Below you will find an overview of the most important information that Part-Time and Full-Time Lecturers need to know from our respective contracts. It's a good idea to have a copy of your contract handy, which you can download HERE, but this will get you started so that you understand the basics.
Professional Responsibilities
teaching or professional library service
Your primary responsibility is teaching or professional library service, which includes ensuring high quality education for your students, meeting with assigned classes, assigning and submitting grades, providing enrollment data, and posting office hours.
Syllabi
Syllabi prepared in accordance with EMU requirements and share a copy with your Department Head. You can add the EMUFT Logo as well!
EMU community
Employees are encouraged to be active members of the EMU community and participate in service-related activities.
Office Hours
Full-Time Lecturers shall post and hold 5 scheduled in-person office hours per week at times beneficial for students and 5 hours per week (in-person or online) outside normal office hours for consultation. Part-Time Lecturers must hold 1 office hour per week (in-person or online) at a time mutually agreeable to you and your Department Head.
Resources EMU Must provide Lecturers
EMU must provide a mailbox, library privileges, email account, parking permit, printing facilities for instructional materials taught at EMU, instructional supplies, and professional development opportunities.
APPOINTMENT STRUCTURE
PART-TIME LECTURER APPOINTMENTS
Did you know that the way lecturers are appointed to and retain their positions went through a dramatic change in 2020? The new appointment structure creates more job stability for lecturers by ensuring that available courses are offered to EMU’s large pool of experienced and highly qualified lecturers before any new lecturers are hired.
Below is a basic description of how the new rankings work. If you have any questions about these rankings, please do not hesitate to get in touch: emuftgrievance@gmail.com
There are now three ranks to which a lecturer can be appointed:
PTL 1: All new hires begin at the PTL 1 rank. PTL 1s have priority for available courses before the university is able to hire any new lecturers. After 6 semesters as a PTL 1, lecturers are automatically promoted to PTL 2.
PTL 2: After teaching for 6 semesters as a PTL 1, a lecturer is automatically promoted to PTL 2, conditional upon meeting job performance expectations. PTL 2s are guaranteed at least 1 course in both the Fall and the Winter and are given a full-year contract. PTL 2s are given priority of assignment for available courses over PTL 1s.
PTL 3: After teaching for 6 semesters as a PTL 2, a lecturer is automatically promoted to PTL 3, conditional upon meeting job performance expectations. Once at the PTL 3 level, lectures have priority of assignment for available courses over all other lecturers. All PTL 3s are appointed to full-year contracts. There are three levels within the PTL3 rank to which PTL3s may be appointed, depending on the number of courses they typically teach in a year. Any additional courses beyond the minimums are assigned to qualified PTL 3s before PTL 2s.
PTL 3L: at the PTL 3L level, lectures are guaranteed at least 1 course in each of the Fall and Winter semesters.
PTL 3M: at the PTL 3M level, lecturers are guaranteed at least 3 courses in the Fall and 2 courses in the Winter.
PTL 3H: at the PTL 3H level, lecturers are guaranteed at least 4 courses in the Fall and 3 courses in the Winter.
FULL-TIME LECTURER APPOINTMENTS
Full-Time Lectures are appointed to one of three ranks, based on their credentials:
Lecturer 1: Masters degree or a Bachelors plus 30 hours towards a graduate degree in a disciple directly related to the Employee’s teaching assignment.
Lecturer 2: Masters degree plus 30 hours towards a terminal degree.
Lecturer 3: A doctorate or equivalent terminal degree
Full-Time Lecturers are given 1-year appointments until they have completed two consecutive years of full-time employment. Following 2 years of full-time employment, a ‘presumption of rehire’ shall take effect and Full-Time Lecturers are given a three-year appointment. A ‘presumption of rehire’ means that Full-Time Lectures can presume that they will be reappointed to another consecutive three-year appointment. EMU must provide notice of such reappointment by December 10th of the year prior to the beginning of the reappointment. If you are not notified of this reappointment in a timely manner, you can safely assume reappointment to another three-years so long as there is a sufficient amount of work.
