TALLAHASSEE, FL (WTXL) -- A proposed policy at Tallahassee Community College could mean more work, without more pay, for faculty at Tallahassee Community College if the board of trustees approves it.
One professor at TCC thinks this change would impact the learning environment for his students.
"We as a faculty are going to stand together and stand strong. And we are going to defend the institution that we love and stand up for our students," said Martin Balinsky, an Earth Science Professor.
He has been an earth science professor at TCC for nearly 10 years.
Balinsky thinks a proposal by the administration to require faculty teach an extra class would affect the time and attention professors can give to their students.
"Lab activities and art studio courses and things like that would no longer be able to be specialized," said Balinsky. "The students report major success. The students enjoy coming here, coming to this learning environment."
Florida College System Statutes state, "the minimum teaching hour requirement is 15 classroom contact hours per week." This includes office hours, curriculum and any other teaching duties that help students.
Balinsky says the current policy allows professors to teach five courses per semester. Four courses is considered the workload and teaching the fifth class earns extra pay.
"What the college proposes is for that fifth class to now be taught for free which represents an approximately 12 percent loss to our annual income," Balinsky said.
He adds, almost all TCC professors would loose $7,000 a year if the policy is pushed forward. In addition, he worries the success of students will suffer if professors have a larger workload and less time to manage it.
Both sides must submit their responses to the Florida's Public Employee Relations Commission and the TCC Board of Trustees by August 12.
