Nearly two years after adjunct professors at Champlain College voted to unionize, they have signed their first contract with school. 

The three-year contract between the Service Employees International Union and Champlain College increases pay for part-time professors and gives them access to a professional-development fund.

Laurie Quinn, the provost and chief academic officer, said in a statement: "We appreciate the constructive and deliberate dialogue that has led to this win-win result. We take pride in the fact that all Champlain faculty members are deeply committed to teaching, and this significant investment in our adjunct faculty upholds those important values."

During the union organization effort, adjunct professors told stories of struggling to make ends meet. One Champlain professor said she relied on food stamps during the summer months. 


This academic year, the new minimum pay rates for teaching a three-credit course will increase from $3,499 to $3,825. The pay rates for senior adjuncts will increase from about $3,600 to between $4,100 and $4,200. Both rates will increase again by 2.5 percent in 2017 and 2 percent in 2018.

The college also agreed to set aside $10,000 for professional development for adjuncts in fiscal year 2017 and to increase the amount to $20,000 by fiscal year 2019.