register or just come on by.  IT, library, advising, Wellness Center, etc. will all have representatives available.
• Link for the full schedule: Orientation Week Schedule

2. Payments for back raises, longevity bonuses, and special contract payments are scheduled to be made by the end of October.  Payroll is still processing staff payments.  We are advocating strongly for this to be done much more rapidly!
3. Covid Updates: masks are still required in classrooms, labs, and studios.  The testing/vaccination mandate has been ended by the governor.
4. Please Update Emergency Contact Information in myOakton (Teach & Advise tab, Self Service Banner, Personal Information or via Employee Dashboard under My Profile).
5. Faculty Seminars for Fall 2022:  compensated professional development opportunities offered through the Center for Professional Development (CPD).  D2L Bootcamp and Inclusive Teaching both look very helpful and practical for adjunct faculty members.

We’re here to help if you have any questions or concerns as the new semester begins!

Your Adjunct Faculty Association Leadership

New Contract Approved by Members:

Dear AFA Members:

On Friday, May 13, 2022, the results of the Adjunct Faculty Association contract ratification election were presented at a zoom meeting open to the membership.  The new AFA-OCC Contract Tentative Agreement 2021-2022 through 2024-2025 was approved by 85% of members who voted.

The Tentative Agreement must be approved by the Oakton Board of Trustees before the new contract agreement becomes official.  The Oakton Board of Trustees will have the opportunity to approve the AFA contract at the next regularly scheduled Board meeting which will be held on Tuesday, May 24th at 6:00 p.m.  We encourage all AFA members to attend this meeting.

Thanks to all of the members who took the time to learn about the new contract and vote.

Dear Fellow Part-time Faculty Members,

As the year winds down, there are a few important reminders.

1. Enrollment continues to decline, meaning fewer sections available for us to teach.  Please do your part and remind students to register.  You can find some “talking points” to share with your classes or post in your D2L course shells.
2. The AFA is hosting an end of the year gathering for all part-time faculty Sunday, May 22nd 1-4pm at North Branch Pizzeria in Glenview.  AFA members are free/non-members $35.  Please RSVP immediately.
3. Finally, voting to ratify our tentative new contract ends at midnight on Thursday, May 12th.  If you are an AFA member, you should have received a personalized link to vote.  Please email afaoakton@gmail.com if you believe you are a member and you have not received your link.
4. Mary Johannesen-Schmidt from the Center for Teaching Innovation at Oakton put together this helpful video on navigating the new MyOakton layout:  https://screencast-o-matic.com/watch/c3hQFbVrffe
5. If you have comments or suggestions about the new website, submit it via a new Web Update request system called Lytho. A link to the form to request website updates is available in the College Relations channel of the myOakton portal, titled “Web Update Request Form”  https://oakton.ignite.inmotionnow.com/work-requests/submit/10259814

Hopefully this summer will bring some rest and time to reconnect to our own senses of purpose and joy.  These have been a long few years and burnout is real.  Know your union leadership is always here to help make your life at Oakton better in any way that we can.

Cheryl L. Thayer-President

Mary Hope Griffin-Vice President

Adjunct Faculty Association

January 6, 2022

Dear Fellow Adjunct Faculty Members,

We hope this new year finds you healthy.  We have a few important pieces of information to share as we begin this new semester.

First, despite our repeated efforts, the administration’s decision regarding the offering of spring classes is final.  Classes for Spring 2022 begin on January 18th in the modality (F2F, online or synchronous online) assigned.  Please watch your email carefully for an invitation to an all faculty meeting sponsored by OCCFA to which President Smith, Dr. Lott, the Provost, and Dr. Brooks, the Vice President for Student Affairs to discuss student compliance with Covid protocols.  A syllabus statement about Covid-19 protocols has been approved and is also forthcoming from your dean.

If you have specific concerns, please feel free to reach out to the AFA at afaoakton@gmail.com or join us on Wednesday, January 12th 5-6pm for our meeting via Zoom at this link.  If you have a compromised immune system or other medical condition requiring accommodation, please complete this form and submit to HR.  The college will be providing KN-95 masks to all employees.

Secondly, On January 4th, you should have received an email from Academic Affairs with the subject “Course Enrollment Notification.”  This notification was to comply with a new legal requirement stemming from HB 0375 which was signed by the Governor on August 6, 2021. The bill was enacted into law as Public Act 102-0260, effective January 1, 2022.  You will receive such notifications 30 and 14 days prior to the start of each semester.  Read more about this at our website 

Finally, contract negotiations are on-going.  We are hoping that the end is in sight, but for now the provisions of our old contract remain in force. Please remember, only AFA members can vote on the new contract.