Evaluation/Promotion
PART-TIME LECTURER EVALUATIONS
Every lecturer at EMU is regularly evaluated by their Department Head (DH) or School Director (SD). There are two basic types of evaluation: Initial Evaluations, which are conducted in the second semester of employment and Periodic Evaluations, which are conducted every three years or in every fourth semester, whichever comes later.
It is the responsibility of your DH/SD to notify you that you are up for evaluation: if you are being evaluated in the Fall Semester, your DH/SD must notify you by October 1st of the semester in which you’re being evaluated; if you are being evaluated in the Winter Semester, your DH/SD must notify you by February 1st of the semester in which you’re being evaluated. If you think that you are up for evaluation, but have not been contacted by your DH/SD, please feel free to get in touch with us: emuftgrievance@gmail.com
Evaluation packages are due to your DH/SD by November 15th for Fall semester evaluations and March 15th for Winter semester evaluations.
All evaluations consist of the review of the following:
Classroom/online teaching observation: Generally, the DH/SD observes the class, but may also designate another person to conduct the observation. All observations must be arranged with at least 10 working days notice. Written results of the observation shall be shared to the lecturer at least 7 days prior to the deadline for submitting evaluations materials.
Student Evaluations: It is your responsibility to keep original copies of student evaluations and to include them in your evaluation package.
Course Materials: Syllabi, assignments, lesson plans, etc.; anything that demonstrates how it is you teach your classes. Just select some examples from the major courses you teach.
Curriculum Vitae: A current C.V. or resume. Make sure to highlight any new credentials or experience that might affect the kinds of courses you can teach.
Important Dates October 1: DH/DS notifies PTLs with evaluations scheduled for the Fall. November 15: Evaluation materials due for PTLs scheduled for Fall evaluations. February 1: DH/DS notifies PTLs with evaluations scheduled for the Winter. March 15: Evaluation materials due for PTLs scheduled for Winter evaluations.
FULL-TIME LECTURER EVALUATIONS
Like Part-Time Lecturers, Full-Time Lecturers (FTLs) are subject to Initial and Periodic Evaluations, but FTLs can also go through Promotion Evaluations in order to apply for promotion or for the Lecturer III Salary Adjustment. If you are scheduled for an Initial or Periodic Evaluation, your Department Head (DH)/School Director (SD) must notify you by April 1st of the year preceding the evaluation. Every Full-Time Lecturer must complete an Annual Activity Report by October 15th of each year. Your DH/SD should ensure that you are aware of this requirement and that you have a blank template to fill out. If you have any questions, please get in touch with us: emuftgrievance@gmail.com Initial Evaluations are conducted in the first year of employment; Periodic Evaluations are conducted the second year of employment and then in every fourth year; Promotion Evaluations are conducted at the request of the FTL. Applying for promotion is not a difficult task, and we can offer support at any step of the process. You must notify your DH/SD by October 15th if you intend to apply for promotion and request a Promotion Evaluation. The required documents for the Promotion Evaluation are the same as for PTLs, with the addition of the Annual Activity Report, a Self-Evaluation,and an optional Statement of Extraordinary Achievement. You may apply for promotion based on earning certain new credentials, in which case your promotion will be automatic, or based on years in rank and on exemplary job performance. During the fourth year in rank, any FTL may apply for promotion to the next rank. If the FTL "exceeds expectations" in student evaluations, classroom observations reports, and in the application of professional development, the DH/SD may waive the academic credential requirements for promotion. Do not hesitate to apply for promotion via this path. Promotion carries with it a not insignificant salary adjustment: $2500 for promotion from Lecturer I to Lecturer II and $3500 for promotion from Lecturer II to Lecturer III. Lecturer IIIs may also apply for the Lecturer III Salary Adjustment if they are in at least their eighth year of their current rank. Applying for this adjustment is the same as applying for promotion and it is worth a $2000 adjustment to an FTL III’s base salary.
