LCCEA Labor Negotiation Frequently Asked Questions

Lane Community College and the Lane Community College Education Association, which represents our faculty, have been working to negotiate a new contract since spring 2025 - this includes an agreed upon hiatus during the summer months when faculty are not on contract and unavailable. The two sides have met fifteen times and have reached tentative agreement on a number of issues. There are still some topics to resolve and the teams are scheduled to enter mediation on February 12, 2026. Mediation brings a neutral third party to help bridge remaining differences, and it is a standard productive step in the bargaining process. Parties must remain in the mediation stage for at least fifteen days but the stage can continue beyond that with agreement from both sides.

The proposals would add approximately $13 million in new annual ongoing costs to a $110 million annual budget at a time when the college is planning for $8 million in reductions to stabilize operations. Accepting those costs without sustainable funding would jeopardize student access, programs, and long-term institutional health.

On average, full-time faculty at LCC earn approximately $65.59 per hour for a total number of annual working hours of 1396 compared to 2180 annual hours for other full-time employees at the college, reflecting their professional expertise and experience. At the same time, we recognize ongoing concerns - particularly among part-time faculty - and are committed to addressing those concerns responsibly within our fiscal limitations.

Yes. LCC has remained actively engaged at the bargaining table, exchanged a number of proposals across a broad range of issues, and has reached multiple tentative agreements with our association. The college remains committed to the bargaining process focusing on achievable, sustainable outcomes. LCC believes that a fiscally responsible contract is in the long-term interest of students, faculty, and the community, and is committed to remaining at the table to understand the faculty association’s priorities for the limited available resources. To learn more about the college’s budget and financial position visit: www.lanecc.edu/budgetsustainability.

No. LCC continues to work toward a negotiated agreement and hopes the association will continue engaging productively to prioritize issues that can be resolved within existing financial constraints. That said, the college recognizes the association’s right to protected activities and is prepared to support students in the continued progression of their academic goals.

One-time funds cannot responsibly support ongoing expenses such as salaries and benefits. The Board-approved mitigation plan is specifically designed to rebuild reserves to protect the college during economic downturns, not to create future structural deficits. To learn more about the college’s financial position please visit: www.lanecc.edu/bugdetsustainability

Absolutely not. The college’s proposals are grounded in the need to clearly define what constitutes a full-time instructional load while allowing for the efficient and effective use of staff resources. Given the wide variation in course credit, instructional modalities, lab and lecture combinations, and non-teaching responsibilities, workload discussions have focused on flexibility-NOT compulsion. The intent is to balance equitable workload expectations with operational realities of scheduling, student demand, and program requirements. The most recent college proposal aligns with the association’s defined 45 Teaching Load Credit (TLC) hours per year as the 1.0 FTE standard. The college proposal allows for clarity around faculty options for when a member’s TLC falls below 44 TLCs including voluntarily electing to take an additional course with overload pay beyond 45 annual TLCs or accept non-teaching work that reaches the equivalent of 45 TLCs or a full 1.0 FTE.

The college proposed and has reached a tentative agreement on paid personal leave for part-time faculty that is aligned with long-standing past practice. The language allows for greater flexibility in part-time faculty use of leave. While the association has proposed additional paid days and holidays, those proposals are still under negotiation as they would add ongoing, unfunded costs that exceed the college’s current financial capacity and would have to be offset with other economic considerations within the total contact package.

No. The college remains committed to cultural competency professional development as procedures and reporting mechanisms are well established. This inaccurate representation likely stems from an expired MOA that addresses the training and references management requirements. Ultimately, it is the college’s position that the faculty contract isn’t the appropriate place to capture other employee groups. This is in alignment to our shared goals of a clearer and cleaner contract for all.

