DCCFA
and TCCTA are two independent organizations that serve different but similar
and complimentary purposes.
Dr.
Fred Newbury, professor of Economics at Richland College, has served multiple
terms as DCCFA president, and served in 2010-2011 as TCCTA president.
According
to Dr. Newbury, it is important for faculty to join and participate in both
DCCFA and TCCTA.
“I
hope all DCCCD faculty will join both DCCFA and TCCTA,” Newbury said. “I have
seen so many cases where membership in both organizations has helped faculty
generally, and many individual faculty who face unique challenges.”
Through
these organizations, two-year college faculty have a voice at the local and the
state level.
For
instance, through Executive Director Richard Moore and Chief Lobbyist Beaman
Floyd, TCCTA provides important counsel for state legislators and their
executive staff to advocate for faculty interests at the state level. Those who
attended the 2015 DCCFA convention had an opportunity to listen to Moore and
Floyd, and learn about their efforts on behalf of all Texas community college
teachers.
At
the local level, DCCFA has worked hard to cultivate improved relations with
numerous members of the DCCCD Board of Trustees and with the Chancellor and his
staff. Better communication has contributed to improved compensation and
working conditions. It is important that faculty maintain a “seat at the
table” and continue the important work in the shared governance process.
Likewise,
according to Dr. Newbury and TCCTA Executive Director Richard Moore, TCCTA and
DCCFA offer different types of professional liability and legal defense.
“The
coverage provided by the DCCFA and the TCCTA Professional Educators Liability
Insurance Program complement each other in important ways,” Moore said.
“In
my numerous stints on the Faculty Council, I have seen many instances where the
DCCFA legal defense fund – and representation in grievance processes by the
Council – has helped a member overcome an unfairly poor evaluation, contractual
dispute, or academic freedom issue,” Newbury said.
According to the brochure
provided by TCCTA, members can purchase professional liability
insurance that offers “protection for your assets if you are named in a lawsuit
due to an event arising in the course and scope of your employment,” and
“reimbursement of up to $10,000 per claim of attorney fees…if there is an
action or proceeding against you involving: supervision, tenure, salary, leave
of absence or dismissal; allegations of improper discipline of a student;
allegations of improper contact with a student; allegations of sexual
harassment; allegation of a violation of civil rights; and certification or
licensure” and “up to $1,000 premium of bail bonds.” This coverage is set
up for each academic year and is normally renewed in August. Enrollment for the previous year is not a
requirement for coverage.
Through
DCCFA, per DCCFA Bylaws, members are eligible to request, and the association
keeps funds dedicated to provide, “legal assistance and other necessary help
for DCCFA members involved in contractual and/or academic freedom disputes
within the Dallas County Community College District.”
In
order to qualify for legal defense funds, the faculty member must have been an
active member of the DCCFA “for two consecutive years immediately prior to the
year in which they request assistance, or have joined as active members in the
first year they are eligible to become active members.”
Therefore,
not joining the DCCFA, or letting one’s DCCFA membership lapse, causes one to
forfeit eligibility for possible legal defense funds until two full years after
they have re-joined the DCCFA.
Faculty may direct further questions to their college TCCTA rep, and their college
faculty association president.
