Tuesday Talk: Benefits, PD Funding, and Upcoming Events

TUESDAY TALK 

Dear Colleagues: 

Week two of the spring semester is in full swing and we are experiencing some rain in the Bay Area–stay safe out there! 

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PART-TIME FACULTY BENEFITS 

Open Enrollment for Part-Time faculty began 1/31/25 and ends on Friday, 2/7/25. 

During this window, eligible part-time faculty may enroll in health insurance plans through 4CD or make changes to existing plans. 

Coverage will begin (and changes will go into effect) February 1, 2025, even if you enroll after that date (but before the open-enrollment deadline of February 7, 2025). 

Contact Info: benefits@4cd.edu 

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LOCAL (SITE) PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FUNDS MATCHED BY 4CD 

Starting this semester, any faculty member who receives PD funding through their local college process may request matching funds from the District. Matching funds will be offered up to, and not exceed, the amount needed for the activity. 

For example, if a faculty member plans to attend a conference that will cost $1500, including travel expenses, and LMC agrees to allocate $1000, this faculty member can apply for funds from the DO, up to another $500. They can’t ask for a full “match” of $1000, because that would mean they would get $2000 for a $1500 expense. But if the conference costs $3000, they could get up to $1000 from the DO (matching LMC’s $1000). 

Contact Jeffrey Michels (jmichels@4cd.edu) once approved for PD funding from your college to apply. 

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UPDATES FROM FACULTY ASSOCIATION FOR CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY COLLEGES (FACCC) 

CCC, DVC, and LMC students and faculty will attend the FACCC Advocacy & Policy Conference February 23 & 24 in Sacramento. 

This year’s theme: Equity-Driven Leadership: Empowering Faculty and Students in Community Colleges. Dr. Cecilia Rios-Aguilar, a distinguished professor and Department Chair at UCLA’s School of Education and a prominent voice in education policy and equity, will be the keynote speaker.

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UF ANNUAL BENEFITS CONFERENCE 

Our conference this year is scheduled for Friday, May 2, 2025. More information on how to register in the coming weeks. 

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THAT’S A GOOD QUESTION 

Do we have a Full-time Employee Assistance Program? Yes. 

Contra Costa Community College District is partnered with an Employee Assistance Program benefits provider: Uprise Health / Claremont. 

This EAP provider offers a network of coaches and therapists to help with stress-related issues (financial, fitness, job, family, etc.), budget or financial worries, depression and anxiety, trauma and grief, legal services, eldercare, sleep problems, and more. 

To access EAP services, any full-time employee may go to the website: 

Uprise Health / Claremont website 

The Uprise Health App will allow you to take wellbeing checks, build skills personally and professionally related to wellbeing through courses and exercises, and work with health coaches to set and achieve health and wellbeing goals. Your use of the app is completely confidential and available 24/7. 

To register on either platform, create an account using our District’s access code: contracosta (must be all lowercase) 

If you prefer to speak directly to an Uprise Health / Claremont Intake Specialist to access services, please call 1-800-834-3773. Intake specialists are available from 8am-5pm, but the phone-line is open 24/7 and staffed by mental health counselors. 

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UF EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETINGS 

Our first Executive Board meeting is Thursday, February 6th from 2:45-5:30. This first meeting will be hybrid meeting in L218 at DVC, located in the Library. 

We welcome public comments from 2:45-2:55 and attendance for the first part of our meeting. Please join us to make a public comment and / or to hear about what is going on during our general session time. To attend remotely, please email Lorena in the UF Office for the meeting zoom link: uf@uf4cd.org. 

And as always, if you have questions, comments, or suggestions about anything related to negotiations or working conditions, contact the UF Office at 925-680-1771 or just reply to this email. We value your input!

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In Solidarity, 

Marci Lapriore 

UF Communications Officer 

UF VP LMC 

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For Part Time issues contact: Doug Dildine 

UF Part-time Advocate 

douglas.unitedfaculty@gmail.com 

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For CCC issues contact: 

Katie Krolikowski 

UF VP CCC 

kkrolikowski@contracosta.edu 

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For LMC issues contact: Marci Lapriore 

UF VP LMC 

mlapriore@losmedanos.edu 

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For DVC issues contact: Matthew Powell 

UF VP DVC 

mpowell@dvc.edu 

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Marina Crouse 

President, United Faculty of 4CD mcrouse@dvc.edu 

Cell:510-684-4446 

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Jason Mayfield 

Executive Director 

jmayfield@dvc.edu