Great news from the state of New Jersey.

Filed passed, filed with the New Jersey Secretary of state as of January 13th, 2020, New Jersey bill NJ SCR185 (Urges New Jersey institutions of higher education to take action on ensuring rights for contingent faculty), provides a sort of Contingent faculty Bill of Rights calling for the right of contingent faculty to have:

• Equal pay for equal work
• The same academic freedoms provided to tenured faculty
• Professional support such as office accommodations and technical support and supplies
• An orientation to the institution and department, or a comprehensive handbook specifying the duties and rights of contingent faculty at the institution
• Be included in the shared governance of the institution, and to hold voting rights
• Be included in department meetings and events
• Professional development opportunities
• Attend appropriate academic conferences without penalty
• Audit tuition-free classes at the institution, when space permits
• Access unemployment benefits

Now it should be incumbent upon those of us outside the state of New Jersey to get our respective legislatures to adopt this language.

Below is the full text of the bill with line numbers edited out.

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION Urging Institutions of Higher Education in the State to Take Action on Ensuring Rights for Contingent Faculty.

WHEREAS, Institutions of higher education have become increasingly reliant on contingent faculty, which include both part- and full-time non-tenure-track appointments. This includes positions that may be classified by the institution as adjunct professors, part-time lecturers, and non-tenured faculty; and

WHEREAS, Contingent faculty are professionals who hold a minimum of a master’s degree, with many having acquired the terminal degree in their field and years of valuable academic and professional experience; and

WHEREAS, Contingent faculty now account for over 70 percent of all instructional staff appointments in American higher education. The excessive use of, and inadequate compensation and professional support for, faculty in contingent positions exploits these colleagues; and

WHEREAS, Many institutions have invested heavily in facilities and technology while cutting instructional spending; and

WHEREAS, Contingent faculty are typically excluded from curricular and department planning, even though the knowledge they have of their students would benefit these objectives; and

WHEREAS, Although contingent faculty are both qualified and dedicated, faculty who are teaching in these positions are hobbled in the performance of their duties by a lack of professional treatment and support. Many lack access to such basics as offices, computer support, and photocopying services, and they typically receive little or no evaluation, mentoring, or professional development opportunities; now, therefore;

BE IT RESOLVED by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey (the Senate concurring):

The Legislature recognizes the need for and urges each institution of higher education in the State to take action on ensuring certain rights for contingent faculty including the right of contingent faculty to:

• Equal pay for equal work
• The same academic freedoms provided to tenured faculty
• Professional support such as office accommodations and technical support and supplies
• An orientation to the institution and department, or a comprehensive handbook specifying the duties and rights of contingent faculty at the institution
• Be included in the shared governance of the institution, and to hold voting rights
• Be included in department meetings and events
• Professional development opportunities
• Attend appropriate academic conferences without penalty
• Audit tuition-free classes at the institution, when space permits
• Access unemployment benefits

Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly to the Secretary of Higher Education and to the president and governing board of each institution of higher education in the State.

STATEMENT

This concurrent resolution recognizes the need for and urges each institution of higher education in the State to take action on ensuring certain rights for contingent faculty including the right of contingent faculty to: equal pay for equal work; the same academic freedoms provided to tenured faculty; professional support such as office accommodations and technical support and supplies; an orientation to the institution and department, or a comprehensive handbook specifying the duties and rights of contingent faculty at the institution; be included in the shared governance of the institution, and to hold voting rights; be included in department meetings and events; professional development opportunities; attend appropriate academic conferences without penalty; audit tuition-free classes at the institution, when space permits; and access unemployment benefits.