Today, the majority of The College of Saint Rose adjunct faculty who submitted a ballot voted “yes” to representation by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) as a collective bargaining unit, with 236 total votes and 175 votes “Yes” and 61 votes “No.” The College of Saint Rose already works with its two unions on campus and has respect for the negotiating process. We will work with the SEIU to address the issues concerning the adjunct faculty that President Carolyn Stefanco recognized early on in her tenure. We want to express our sincere gratitude to all who have engaged in conversation and dialogue on this issue. We have all learned from each other, and the civility with which the debate has been conducted is a testament to the Saint Rose community and the value we put on discourse and critical thinking.
As a former department chair, dean and vice president for academic affairs, President Stefanco has a strong record of advocacy for faculty and for relentlessly pursuing the improvement of the student-learning experience. With the other College leaders, she hopes to work collaboratively with the SEIU to address the issues that have been raised by the adjunct faculty, all while keeping in mind our mutual obligation to serve the best interests of the students and the College as a whole.
The issues surrounding the role of adjunct faculty in our nation’s colleges and universities is one that deserves national discussion and dialogue, and we thank our faculty for taking a role in propelling the conversation. Currently, approximately 70 percent of the undergraduate and graduate credits at Saint Rose are taught by full-time faculty and 30 percent are taught by adjunct faculty who bring a wealth of professional experience into the classroom. As the collective bargaining process gets underway, we will continue to work together to move Saint Rose forward and to provide excellence in teaching and mentoring to our students in and outside the classroom. This is the heart of the Saint Rose mission.
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CONTACT: Lisa Haley Thomson, Benjamin Marvin
Phone: 518-454-5102 E-mail: marvinb@strose.edu Web: www.strose.edu/news
