NYU Request to Teach Letter Due

Secure your union-won job security

If you are an NYU adjunct, you must submit this important letter each year by December 15 to keep your union-won job security:

Click here for a sample letter that you can use or modify. Send this letter to your NYU department chair each year by December 15.

If you are not sure whether you qualify, send this letter anyway. Without this written request to teach in the following academic year, you forego your rights to receive reappointment or termination pay.

Your NYU department chair must receive your letter each year by December 15! Send or email a copy to us as well. If you have any questions, please contact us.

About the letter: Article X in our contract (see below) guarantees eligible adjuncts the right to reappointment or termination pay. One of our proposals to NYU's administrators is to streamline the reappointment process, but until they accepts our proposal, please be sure to invoke your December 15th reappointment rights.

Although last year's deadline was extended by a few days, members should not expect similar extensions this year or in future years; the due date specified in our contract is December 15.

More about Reappointment

MYTH:"I don't have to worry. My reappointment is automatic."
FACT: There is no such thing as automatic reappointment. You must follow the reappointment procedure to protect your rights.

MYTH: "I am assured of my class because I have seniority and I've been teaching it for years and years."
FACT: You are NEVER assured of your class, regardless of your long-term service. There is no "seniority" provision for adjuncts in our contract with NYU. Your reappointment is entirely at the discretion of your department.

MYTH: "I just talked to my chair and was told this procedure isn't necessary because they like me so much."
FACT: Your department colleagues and administrators mean well, but they don't know our contract.

ARTICLE X RIGHTS ARE NOT PROTECTED BY...
* Verbal or email confirmation of your teaching appointments from your department.
* Your name on the course schedule or in the course catalogue.
* Good performance and positive student evaluations.
* Your good relationships with your department and your colleagues.

YOUR "DEC. 15 REQUEST-TO-TEACH" LETTER IS YOUR ONLY PROTECTION

HOW DO I QUALIFY FOR ARTICLE X RIGHTS?
* You have taught 6 CONSECUTIVE SEMESTERS or more of the same or similar courses. ("Consecutive" is ANY 6 consecutive semesters, over a period of no more than 6 years, Fall, Spring, Summer and/or Winter sessions)
* You send in your "Request to Teach" letter no later than Dec. 15.

WHY IS THIS SO IMPORTANT?
Article X in our contract gives eligible adjuncts the right to termination pay if they are not reappointed to their consecutive classes. Article X does not guarantee reappointment but was designed to present a strong financial disincentive for your dismissal. If you send in your letter, NYU must pay you the full value of your lost classes for one year if you are dismissed. But if you don't send it in, you will be more vulnerable to dismissal if NYU chooses to do so.

These are the only actions that protect your rights under Article X.

WHAT DO I DO?
Follow the instructions above.

THEN WHAT HAPPENS?
* On or before May 21, NYU is obliged to send you your teaching schedule for the coming academic year.
* If you are not reappointed or not notified by May 21, please contact your union immediately.
* Summer Reappointment Notification will be confirmed by March 21.

ARTICLE X - RE-APPOINTMENT PROCEDURES AND CONTINUED SERVICE

A. Subject to the provisions of paragraph B:

1. An employee with prior good performance as an eligible adjunct in the same department of a School of the University for not fewer than six (6) consecutive semesters (exclusive of summer sessions) during the three (3) academic year period immediately preceding a re-appointment, shall be notified by that University department no later than May 21 of appointment for both the following Fall and Spring semesters. Such notification of re-appointment shall be subject to cancellation due to insufficiency of registration, course cancellation or changes in curriculum in each semester. If such an employee is not re- appointed to an adjunct position for other reasons, he/she shall receive termination pay equivalent to the monetary compensation he/she received for the most recent Fall and Spring semesters. By mutual agreement between the adjunct and the department, in lieu of any termination pay, the adjunct may accept a terminal teaching assignment for the Fall and Spring semesters.

2. An employee with prior good performance as an eligible adjunct in the same department of a School of the University in either the Fall or Spring semesters for each of the six (6) consecutive academic years immediately preceding a reappointment, shall be notified by that University department no later than May 21 of appointment for one (1) semester in the following academic year. Such notification of re-appointment, shall be subject to cancellation due to insufficiency of registration, course cancellation or changes in curriculum each semester. If such an employee is not re-appointed to an adjunct position for other reasons, he/she shall receive termination pay equivalent to the monetary compensation he/she received for the previous semester's appointment as an adjunct. By mutual agreement between the adjunct and the department, in lieu of any termination pay, the adjunct may accept a terminal teaching assignment for one semester.

B. In order to be eligible and as a condition precedent to receiving re-appointment or termination pay under paragraph A, an adjunct or part-time faculty member must notify the Chair of his/her department, or, in the absence of a Chair, other appropriate University administrator, of his/her request to teach for the following academic year, and of his/her qualification under the provisions of paragraph A. Such notification must be in writing and be received no later than the preceding December 15.