“Moving back to Massachusetts after 31 years in Florida, I was shocked to find my pay so incredibly below that of my former positions, especially as Florida is known for its poor educational compensation… Why does a 35-year career professional with advanced degrees have to work endlessly throughout the week to pay bills and live a comfortable life that is so deserving after decades of professional dedication?”
My career at Bristol Community College started during the pandemic but is also a career following 35 years of educational experience as a disability specialist in the classroom, as a coach, advocate, writer, trainer, and content developer, to name a few. Moving back to Massachusetts after 31 years in Florida, I was shocked to find my pay so incredibly below that of my former positions, especially as Florida is known for its poor educational compensation. Thus, when starting my career at Bristol in 2021, I’ve had to take on 4 additional side jobs to help make ends meet (tutoring, coaching, writing, and as an adjunct at 2 other universities). To say I have been wiped out is an understatement. Why does a 35-year career professional with advanced degrees have to work endlessly throughout the week to pay bills and live a comfortable life that is so deserving after decades of professional dedication?
Now that Massachusetts has instilled MassEducate and MassReconnect programs to offer free college for Community College students, imagine the vast and ever-changing populations that are applying to attend. No longer are the days of traditional-aged students, with high school diplomas and foundational skills to successfully tackle advanced courses and programs. Now, our college works with students who haven’t attended school in decades, but are returning to better their own lives, and yet lack the quintessential skills needed for 21st-century demands. With this changing population of non-traditional students, also comes a plethora of disability-related complexities, from mental health to physical, sensory, and increasing medical issues. My work has expanded from a more common approach of discussing standard-type accommodations to now triaging students in crisis, with basic needs insecurities, and beyond. This work takes the knowledge, passion, and resilience of someone like ME! Bristol needs MY practice and consciousness!
The work I do as an accomplished and scholarly professional staff member in higher education seems to only be recognized by a grid status. It does not take into account my true expertise, research, continued education, and dedication I pour into my work. My experiences, values, and compassion working with disabled college students are niche components of higher education, yet ones that are mandated by law. Bristol needs my knowledge, persistence, and advocacy to help keep them from civil rights and OCR complaints or due processes.
I am humbly and emphatically requesting that our Massachusetts representatives and decision-makers take into account that when your government makes decisions about policies to support its residents, you will need to provide fair and equitable compensation for those who support its residents, known to us as college students! I am worthy of your consideration. My voice is worthy of your acknowledgment. My work is worthy of your compensation!
Please, do the right thing – show that you value the work of higher education professionals. Allow us to live and work in a state we love without going broke and killing ourselves from taking on multiple jobs! WE ARE WORTHY OF YOUR CONSIDERATION AND COMPENSATION!”