Let’s have fair compensation for Charter Oak State College faculty

I am a new student at Charter Oak State College. I feel that it is important to share my concern for the inequitable treatment of our faculty and to advocate for their fair compensation.

Charter Oak caters to students with diverse backgrounds — most nontraditional, some wrought with adversity and challenges — but one common thread runs through us: We are eager for a quality education that will change our lives for the better.

With its generous academic forgiveness program, flexibility to accommodate busy schedules, and wonderful advisors, my initial impression was that Charter Oak sounded too good to be true. Upon receiving access to my student account and seeing an op-ed front and center in my news feed, written by Seth Freeman, Ruth MacDonald, and Michael Starenko, reality struck: Underneath its ambitious and inspiring mission, Charter Oak conceals a profound wound inflicted upon its own faculty.

In Finland, teaching is regarded as a prestigious profession, on par with doctors and lawyers; in this country, teachers are criminally undervalued, underpaid, and exploited. Teachers play an indispensable role in shaping minds of all ages, guiding us through growth, and providing essential education across all industries. I am sure each of you can recall a teacher who was impactful and special to you. None of us made it into this room without teachers.

It is alarming that my teachers at Charter Oak will be among the lowest-paid in the country. One must first put on their own oxygen mask before assisting others. How can we expect our teachers to effectively educate and support us if they themselves are unsupported? How can we expect our teachers to pour from empty cups?

Our teachers, who have not received a raise in over a decade and are subject to an outdated pay-per-student model that sometimes places them below minimum wage, have been struggling with basic costs of living while administrators have bolstered their own paychecks. It is time for Charter Oak to rectify this imbalance by ensuring faculty receives the compensation and respect they deserve.

As a student, I urge the Board of Regents to recognize that the faculty’s working conditions are our learning conditions; their well-being directly impacts our success. We deserve teachers who can dedicate their time and energy to us without the stress of financial insecurity. A greater percentage of the budget allocated towards faculty and instruction translates into better courses, more personalized attention, and a richer academic experience for each of us. Investing in our teachers is a direct investment in us, the students.

On behalf of myself and all students at Charter Oak, I respectfully ask the Board of Regents to honor the faculty’s requests for fair compensation.

Adelie Creek is an online student at Charter Oak State College.