At the Community College: Smile and Reflections
At the Community College: Smile and Reflections: Laugh a little, and cry a little, as you get a compelling slice-of-life perspective of the American community college.
At the Community College: Smile and Reflections: General/Humor
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BLURB: AT THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Community colleges provide valuable learning experiences for millions of Americans. But they are not mini-universities or dedicated trade schools—they offer a unique higher-ed pathway which is often misunderstood and sometimes under-appreciated. This book provides a behind-the-scenes look at daily community college life—from student, administrative, board, and faculty perspectives! You will learn (or recognize) a great deal about daily community college machinations and the “characters” who are hard at work to make the community college journey “sustainable.” Both humorous and revealing, the engaged reader will come away with a new appreciation for the American Community College Event!
EXCERPT: AT THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
#PiratesforPay Part-time Faculty Walkout
@Eastern Omaha Community College
Prof Richard Hose was sweating profusely in the mid-September late afternoon Omaha sun. He and two hundred seventy-three other adjunct (part-time) faculty were marching back and forth between the parking lot and administration building at Eastern Omaha Community College. They were on the third day of an organized strike. Each wore a black t-shirt with a skull and crossbones image emblazoned on the front and back. Hose, the ringleader, wore a stylish three-cornered black and silver pirate hat and carried a toy parrot on his shoulder. Most of the dissidents carried signs: “Slavery ended in 1863 “; “Give me Bennies or I’ll be Dead”; “We’re doing this for the students”; “#PiratesforPay”; “Stop the cultural salary appropriation!”; Viva Socialism!”
Some motorists leaving the parking lot honked and waved in support of the movement. Most gave the marchers the middle finger and shouted angrily about how the hapless employees were interfering with traffic flow in and out of the college. Four passionate Marxist students had marched with the professors on the first day, but only the tired and sagging part-timers remained on this this third and pivotal day of the event.
The movement was outraged and demanded justice. The adjuncts had simply endured enough. Decades of lousy salaries and administrative puffery had finally called them to action. Adjunct faculty were paid $650 a credit hour for teaching at EOCC–$1950 for a three-credit hour course lasting from mid-August to early December.
At one Adjunct Action Meeting, a frustrated biology professor shouted out, “Fight for $15? Hah! I’d be happy to get $5 an hour! I can barely afford to drive out here to teach–and I sure can’t afford to buy a #$%$#@@ Moonbucks cup of coffee. #PiratesforPay! #PiratesforPay! #PiratesforPay!”
They had no health insurance, campus offices, or recognition. Now, they would force the administration to meet their demands–or else. They could only teach nine credit hours a semester, according to strict benefit thresholds for part-time employee guidelines, so an adjunct teaching six classes (eighteen credits) during the school year would earn $11,700. Compare this to the thirty-seven assistant and associate deans and VPs each making over $175,000 a year!
The residential faculty (full-timers), who averaged only $88,000 a year in salary, lauded the effort of the part-timers, but none joined them in the walk out. They were quite comfortable with their own salary packages and didn’t want to rock the boat too much since most hoped to be deans in a year or two anyway.
Of course, there had been meetings–with deans, other administrators, and even the governing board. Individuals and groups were, of course, sympathetic to the issues of low pay and no bennies. The thirty-member Deans Council listened to Hose respectfully when he addressed their recent meeting. (For effect, he wore his pirate suit and took his parrot along!) His eighty-five-slide PowerPoint was compelling.
In the discussion that followed, they promised to make recommendations to the appropriate VPs, form focus groups, survey students, and further assess the role of Contract Faculty within the spectrum of the Mission Statement and Core Values at EOCC. The knowledgeable professorship sensed a symbolic one-day work stoppage might help get the public’s attention. Even the fat-cat full-timers enjoyed sticking it to “The Man” occasionally!
Soon after, the Governing Board patiently listened to the Pirate’s demands for better pay–then the College’s legal counsel addressed the group and advised them there was no more money. They had signed contracts, knew the salary range, and simply needed to apply for full-time positions with the district if they wanted more money.
Finding no satisfaction in negotiating or due process, the Pirates walked out on their classes Monday the 5th. Now, late Wednesday afternoon, no demands had been met, but the group felt very good about their strategy and perseverance.
Hose was very tired, thirsty, and hungry. Even though he had a big belly, his belt had loosened up and his trousers were sagging in the sweaty heat.
He was disappointed no food trucks were on scene–especially since the #PiratesforPay organization secretary had called several owner/operators and advised them of the demonstration. (The Food truck operators knew the adjuncts had no money–and didn’t want to waste their valuable time at the Pirate demonstration.) Prof Hose had hoped his friends Steve and Kim might have brought their Chicago-cuisine food truck, but alas, no such luck.
Suddenly, the Chief of Campus Police, Lt. Col. Gerry O’Neal, arrived on his golf cart. He pulled out a bullhorn and addressed the long, sweaty, courageous line.
“Protestors! You are hereby ordered to disperse pursuant to OECC Policy 1006A-Unlawful Assembly! I will give you thirty minutes to get out of here, or our officers will begin making arrests.”
Groans of disbelief erupted from the passionate but discouraged academics. They had come so far!
