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News & Updates

News You Can Use: Professional Development Reimbursements for CODAA Members

CODAA would like to remind all Members to take advantage of a contract benefit entitled to them:  Professional Development Reimbursements. Because we know many Members were denied these funds last year, the CODAA Negotiations Team worked hard during this last round of negotiations to clarify the contract language regarding this benefit.  Therefore, we would would like to encourage Members to apply (or try again) for reimbursement of professional development expenses.

According to the most recent contract, eligible professional development expenses include tuition, fees,conference registrations, seminars, membership dues, appropriate academic periodicals/subscriptions or one-half the costs for professional licenses that are required in the official hiring guidelines.  Individuals may not request more than $260.00 per person per academic year.  For more information see page. 16 of our contract.

CODAA recommends Members take the following steps in order to obtain their reimbursements:

  1. Note that it is up to the discretion of each associate dean to determine if specific expenses are eligible.  Therefore, if possible before you incur the expense, CODAA recommends checking with your dean to ensure your specific expenses are applicable to your teaching area and will be reimbursed.  Email is best.
  2. After you have received agreement from your associate dean, incur the expense and submit your proof of payment receipt with the required HR form to your associate dean. The form is called “Professional Development for CODAA Prior Approval Reimbursement Form” and it is available for download with HR’s forms on the College’s portal: http://inside.cod.edu
  3. After your associate dean signs it, he/she will forward the form and receipt to Dr. Joe Collins’ office for his signature.
  4. Your form will then be forwarded to HR for processing, and then your reimbursement will come to you in the form of a check several weeks later that you will need to pick up at the cashier’s desk (unless you have reimbursements — different from payroll — set up for direct deposit).

Please note: If for some reason your expense is not approved by your associate dean, please get back in touch with us using this contact form.  Please try to include what the expense is, why you think it is relevant to what you teach, and why your associate dean denied the request.

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News & Updates

News You Can Use: Dues Deductions For CODAA Members

Just a reminder for CODAA Members:

Starting last year with the College’s migration to the Datatel system, the College now deducts dues from the two October paychecks (for Fall semester) and the two March paychecks (for Spring semester) when an instructor teaches 1st 8-week, 12-week and 16-week formats.  If an instructor is teaching only during the 2nd 8-week period, deductions will occur from the last November/first December paychecks (Fall), or last April/ first May paychecks (Spring).

The amounts for the 2012 academic year are $55 per deduction for IEA/NEA Active Members, and $50 per deduction for Fair-Share Members.

Questions about dues deductions can be sent directly to Vicki Root-Wadja, CODAA’s Membership Chair, using this form.

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News & Updates

News You Can Use: What To Do In the Event of Course Withdrawal

Course withdrawal can be one of the most frustrating and challenging aspects of teaching on a PT basis, especially if one teaches at more than one institution or is heavily dependent on the income. Unfortunately, such is the nature of PT work; it is inherently insecure and dependent on lots of external factors, many of which are well beyond an individual instructor’s control. Having taught the same class at the same time/date for the last 10 years is not a guarantee that it will be assigned again, will make enrollment the next term, or that one will not be “bumped” for a FTer who is in need of a class. Avenues for recourse, if there are any, depend on the time frame of the withdrawal and an individual instructor’s union status.

The first thing you should do, if you would like to try to be assigned a replacement course, is always to respectfully work with your dean, coordinator, or manager (you may use a simple phone call, but always follow up in writing) to try to find an agreeable alternative course assignment. It helps to be flexible and open to non-ideal schedules/classes and make sure you make it known that you are willing to teach classes that may open up before the semester begins or a late start 12- or 8-week course. Document any correspondence to and from the administration about the loss of an assignment. Ultimately, if you are unable to obtain a replacement course and are heavily dependent on the income, you might attempt to file for unemployment insurance.

If you are a CODAA Member, a contract benefit does provide that you are eligible for a stipend of $200 should a course to which you’ve been assigned be withdrawn within 5 calendar days or fewer of the first day of the class. Withdrawals that occur previous to this 5-day window are not afforded any stipends.

Also for CODAA Members, contractually, the administration should make every effort to assign you classes so that you maintain membership.  However, please note that the minimum is 6 hours per academic year.

 As always, don’t hesitate to contact CODAA with any questions or concerns.