Although many adjunct faculty have professional obligations to schools and businesses other than AVC, they too deserve the benefit of being involved in programs which promote professional growth related to their disciplines or the needs of the campus.

Flex Hours
For adjunct faculty, Flex hours should be individually determined according to the formula below. In this way, adjunct faculty will fulfill their contractual obligations to the district.

The number of hours spent in class during a normal instructional week per semester equals the number of Flex hours required for that semester. For example: 6 classroom hours per week per semester equals 6 Flex hours per semester.

Those adjunct faculty teaching only short-term courses or community-service courses do not need to participate in the Flex program, but are welcome to attend any of the presentations listed in this book.

Flex Record Keeping
Since adjunct faculty are on semester employment contracts, you will need to fill out forms for both the fall and spring semesters. Flex activities for the fall semester must be completed by Saturday, December 6, 2003. Faculty members are accountable to both the district and the Chancellor's office for their time. Complete and accurate records are crucial in the event of an audit from the Chancellor's office. Any district found to be out of compliance could be cause for the Chancellor's office to "terminate approval of any Flexible Calendar Operation," or "withhold appropriate state aid" (CAC 55732). Please submit all forms as requested.

Flex Plan
This portion of the form requires a specific list and description of those presentations or projects which will be used to fulfill your Flex obligations for one semester. If an adjunct faculty member who teaches in the fall exceeds his/her number of Flex hours required for that semester, these hours can be applied to the spring semester. However, you must indicate this "carry-over" on your spring contract. Excessive hours accumulated in spring cannot be retroactively applied to fall or carried over to the following academic year.

Flex Modification
This portion of the form requires that all changes to the original contract be listed and accurate descriptions of substituted projects be included.

Flex Evaluation
This portion of the form asks you to evaluate the effectiveness of your professional growth projects for each semester. In addition, it asks for suggested topics, speakers, and volunteers for next year's program.

Sign-up Sheets
It is important to "sign in" when attending a Flex presentation. If your signature does not appear on the sign-up sheet, you cannot claim Flex credit for that particular presentation.

Failure to Fulfill Flex Obligations
Please make a special note of deadlines for returning contracts/modification/evaluation forms. Failure to fulfill Flex obligations or turn in forms on time may result in docking or withholding of monthly pay.

Flex Activities and Projects
There is no requirement for adjunct faculty regarding involvement in the mandated or institutional portion of our Flex program. Instead, adjunct faculty are free to set up their own activities or projects. Adjunct faculty are encouraged, however, to take advantage of the institutionally planned presentations whenever possible either as participants or presenters. As requested, the Flex Committee has attempted to offer more nighttime or weekend presentations to help accommodate the needs and schedules of adjunct faculty.

Non-Flex Activities
When designing your Flex program, please keep in mind that classes cannot be cancelled to attend a Flex activity on or off campus and certain activities cannot be counted toward Flex:

• activities for which you are paid
• activities clearly related to classroom duties
  (i.e., preparing course syllabus, grading, etc.)
• activities far beyond the scope of your duties at the college

For guidelines to help you determine which activities/projects are acceptable, see the Flex "philosophy," or the planned presentations. Feel free to contact one of the Flex Committee members if you have any questions. See, also, "Other Flex Considerations."

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