The Board of Trustees has approved an agreement with the American Association of University Professors for summer school teaching through the year 2003.

The agreement was ratified by the AAUP on Dec. 10.

The new agreement does not increase salary for summer teachers, but does add a fixed stipend for low enrollment courses, a payment for independent study classes, and an increase in cancellation fees paid to instructors, said Fred J. Maryanski, interim chancellor.

"The contract condenses the best features of the former contract and makes the language clearer all around," said Krista Rodin, dean of Extended and Continuing Education, who negotiated the contract. "The contract has been simplified and will be easier to use by faculty and department chairs."

The agreement maintains summer school compensation at 8.5 percent of the normal academic year salary per three-credit course, provided that the class has an enrollment of 10 or more students.

Practicums, fieldwork, or computer-based or other non-traditional courses will carry faculty compensation based on the rate of 2.8 percent of the normal salary per course credit. Faculty supervising independent study during the summer months will receive 50 percent of the tuition paid by the student.

Cancellation fees for classes that the faculty member has taught before will be $200 per credit, and for classes that the faculty member has not taught before, $250 per credit, with a $25 increase in 2001, and an additional $25 in 2003.

For courses with enrollments of less than 10 but more than six on the first day of class, there will be a flat rate of payment of $3,500 for a three-credit course, with an annual increase beginning in 2001 and equal to the percentage increase in pay for adjunct faculty in the collective bargaining contract.

The University has also approved a policy, which took effect Jan. 1, that allows non-teaching professionals to be offered appointment as special payroll lecturers. Although teaching is not a requirement for a position covered by employees in the University of Connecticut Professional Employees Association bargaining unit, the policy notes that there are occasional instances where an UCPEA employee might be asked to teach.

"The University must be satisfied that the additional time is not excessive and that it neither directly nor indirectly interferes with his/her regular work at the University," the policy states.

The policy specifically exempts UCPEA members from being paid for teaching First Year Experience courses.

"We think it is wonderful that the University is recognizing UCPEA members who teach," said Kathleen Sanner, UCPEA's vice president for collective bargaining. She said many UCPEA members have been teaching for years. "A lot of UCPEA members have advanced degrees," she added, "excellent qualifications, and have a lot to share with students."

Karen A. Grava