The newly ratified contract negotiated between the Rutgers Part-Time Lecturer Faculty Chapter and Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey contains, for the first time, provisions for evaluation procedures and subsequent advancement to different levels of PTL employment. Under this new system, all PTLs will be evaluated in some way every semester. However, this evaluation process is not meant to be punitive; it is an attempt on the part of both the Rutgers administration and the PTLFC to ensure that the quality of teaching remains high throughout all types and levels of instructional service.
Further, the evaluation process documents and codifies the PTL's teaching record, with an eye towards eventual advancement to a higher level of PTL service. These higher levels (PTL 2 and PTL 3) carry with them significant pay raises and other benefits as the PTL advances through the ranks.
There are different categories of evaluation/advancement recognized in the new contract.
As a PTL, you will fall into one of three categories:
- Immediately eligible (with 12 semesters or more) Form D-2
- Soon eligible (approaching 12 semesters) Form D-1
- PTLs with fewer than 12 semesters) Form C
PTLs who are immediately eligible for promotion need to act now. The procedures for that group are as follows:
Currently Employed PTLs with at least 12 semesters of PTL service
Many long-time PTLs will be eligible for immediate advancement to the PTL 2 or PTL 3 level beginning in Spring 2020. For immediate eligibility for the rank of PTL 2, you must:
- have 12 semesters or more of PTL employment at Rutgers to qualify. Please note: in adding up your total number of semesters served, courses taught during Winter/Summer session do not count. Only courses taught during the Fall and Spring semesters count towards your total. Courses need not be taught in consecutive semesters; however, a break in service of more than 3 academic years nullifies previous service. And, you must:
- submit written notification, on a form to be provided jointly by the Office of Academic Labor Relations and the PTLFC, to your Department Chair no later than September 20, 2019. This form calls for some supporting documents; access the Form D-2. Please be sure that you supply all the required information (see the section titled Teaching Portfolio below).
No further action need be taken by the PTL seeking advancement to Level 2. The Department Chair will evaluate the PTL's teaching with the help of the supporting documentation submitted. The Chair will then forward his/her recommendation concerning advancement to the Dean. A decision will be reported to the PTL no later than 20 days after the close of the semester in which the review took place.
Upon advancement to the level of PTL 2, the PTL will receive a 9 percent increase to his/her base salary at the time of promotion.
Please note: a PTL who immediately advances to this level (PTL 2) in Spring 2020 will receive, by the end of the current contract in 2022, an increase of 23 percent over his/her base salary at the start of the contract period (Fall 2018).
Advancement to the level of PTL 3 follows the same procedures and uses the same D2 form. To be eligible for immediate advancement to PTL 3, the PTL must have served a minimum of 24 semesters as a PTL at Rutgers. Upon advancement to the level of PTL 3, the PTL will receive an 18 percent increase to his/her base salary at the time of promotion.
A PTL who immediately advances to this level (PTL 3) in Spring 2020 will receive, by the end of the current contract in 2022, an increase of 33 percent over his/her base salary at the start of the contract period (Fall 2018).
Additionally, a PTL 3 who has taught at least 1 course each semester (Fall and Spring) in the previous 6 consecutive academic years shall receive a letter of appointment for 2 semesters in one appointment letter.
Teaching Portfolio
All PTLs who are applying for advancement – either immediate advancement in Spring 2020 (Form D-2) or subsequent advancement (Form D-1) – will need to submit supplemental materials. The following items will be required:
- A chronological list of all semesters of appointment as a PTL and the course(s) taught in each semester, including courses currently being taught as a PTL. Include campus/unit/department, course number and course title
- Teaching portfolio including, at a minimum, a reflective narrative of the PTL’s teaching
- Four most recent syllabi
- Two most recent exams, formal assignments or tests; and
- Any additional material that the PTL wishes to be considered in the evaluation
The list of courses taught must be provided by the PTL. You should ask your departmental business manager (or whoever handles contracts in your department) to provide you with such a list. You can also find many of the courses you have taught on the Rutgers Regis system (for class rosters). And, of course, your own records can be used. Be as accurate as possible, but, please remember, Winter/Summer courses do not count.
Also, please note: you are not being asked to prove that you taught every course you are listing. You do not have to provide physical copies of contracts, appointment notices, etc. Simply provide the most accurate list you can, in chronological order; that is all that is required.
After consultation with full-time colleagues (Department Chairs, etc.), the following tips on assembling a teaching portfolio are suggested:
- The narrative should be reflective of the PTL's teaching philosophy, that is, how you approach the courses that you teach and how those courses relate to your educational/professional background. Explain how your own experience and training are integrated into your teaching philosophy.
- You might want to include positive feedback that you have received from students via the Student Instructional Rating Service (SIRS). While the SIRS quantitative evaluations are usually not very helpful, the qualitative evaluations (student comments) are very useful for this purpose.
- The portfolio could also include any additional pedagogical materials that the instructor developed (revised syllabi, flyers, handouts, other lesson materials), and, of course, peer evaluation letters.
- Any publications or other professional accomplishments (performances, conference appearances, lectures, awards, etc.) that the PTL has collected can also be helpful here. Attaching a current CV with a list of these achievements would assist the Department Chairs in their evaluation process.