Whereas, What is known as the “50% Law” is a reference to California Education Code §84362(d), which states that “There shall be expended during each fiscal year for payment of salaries of classroom instructors by a community college district, 50 percent of the district's current expense of education”;
Whereas, The 50% law is often cited as a disincentive to the hiring of faculty who provide vital support services for students, such as counseling and library faculty;
Whereas, Title 5 has specific recommended ratios for counseling and library faculty to FTES that represent effective practices but are not being practiced by most community colleges; and
Whereas, Effective instruction and student success are dependent upon the necessary faculty support, both inside and outside of the classroom;
Resolved, That Academic Senate for California Community Colleges support a change in the calculation of the 50% obligation that removes the salaries of counseling and library faculty from the denominator of the ratio; and
Resolved, That the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges publish information about what a change in the calculation of the 50% obligation that removes salaries of counseling and library faculty from the denominator of the ratio means and advocate that colleges reassess current staffing and create plans to meet existing Title 5 guidelines and best practices for counseling and library faculty.
MSR Disposition: Referred to the Executive Committee to research the data, craft a new resolution that considers the ideas included in all of the referred resolutions and our previous position in resolution 8.04 S01 and bring back to the Spring 2010 plenary session.