“Come on, Jerry–the admin knows we are doing this. They were supportive of the idea,” moaned the disbelieving chief Pirate.
“Dick, I know, and I don’t want to arrest you. But here’s the thing. Enough students dropped your classes that every course taught by adjuncts was cancelled because of low enrollment. So, you have all been terminated–and now you are trespassing.”
Unable to afford much jail time, the #PiratesforPay organization morosely found their way out of the parking lot in their early nineties era automobiles and headed to the unemployment office. A moral victory… Justice was served! Ahrrrrr! Dick Hose took off his pirate hat and focused on the positive. Maybe Quicky Mart had a position opening!
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LINKS
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07VJXGPBY
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/at-the-community-college-jeffrey-ross/1132572177?ean=2940161330838
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/at-the-community-college-smiles-and-reflections
27 responses to “At the Community College: Smile and Reflections”
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Back in the Jurassic period, I was such a lousy high school student that the only college I got into was Manhattan Community.
I was humbled, but my time there served as a stepping stone to greater things. Brooklyn College, NYU, and careers as a Parole Officer, copywriter — and now, novelist.
The moral of this tale: community colleges are invaluable to students, and to society.
This is my 40th year of working at a community college. You are exactly right. They are invaluable. Let’s make them even better.
yes pls
u can never have too many book s!
bev
I love these books and get totally engrossed! My husband gets annoyed as I don’t get to sleep till the middle of the night and thus don’t get up early due to my reading!
As having been an adjunct professor, I can relate to this. I laughed yet, felt sad to be reminded of times of enduring underpay, overwork and long hours with little or no appreciation. Ah, I will admit that the one or two promising students made it worth the hardships.
There is no doubt in my mind that adjuncts are the most exploited labor group in America. But I agree with you . Helping students learn is amazing.
Once Upon a time, long, long, long, ago…. In a far away state or states; depends when we moved; I was a pretty good student. That was until they introduced Common Core. Who could understand that crap. And that is what was it is,CRAP! I did try on-line school, and I soon found out I was not able to keep up with it either.
So I am happy with my little bit of writing I get to do in between with caring for my many pitbulls and my new little chickens.
I do know Common Core with make the children of today stupid. Just look at how they are re-educating them now since they found out the it does not work. And like every thing else. everyone has opponions about things.
This book sounds very interesting. And, OMG, I could use a good laugh. Haven’t laughed in months. Living alone, I tried telling my cat some jokes. He didn’t laugh either.
We tried to mix up funny material and policy material in this book. Sometimes the policy material is quite funny!
I love this book already !! I want more 🙂
Thanks!
My CC experience was one of the best!!
Good luck to everyone & thanks for the sweeps opportunity! 😎
Stay safe 💜💜
My family is an avid community college advocate. We take classes in interesting stuff all the time and have even been able to do some caving and archeological tours through our local college. Now that my husband and I are fully retired we are able to do more, more often, and can’t wait till this COVID 19 mess is over and we can get back to it. This looks like a book we will love, and now we have time on our hands!
I hope you do read the book and enjoy it. Email me later and let me know what you think. Thanks, Jeff.
This excert is interesting if I’ll give it a go.
Jim Cory Cravens
116 Laurel Brance Rd
Salyersville, KY 41465
Jeffrey Ross is an excellent writer who tells wonderful stories. He’s articulate, interesting, and imaginative. This looks like it’s going to be a good one!
Thanks for compliment, Catherine. You are certainly an excellent writer. Everybody, please check out
A Place of Learning by Catherine Depino… available on Amazon!
Being a graduate of Macomb Community College with an associates degree and paying a whopping six dollars a credit hour, then enrolling at Wayne State University and graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree (Secondary Education Degree in Unified Science with a minor in English) gave me the opportunity to teach at a junior high school…. Anyway, the community college experience was rewarding and memorable.
I am a bullying survivor. When I was in high school, I was told I would never be able to complete a 4 year college and be lucky to complete a 2 year college or trade school. I’m happy to say I graduated from Butler County Community College with an Associate Degree in Elementary Education and graduated from Clarion University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor’s Degree.
I have seen plenty of humor and would love compare this humor with the humor I knew in community college and college. Getting both degrees was worth it. I learned so much and even met Author Maya Angelou at a meet and greet my professor took the class to.
I Hope I Win.
My Full Name: Crystal Stewart
My EMail: don.stewart@zoominternet.net
Just a note. I wanted to let you all know that Courtney Rene, another RPP author, wrote a fun story for this book called A Shape Shifter goes to College.
Jeff Ross has a finger on the pulse of community college culture. This is a terrific account of community college life both within and outside college halls. His characters accurately, and humorously, portray 21st century community college life. Very good read.
Thank you, Dr. Contento. A pleasure hearing from you. I believe I last saw you at your Academic Capitalism lecture in Zurich back in 2018. Hope all is well in sunny Arizona.
Well thank you Dr. Ross. Yassss! Presenting at international conferences may now be a thing of the past. Glad to hear you are still writing. Looking forward to your newest effort in transitioning culture in higher education. Early reviews are robust and critical, as always, but continue your good work.
Great beginning! Sounds like the community college I attended. Whoo hoo!
I Love reading books about real life experiences
I think community colleges are amazing.
nice excerpt