MSU and non-tenured faculty agree on contract proposal

By Mark Bashore, WKAR

EAST LANSING, MI –

Around 500 non-tenured faculty have ratified a tentative contract with Michigan State University.

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The new pact would offer a three-year contract to non-tenured faculty with ten semesters of teaching in six years--not counting summers. Andy Corner chairs the group's bargaining committee. He says the agreement will offer more job security because past contracts often have covered a year or less.

"Job security for a teacher would be...for myself in my position...if I know I have a position next year, I can focus my energies on teaching rather than making sure my family gets fed."

The agreement also includes provisions for a pay raise, health care, retirement and life insurance benefits. The contract awaits the approval of the MSU Board of Trustees which is expected to vote on the measure before mid-June.