Have a safe and productive semester.  Remember we are here to help!

Why Did I receive an email “Course Enrollment Notification”

On January 4th, you should have received an email from Academic Affairs with the subject “Course Enrollment Notification.”  This notification was to satisfy a new legal requirement stemming from HB 0375 which was signed by the Governor on August 6, 2021. The bill was enacted into law as Public Act 102-0260, effective January 1, 2022.  You will receive such notifications 30 and 14 days prior to the start of each semester..

Essentially,   HB 0375/PA 102-9260 amends various Acts relating to the governance of public universities and community colleges in Illinois. At least 60 days before the start of a term, requires the governing board of a public university or community college district to notify an adjunct professor about whether a class he or she was hired to teach has been canceled.

House Floor Amendment No. 1

Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends various Acts relating to the governance of public universities and community colleges in Illinois. At least 30 days before the start of a term and again 14 days before the beginning of a term, requires the governing board of a public university or community college district to notify an adjunct professor about the status of the class the adjunct professor was hired to teach. Requires the governing board to allow adjunct professors to have access to the electronic class roster that displays enrollment to assess the status of class enrollment. Provides that the provisions do not apply if the Governor has declared a disaster due to a public health emergency or a natural disaster under the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act. Exempts collective bargaining agreements that are in effect on the effective date of the amendatory Act from the provisions.

Senate Floor Amendment No. 1

Removes the provisions allowing an adjunct professor to have access to the electronic class roster that displays class enrollment. In the provisions amending the Public Community College Act, provides that at least 30 days before the beginning of a semester or term and again at 14 days before the beginning of the semester or term, a community college must notify an adjunct professor about the status of class enrollment of the class the adjunct professor was assigned to teach (rather than at least 30 days before the beginning of a term and again at 14 days before the beginning of the term, the board of trustees must notify an adjunct professor about the status of class enrollment of the class the adjunct professor was hired to teach).

The email from Academic Affairs was sent in compliance with this Act.

Dear Fellow Adjunct Faculty Members,

We hope this new year finds you healthy.  We have a few important pieces of information to share as we begin this new semester.

First, despite our repeated efforts, the administration’s decision regarding the offering of spring classes is final.  Classes for Spring 2022 begin on January 18th in the modality (F2F, online or synchronous online) assigned.  Please watch your email carefully for an invitation to an all faculty meeting sponsored by OCCFA to which President Smith, Dr. Lott, the Provost, and Dr. Brooks, the Vice President for Student Affairs to discuss student compliance with Covid protocols.  A syllabus statement about Covid-19 protocols has been approved and is also forthcoming from your dean.

If you have specific concerns, please feel free to reach out to the AFA at afaoakton@gmail.com or join us on Wednesday, January 12th 5-6pm for our meeting via Zoom at this link.  If you have a compromised immune system or other medical condition requiring accommodation, please complete this form and submit to HR.  The college will be providing KN-95 masks to all employees.

Secondly, On January 4th, you should have received an email from Academic Affairs with the subject “Course Enrollment Notification.”  This notification was to comply with a new legal requirement stemming from HB 0375 which was signed by the Governor on August 6, 2021. The bill was enacted into law as Public Act 102-0260, effective January 1, 2022.  You will receive such notifications 30 and 14 days prior to the start of each semester.  Read more about this at our website

Finally, contract negotiations are on-going.  We are hoping that the end is in sight, but for now the provisions of our old contract remain in force. Please remember, only AFA members can vote on the new contract.

Have a safe and productive semester.  Remember we are here to help!

Why Did I receive an email “Course Enrollment Notification”

On January 4th, you should have received an email from Academic Affairs with the subject “Course Enrollment Notification.”  This notification was to satisfy a new legal requirement stemming from HB 0375 which was signed by the Governor on August 6, 2021. The bill was enacted into law as Public Act 102-0260, effective January 1, 2022.  You will receive such notifications 30 and 14 days prior to the start of each semester..

Essentially,   HB 0375/PA 102-9260 amends various Acts relating to the governance of public universities and community colleges in Illinois. At least 60 days before the start of a term, requires the governing board of a public university or community college district to notify an adjunct professor about whether a class he or she was hired to teach has been canceled.

House Floor Amendment No. 1

Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends various Acts relating to the governance of public universities and community colleges in Illinois. At least 30 days before the start of a term and again 14 days before the beginning of a term, requires the governing board of a public university or community college district to notify an adjunct professor about the status of the class the adjunct professor was hired to teach. Requires the governing board to allow adjunct professors to have access to the electronic class roster that displays enrollment to assess the status of class enrollment. Provides that the provisions do not apply if the Governor has declared a disaster due to a public health emergency or a natural disaster under the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act. Exempts collective bargaining agreements that are in effect on the effective date of the amendatory Act from the provisions.

