An Act establishing the public higher education contingent faculty reform pilot program

HD 2545 establishes a 3-year pilot program at three selected public Massachusetts colleges (one community college, one state university, and one UMass campus) to improve working conditions for contingent faculty - part-time instructors paid per course without tenure-track status. The program tests specific reforms including two career advancement tiers with clear promotion paths, earlier course assignments, shared office space, and limited benefits like pro-rated health insurance for those teaching 50%+ of full-time load. Each participating institution must provide 25% matching funds and share implementation findings, while an oversight committee evaluates metrics like faculty retention, cost impacts, and scalability. The pilot, funded initially with up to $2 million annually, concludes with final recommendations by December 2027.