Dear DGCE faculty,

As you are probably aware, the DGCE contract expired on December 31, 2014.  The MSCA began our effort to negotiate a successor agreement starting in November of 2014.  DGCE faculty have not had a salary increase since the beginning of the spring 2014 instructional period, in most cases, that’s more than 19 months ago.

All language items were resolved many months ago.  The only outstanding issue is salary increases.

The MSCA has tried for more than a decade to increase the stipends paid to DGCE faculty up to the rate paid to day part-time faculty.  On January 1, 2015 DGCE faculty at the rank of Visiting Instructor were paid $374 per credit ($1,122 per three-credit course) less than day part-time faculty.  That is 23.2% less for someone teaching the same courses, to the same students, at the same institutions, and for faculty who may very well have the same credentials and the same teaching experience.

DGCE faculty at the rank of Visiting Professor were paid $182 per credit ($546 per three-credit course) less than day part-time faculty.  That is 11.3% less for someone teaching the same courses, to the same students, at the same institutions, and for faculty who may very well have higher credentials and much more teaching experience.

The nine state university presidents have offered stipend increases of 1.5% per year for three years.  That is less than half the increase every other unionized state employee received during this time period.  The MSCA has proposed 2.5% on January 1st and July 1st each year for three years.  The MSCA proposal is intended to close the gap between the DGCE and day part-time rates.

The MSCA Board of Directors voted to create a Crisis Committee at its meeting on Friday.  The Board also voted on an action plan in executive session that we will be implementing.  The Crisis Committee will be making recommendations to the Board on additional activities and actions.

CJ O’Donnell
MSCA President