Resolve, To Establish the Commission To Study the Use of Adjunct Professors in Maine's Public University and College System
Maine Legislature, Session 129, LD 1878
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Sponsors: DODGE, McCREA, WHITE, MIRAMANT

Legislative Document
No. 1878
H.P. 1344
House of Representatives, December 24, 2019
Resolve, To Establish the Commission To Study the Use of Adjunct 
Professors in Maine's Public University and College System
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
203.
Received by the Clerk of the House on December 20, 2019.  Referred to the Committee on 
Education and Cultural Affairs pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed pursuant to 
Joint Rule 401.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative DODGE of Belfast.
Cosponsored by Representatives: McCREA of Fort Fairfield, WHITE of Waterville, Senator: 
MIRAMANT of Knox.
Sec. 1.  Commission established.  Resolved:  That the Commission To Study 
the Use of Adjunct Professors in Maine's Public University and College System, referred 
to in this resolve as "the commission," is established.
Sec. 2.  Commission membership.  Resolved:  That the commission consists of 
members appointed as follows:
1.  Two members of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate, one of 
whom is a member of the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs 
and one of whom is a member of the Joint Standing Committee on Labor and Housing;
2.  Four members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the 
House, at least one of whom is a member of the Joint Standing Committee on Education 
and Cultural Affairs and at least one of whom is a member of the Joint Standing 
Committee on Labor and Housing;
3.  One member representing the Office of the Governor, appointed by the Governor;
4.  One member representing the University of Maine System, appointed by the 
President of the Senate;
5.  One member representing the Maine Community College System, appointed by 
the Speaker of the House; and
6.  Two members representing the employee representatives of adjunct professors and 
professors, one appointed by the President of the Senate and one appointed by the 
Speaker of the House.
Sec. 3.  Chairs.  Resolved:  That the first-named Senate member is the Senate 
chair and the first-named House of Representatives member is the House chair of the 
commission.
Sec. 4.  Appointments; convening of commission.  Resolved:  That all 
appointments must be made no later than 30 days following the effective date of this 
resolve. The appointing authorities shall notify the Executive Director of the Legislative 
Council once all appointments have been completed. After appointment of all members, 
the chairs shall call and convene the first meeting of the commission. If 30 days or more 
after the effective date of this resolve a majority of but not all appointments have been 
made, the chairs may request authority and the Legislative Council may grant authority 
for the commission to meet and conduct its business.
Sec. 5.  Duties.  Resolved:  That the commission shall examine and make 
recommendations on the use of adjunct professors in the University of Maine System and 
the Maine Community College System, including, but not limited to, an examination of:
1.  Recruitment and retention issues;
2.  Creation of a career path for adjunct professors;
3.  Expansion of the role of adjunct professors in student retention and success;
4.  Expansion of access to health care for adjunct professors; and
5.  Identification of funding needs for the recommendations of the commission.
Sec. 6.  Staff assistance.  Resolved:  That the Legislative Council shall provide 
necessary staffing services to the commission, except that Legislative Council staff 
support is not authorized when the Legislature is in regular or special session.
Sec. 7.  Report.  Resolved:  That, no later than November 4, 2020, the 
commission shall submit a report that includes its findings and recommendations, 
including suggested legislation, to the Joint Standing Committee on Education and 
Cultural Affairs and the Joint Standing Committee on Labor and Housing.
SUMMARY
This resolve establishes the Commission To Study the Use of Adjunct Professors in 
Maine's Public University and College System.  The commission is directed to examine 
and make recommendations on the use of adjunct professors in the University of Maine 
System and the Maine Community College System, including, but not limited to, an 
examination of recruitment and retention issues, creation of a career path for adjunct 
professors, expansion of the role of adjunct professors in student retention and success, 
expansion of access to health care for adjunct professors and identification of funding 
needs for the recommendations of the commission.  The commission must report its 
findings and recommendations to the Joint Standing Committee on Education and 
Cultural Affairs and the Joint Standing Committee on Labor and Housing.