Reaffirming the Senior Staff Commitment to Classified Professionals
March 18, 2021
As members of the De Anza College senior administration, we are reaffirming the principles of district Board Policy 2224, adopted in 1999, which says the board “shall ensure that all classified staff be given the opportunity to participate in district and college governance as outlined in Title 5, section 51023.5.”
We recognize that some classified professionals feel a tension or struggle with their supervisors over participating in shared governance and college committees. We understand that California labor laws require that classified professionals work no more than 40 hours a week.
We also acknowledge that the voices of classified professionals are critical to student success, retention, budget planning, structural and operational procedures, facilities, and campus safety. We recognize that there must be an equitable path for all classified professionals to have the ability to serve in shared governance if they wish to do so.
With the above in mind, we are committed to the following:
- Classified professionals in all areas of the college can reserve up to 10% of their scheduled work hours each week – for example, four hours per week if the individual works a 40-hour week – to participate in shared governance or other committees in service to the college.
- Managers and supervisors will actively work with the classified professionals they supervise to balance their in-office workload so all classified professionals may participate in shared governance if they choose.
- Classified professional participation in shared governance will become part of the dialogue during department and division meetings, so all employees receive necessary information from their constituency groups.
- Supervisors will work with classified professionals to adjust schedules as necessary, so work areas are covered while classified professionals participate in shared governance or other committees in service to the college.
- It is the purview and responsibility of management to adjust the workload so participation in shared governance is considered part of the workweek, not as duties on top of the regularly scheduled workweek. Established union guidelines for overtime and compensation time will apply if necessary work exceeds the typical workweek schedule.