Bill > HB2538

This bill aims to increase pay equity for part-time faculty at Washington's community and technical colleges by establishing a phased-in salary requirement. Specifically, starting in the 2028-29 academic year, part-time and adjunct faculty must be compensated at least 75 percent of what comparably qualified full-time and tenured faculty earn for similar instructional work, with this percentage increasing to 80 percent in the 2029-30 academic year and reaching 85 percent by the 2030-31 academic year. The bill defines "instructional work" to include direct student support, class preparation, grading, and office hours, mirroring the requirements for full-time faculty. Furthermore, the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges is mandated to report on the progress of implementing these pay equity plans, including demographic data of faculty not yet meeting the goals, to the governor and legislative committees by specific dates. The legislature's intent is to address the significant pay gap that forces many part-time faculty to juggle multiple jobs, impacting student success and faculty retention, and to make teaching a more viable and stable career path for all qualified educators, thereby strengthening the higher education system.

Education

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=2538&Year=2025&Initiative=false