For the first time in many years, the leadership of the College of DuPage Adjunct Association (CODAA) has decided to endorse candidates for the College of DuPage Board of Trustees. CODAA believes that the College of DuPage Board of Trustees should advocate for students first, working earnestly with all faculty, staff, and the administration to serve student needs as we transition to a new normal in academia.
While we appreciate the dedication and commitment of all candidates seeking election, after thoughtfully interacting with the candidates at our recent non-partisan virtual forum, we believe that the team of Don Potoczny, Flo Appel, and Nick Howard are the best candidates to truly address student needs by engaging in mindful listening and honest communication with college faculty. Their background in education, student advocacy, and business provide a unique and much-needed perspective. In particular, these candidates have given CODAA leadership their commitment to listen to the concerns, issues, and ideas of part-time faculty at the College.
While adjuncts teach a majority of the courses at College of DuPage, many are unable to comfortably cover basic expenses from month to month. Each semester, many struggle with job insecurity, insufficient compensation, and lack of employer provided health care. This state of affairs persists, in part, because the Board has typically allowed limited access to their members by part-time faculty representatives. We believe Appel, Howard, and Potoczny have the academic experience and integrity to follow through with engaging in an open and respectful dialogue with the faculty who teach the majority of courses at College of DuPage.
The CODAA board urges you to vote for these candidates since a shift on the Board could lead to greater attention being paid to the welfare of our students and part-time faculty.