Community College District Settles With Adjuncts

The Long Beach Community College District agreed to pay $18 million to settle a class action lawsuit brought by adjunct professors, EdSource reported. The lawsuit argued part-time professors in the district weren’t compensated for hours of work outside the classroom, including grading assignments, preparing lessons and meeting with students.

“Resolving this matter allows the District to avoid prolonged litigation and manage risk responsibly, consistent with standard practices across public higher education,” Stacey Toda, a spokesperson for the district, wrote in a statement to The Long Beach Post.

Although the district board agreed to the settlement last month, the deal still needs approval from Judge Stuart Rice, who’s overseeing the case. A hearing is scheduled for July. But Rice seems likely to sign off. He ruled last year that adjuncts should receive pay for their work outside class and that there was a “myriad of problems” with the district’s argument to the contrary. But he stayed the decision pending further proceedings, so it didn’t take immediate effect.

Eileen B. Goldsmith, the plaintiffs’ lawyer, wrote in a court filing that the proposed settlement would result in 1,456 adjuncts receiving more than $11,000 each.