Final authority to approve a collective bargaining agreement, on behalf of Lane Community College rests with the elected Board of Education. While the college’s bargaining team - of administration and supported by legal counsel - conducts negotiations with the faculty association on behalf of the Board, any tentative agreement reached at the table is not final or binding until it is formally approved by the Board in a public meeting. This governance structure is required under Oregon law and ensures that elected trustees are accountable for decisions that carry long-term financial, legal, and institutional implications for the college. Likewise, the faculty agreement is subject to ratification by the association’s membership before it can take effect.

Faculty have the legal right to engage in a work stoppage, based on very specific topics such as wages, if they and the college are unable to reach an agreement following a series of formal steps (such as mediation sessions which will begin February 12, 2026). That decision belongs to the faculty and the college respects that right. What the college wants you to know is this: regardless of what happens, Lane Community College is unwavering in its commitment to your academic success. While we remain committed to negotiating with the faculty bargaining team to understand their priorities for the limited resources available within our operating budget, we are actively planning for every scenario so that your academic progress is protected to the greatest extent possible. We will tell you what we know, when we know it.

Protecting your path to graduation is one of the college’s highest priorities right now. If a work stoppage occurs, the college is exploring multiple ways to keep you moving forward. This includes looking at alternative methods of instruction delivery, assessing the possibility of extending deadlines, and conferring credit where appropriate based on the work you have already completed. All of this would be dependent upon the timing of any faculty action. Every student’s situation is different. If your timeline is at risk, advising staff will work with you to identify the best path forward. The college is committed to supporting your needs through the many means that are available.

While we are committed to continuing to negotiate a fair contract that both meets the priorities of the faculty association within the constraints of our existing budget, the college administration is actively exploring alternatives for instruction delivery so that learning can continue. We are also assessing options for extending deadlines and conferring credit depending on the circumstances and timing of the work stoppage. The specific measures that are put into place will depend on when and how the events unfold, but the college is preparing now so that we can act quickly on your behalf. We are committed to supporting students through as many means possible. That commitment does not change regardless of the outcome of negotiations.

The college team continues to bargain in good faith throughout the process. We have attended every schedule session, reached tentative agreements on multiple contract articles and memorandums of agreements and are committed to the upcoming mediation sessions. Our goal is a contract that is fair to faculty and financially sustainable for the institution because that kind of stability is ultimately what serves students best over the long term. Whether the faculty choose to engage in a work stoppage is their right to decide. The college cannot control that decision, but we can and will be ready to support you if it happens.

We understand that clinical, experiential and placement components often have rigid scheduling requirements tied to various certification, licensure and program accreditation standards. These programs are a specific focus of our planning. We are working to identify options that protect your ability to complete required components. If you have concerns about your specific program, reach out to your advisor now. We want to hear from you so we can make sure your situation is on our radar.

We will communicate through official LCC channels, including your student email, the LCC website and moodle. If anything changes in a way that affects your coursework or schedule, you will hear from us directly as soon as possible. Please check your LCC email regularly. If you have questions in the meantime, your academic advisor is the best place to start.

The college is aware of these important concerns, and we are working with the financial aid office now to prepare for all possibilities. If a faculty work stoppage does occur, we will communicate any relevant information about your financial aid and enrollment status as quickly as we can. It is important to note that Oregon labor law has a very clear timeline on labor negotiations and no work stoppage could occur this term. If you have specific concerns about your aid package or your enrollment, please contact the financial aid office directly so they can support your situation.

Yes, Lane Community College, like many other public institutions and colleges in Oregon, is navigating a challenging financial environment. We remain committed to responsible stewardship of public funds while continuing to invest in the programs and services that matter to students. Negotiations of this scope take time because both sides are working through a large number of issues, and reaching agreement that lasts requires careful, thorough discussion. The college team believes that a fiscally responsible contract is in the long-term best interest of students, faculty and the community. You can learn more about the college’s budget and financial position on the LCC website at www.lanecc.edu/budgetsustainability

Lane Community College’s counseling and mental health services remain available to you. If this situation is causing you stress, please do not hesitate to reach out. Your well-being matters to us, and we want to make sure you have the support you need, no matter what is happening with negotiations.