Marchman and Gonzales’ Bill to Support Adjunct Faculty Clears Senate
SB23-084 would help adjunct professors qualify for federal loan forgiveness
DENVER, CO – The Senate today advanced Senators Janice Marchman, D-Loveland, and Julie Gonzales’, D-Denver, bill to improve support for adjunct faculty by increasing access to federal student loan debt relief programs.
SB23-084 implements a multiplier on adjunct faculty members’ instruction hours to more accurately reflect their full-time work, allowing them to qualify for the federal Public Student Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. Adjuncts, who make up 37 percent of Colorado higher education faculty, are currently considered part-time employees because they are only paid for the time they spend inside the classroom. The bill requires that every hour of direct instruction is multiplied by 4.35.
“Even though adjunct faculty members perform largely the same work as their full-time peers – grading, planning lessons, and meeting with students – right now they are only paid for the time they spend inside the classroom,” Marchman said. “Senate Bill 84 makes a simple change to make sure all of the hard work done by adjunct faculty members is accurately accounted for. I’m proud to champion this legislation to ease the burden on adjunct faculty and ensure they can qualify for the benefits they have earned.”
“I am proud to represent the three higher education institutions that make up the Auraria Campus, and I’ve seen firsthand how hard adjunct faculty members work, both inside and outside of the classroom to support their students,” said Gonzales. “By implementing a multiplier on their instruction hours, we’re ensuring adjuncts are able to access well-earned federal student loan forgiveness, just like other hardworking public employees.”
PSLF is a federal program that qualifies full-time public and nonprofit employees for federal loan forgiveness after ten years of making payments. To qualify, public workers need to work at least 30 hours per week for eight months out of the year or be full-time.
The bill would also require higher education institutions to give employees enrolled in the PSLF program an annual notice of renewal and a copy of the employment certification form required by the Department of Education.
SB23-084 now heads to the House for further consideration. You can follow the bill’s progress HERE.