Senate Floor Amendment No. 1

Removes the provisions allowing an adjunct professor to have access to the electronic class roster that displays class enrollment. In the provisions amending the Public Community College Act, provides that at least 30 days before the beginning of a semester or term and again at 14 days before the beginning of the semester or term, a community college must notify an adjunct professor about the status of class enrollment of the class the adjunct professor was assigned to teach (rather than at least 30 days before the beginning of a term and again at 14 days before the beginning of the term, the board of trustees must notify an adjunct professor about the status of class enrollment of the class the adjunct professor was hired to teach).

The email from Academic Affairs was sent in compliance with this Act.

1. Vaccine/Testing Compliance: You can now check your compliance status when you log into MyOakton.  All faculty who come to campus (even just for a meeting) are expected to either submit proof of vaccination or weekly testing results. Tests can be done at Oakton or you can upload test results from other places, as long as they are not at-home tests. If you are in non-compliance, on the third offense, you may be suspended for one day without pay.  On the fourth offense, you can be terminated by the College.  For more information:   Oakton Covid Vaccine/Testing Compliance
2. Learning Day:  All classes before 5pm on Wednesday, October 27th are cancelled (both face to face and synchronous).  If you teach or hold office hours on Wednesdays, you are expected to participate in Learning Day during those hours.  Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend as Oakton develops its next strategic plan. Adjunct faculty’s voices matter!  Learning Day 2021 Registration
3. Sexual Harassment Training: A new round of mandatory sexual harassment training must be completed by the end of November.  It is appropriate to use Office Hours to complete this training.  Check your Oakton Email for a notification from SafeColleges Online Training.  The subject is “Vector LMS.” Questions should be addressed to cpd@oakton.edu.
4. Contract Negotiations are on-going.  Please note that only Adjunct Faculty Association members are eligible to vote to ratify the contract.  Want to check your membership status?  Email: afaoakton@gmail.com.  Want to join?  Go to this link: Membership Forms
5. Office Equipment: All adjunct office spaces have now been equipped with webcams and have personal headsets available.
6. Mask Wearing on Campus: Everyone is required to wear a mask on campus unless you are in a private working space or have a medical accommodation. If you have a student unwilling to comply, this is a Conduct Offense.  If classroom management techniques have not worked, you can report the situation here: Non-Academic Violation/Behavioral Incident Report. You can reserve a private office using this link.  Space Request Form or email: slawacki@oakton.edu.
7. Funds to purchase educational technology/software:If you are interested in purchasing software to improve students’ learning experience, the Center for Teaching Innovation has secured a grant, especially for adjunct faculty members to purchase such software. Center for Teaching Innovation Grant Information

Hi Everyone,

It has been a long time since we have had contact.  I wanted to emphasize the College’s invitation to join us at the Fall Opening Breakfast.  I will be there and hope to sit with you at our adjunct/part-time table.  We can have time to catch up.

You need to complete the registration below by August 11.  Please, if you would like to come and join us, please do.  Be sure to bring & wear your mask.  Consider attending other Orientation Week programs, as they count toward your Continued Eligibility.

You should have received an email calendar invitation for our Fall Orientation Week Meeting.  We will be gathering via Zoom on Wednesday, August 18^th at 3:45. We will cover Negotiations, College-wide Committees, remembering colleagues, and any concerns you might have. Please join us.  Meeting Zoom Link

Take care and see you soon!

Cheryl Thayer

President, AFA

1.AFA Open Office Hours: Fridays, July 9th and 30^th at 10am.

2.Drawer Contents in Adjunct Faculty Offices in DP: When the offices were painted two years ago, were your belongings boxed up?  You must claim your belongings from James T. in Room 2180 by September 30^th or they will be disposed of.

3. Diversity Council: Interested in serving on the Diversity Council?  Interested in serving on another committee? Contact us at afaoakton@gmail.com.

4. We’re Here to Help: Do you have concerns about returning to campus?  Are you having trouble getting paid?  Do you have questions about course assignments?  Drop in to Office Hours or email us at:  afaoakton@gmail.com

1. AFA Open Office Hours are this Friday, April 2^nd, 9-10 via Zoom. Come with your questions and suggestions as we begin contract negotiations.
2. Congratulations to Yasmin Cordero who will be representing us this summer at the National Education Association Regional Assembly.
3. Interested in serving on a college-wide committee next year?  We are collecting names now.  Please email us at: afaoakton@gmail.com
4. You may have noticed a new procedure this year for the re-appointment of department chairs and program coordinators.  Your dean is seeking your input.  Please share your thoughts.  See email from your dean.
5. Next AFA Board Meeting, Friday, April 9^th at 10am.  Contact us if you would like the link.
6. Save the date, Adjunct Faculty Meeting Wednesday, August 18^th, 4-5:30pm.  More details to come.