Important Dates April 1: DH/SD notifies FTLs scheduled for Initial/Periodic evaluations in thefollowing year. October 15th: Annual Activity Reports due to DH/SD October 15th: FTLs must notify DH/SD of intent to apply for promotion or for the Lecturer III Salary Adjustment. February 1: Evaluation materials for all types of evaluations (Initial, Periodic, Promotion) are due to your DH/SD.
For both Part-Time & Full-time lecturers
For both Part and Full-Time Lecturers, there are three results of evaluations:
Exceeds Expectations
Meets Expectations
Does not Meet Expectations
If your DH/SD determines that your job performance does not meet expectations, you may be asked to complete a remediation plan. If you find yourself in this position, please get in touch with us: emuftgrievance@gmail.com. We will work with you, your DH/SD, and Academic Human Resources to determine whether a plan is necessary and/or what such a plan will include.
Grievance System
What to do if you have workplace issues or concerns
Lecturers generally enjoy a strong working relationship with their direct supervisors and with the university in general. However, we have a contract for a reason, and the grievance system exists to ensure that the university is living up to their contractual obligations.
The grievance process can be a long one, and as a union, we do not enter into grievances without carefully considering our options. A grievance can be an antagonistic process and can be quite emotionally and professionally taxing for everyone involved. Where possible, we always attempt to use the informal mechanisms at our disposal to work through issues and come to a mutually agreeable solution. We can arrange and attend a meeting with you and Department Head (DH)/School Director (SD) and we can advise you of your options. If issues cannot be resolved in this manner or if the issue is such that it warrants an immediate grievance, we can walk you through the process and will provide all the support you need.
If you are having any workplace issues and want some support in working through them, please get in touch with us. EMUFT has a Grievance Team that helps its lecturer colleagues work through issues, whether they become formal grievances or not: emuftgrievance@gmail.com
Benefits
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA's)
Did you know that you can save money for health expenses that can be withdrawn from your paycheck (pre-tax) to be used to medical, dental, vision, and work-related child/adult daycare? EMU offers flexible spending accounts for employees that can be used for you and your family (including children between the ages of 19-26, regardless of the dependency status). There are 2 different types of accounts to choose from (dependent care or health).
The FSA account is easy to use too! You receive a debit card to use to pay for covered expenses from the account or you can pay out of pocket and get reimbursed with appropriate receipts. When the year is completed, you must use up the funds by March 15th of the following year, or you lose the remaining balance from your account. There is also a mobile app you can download to upload receipts to your account. Don't delay deciding on this benefit!
PTL's - You can complete an application at the start of each semester, but the money you withdraw must be spent during that semester (Jan.-Apr. for Winter semester or Sept.-Dec. for Fall semester) since that is the period you are employed by EMU. FTL's - Your application must be completed during open enrollment (October 1st - October 15th) for the following year.
Have you wanted to take a class about Harry Potter literature or ballroom dancing? Now is the time to act! EMU offers a tuition waiver to both Full-Time and Part-Time lecturers for undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs. The tuition waiver applies to tuition only (not fees) and is based upon successful completion of the course. Full-time employees can waive up to 6 credit hours for Fall and Winter semesters and 12 for summer. Part-time employees who teach a minimum of 6 credit hours per semester can waive up to 3 undergraduate credit hours for Fall and Winter semesters and 6 undergraduate credit hours for the summer semester. EMU also offers your spouse/dependents 50% tuition (no fees) for undergraduate courses based on successful completion of the courses as well!
Tuition waivers are due no later than the 100% semester drop date (September 15th for Fall). The Tuition Waiver packet provides members with all of the information/forms.
Have you been thinking about saving for retirement, but don’t know where to begin? EMU offers voluntary 403(b) and 457(b) plans for faculty and staff. These savings plans can be changed at any time, as they are not part of open enrollment.
If you have questions contact the benefits office at 734-487-3430. https://www.emich.edu/hr/benefits-wellness/retiring/retirement-savings.php
EMUFT Office 110 King Hall Easter Michigan University Ypsilanti, MI 48197 (734) 487-5448