Category: News & Updates

Dear Members:
The College has agreed not to contest the unemployment claims for Adjuncts who file for unemployment this summer if:

• they lost a scheduled summer assignment due to the conversion of all summer 2020 courses to online only
• they have a history of teaching in the summer but no assignment was offered for summer 2020 due to COVID-19

The College will simply state the information they have always been asked to supply, but will not contest.   The Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program makes it more likely than ever before that adjuncts will be able to file successfully. 

1.  If you plan on filling for unemployment please carefully read the information provided in the links below. 

2.  If you file for unemployment, please email Frank Brooks,  [email protected].  The IEA wants to keep track of members who file for unemployment so they can have a comprehensive picture of successes and failures in filing so that pressures exerted on IDES can be more concerted and effective.  This information will allow the IEA to have specific information about the number of adjuncts who have filed when they meet with IDES representatives.  

3. If you would like more detailed instructions and tips on navigating the filing process, contact Frank Brooks at   [email protected].

4.   Finally, as stated in the attachment about filing for unemployment, it is important to understand that neither CODAA nor the College can guarantee whether an individual will qualify for regular unemployment benefits or federal stimulus unemployment benefits.  Unfortunately, it is possible that IDES will pay you benefits, but determine later that you were not actually eligible.  They would then expect you to pay back any benefits you received.  While language in the PUA and the IEA’s petition to IDES gives hope that adjuncts can be successful in applying for summer 2020, adjuncts have not typically received unemployment benefits in the past.  CODAA encourages filing if you meet the criteria listed above, with the understanding that this is yet uncharted territory.

Our April meeting was our first ever fully online membership meeting held via Zoom, and it went very well. Below is a link to view a short slideshow with relevant data for our members.

Video content from our meeting with guest speaker Dr. Caputo:

Please read both documents.  In particular, keep the following in mind:
“The importance of making sound decisions on P/F grading cannot be underestimated. Factors to consider include but are not limited to: GPA calculation for scholarships and other forms of aid(eligibility and continuance), including Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits; academic probationary status; and repeated course policy. GPA and minimum grade standards may also affect graduate
and professional school admission, licensure programs, and programs with specialized accreditors.”Make sure students understand the possible consequences of electing the Pass/Fail option and encourage them to consult a Counselor or Advisor before they make a final decision.  

If you are considering retirement in the next few years, you might want to use this time of working remotely to take advantage of the Webinars being offered by SURS or book an appointment with them.  

Retirement Counselors Are Conducting Appointments Remotely. Our counseling team has transitioned entirely to telephone appointments through April 30. If you have a previously scheduled in-person appointment during this timeframe a SURS counselor will call you on the scheduled date and time at the phone number in your file.  If you would like to provide a different contact number, please send us a secure message via the Member Website or contact our Call Center at 800-275-7877. If you would like to cancel or reschedule an existing appointment, or schedule a new appointment, you may do so by logging into your member account at surs.org.
SURS is Offering Webinars Instead of Seminars. In-person retirement education seminars scheduled in April and early May have been cancelled. If you have registered and paid for a seminar, a refund check will be mailed to you.  SURS is instead offering live and on-demand educational webinars.  For current offerings, visit  https://www.surs.org/seminars-and-webinars.