March 28, 2021

Election Results for NEA-RA Delegate from the Adjunct Faculty Association at Oakton Community College, Spring 2021

39 ballots were cast in an election that ran from March 23 to March 27.
Votes by Candidate:
Mary Hope Griffin: 26 votes (66.7%)
Yasmin Cordero: 7 votes (17.9%)
Catherine Willis: 5 votes (12.8%)
Randy Felsenthal: 1 vote (2.6%) [write-in]

Mary Hope Griffin wins with 66.7% of the vote.

Call for Nominations for NEA-RA Representative

Dear members,

The 2021 National Education Association Representative Assembly, (the NEA-RA), will be held from July 2nd – July 6th, 2021. The 2021 NEA-RA will be held entirely virtually. The Oakton AFA will send one elected representative to the NEA-RA, as we have every year. Please consider nominating yourself or another member of the AFA to attend this meeting.

NEA RA delegates will be responsible for approving the NEA budget, establishing a dues amount, modifying the Legislative Platform and Bylaws and conducting other business of the Association.

The election for this position will be held electronically. You will receive an email March 23rd with a link to your secure, secret ballot. The link will remain active for you to vote until March 27th.

Before the election, we need you to nominate candidates. An AFA member may either nominate a colleague or himself/herself for this position by completing and returning the attached document OR using this online form: https://forms.gle/nSM9rvXA9dErMAjL7. Required information includes the Nominee’s name, address, phone, and email address.

To be included on the ballot, all nomination information must be sent to the AFA Elections Committee Chairperson Nelson Wainwright. You may use the online form https://forms.gle/nSM9rvXA9dErMAjL7 OR

DOWNLOAD the NEA-RA 2021 NOMINATION FORM , complete and send to oaktonafaelections@gmail.com.

All nominations must be received by March 5th. Nominations received after 11 pm on Friday, March 5, 2021 cannot be included on the ballot.

The Elections Committee recommends that should you choose to nominate someone else, please make sure he/she wants to be nominated and can attend this Assembly. The NEA-RA will be held from July 2nd – July 6th, 2021 and will be an entirely virtual conference.

The AFA needs your nominations, your votes, and welcomes your participation.

AFA Elections Committee
Nelson Wainwright
Ruth Whitney

2021 NEA-RA Election Timeline

• 2/22 – Call for nominations for AFA delegate to NEA – Representative Assembly
• 3/5 – Nominations deadline
• 3/23 – NEA – RA delegate election begins
• 3/27 11:59 pm – Last day for voting

AFA Office Hours  Please join us for drop in AFA Officer Office Hours

Friday, March 5th, 9-10am

1.  AFA Board Meeting Friday, February 19th at 10am.  Join us via Google Meet.

1. Legal Advice:  The AFA is part of the Illinois Education Association.  As a dues paying member, you can receive free legal counsel for issues related to your employment.  If you have questions about our contract, the best source of information is always an AFA Officer.  No need to crowdsource!
2. Covid-19 Vaccines:  Please take a moment to sign this petition encouraging the state of Illinois to prioritize higher education in the Covid-19 vaccine roll-out.  This is a real issue for several of our members who are currently required to teach face-to-face. Follow this link: Vaccine Petition
3. Call for 12 LHE Adjunct proposals 2021-22 (1) 12LHEs are available.
4. Listen Session Follow Up:  We received a follow-up email from the Council of Deans outlining the issues they heard at our Fall Listening Session.  They expressed their support and gratitude for all the efforts adjunct faculty have made during the pandemic.  We were also provided some data about the hiring of adjunct faculty for FT positions at Oakton.  On the last 20 hires 9 were of current adjunct faculty members (3 nursing, 3 math, 1 cannabis).  We asked for a more comprehensive data set as that does not seem to reflect overall or historic trends.
5. Email Use:  Before you hit “reply all” remember that the Faculty List has over 500 people on it.  Here are the College’s guidelines on email use:  Email Use Policy
6. Professional Development:  Please Check out the Center for Professional Development’s (CPD) list of options for faculty.  There are a few Faculty Seminars still open for registration for which you can be compensated for attending.  They have also added more D2L trainings.  All of these count toward your required Continuing Eligibility.  CPD Schedule Link
7. Wellness:  Check out the offerings on our website:  Wellness Link