USF faculty are working harder than ever to provide a quality education for our students. Currently, that work involves using our own technology. California law requires employers to reimburse employees for all necessary business expenditures incurred in direct consequence of the discharge of their duties, including a reasonable percentage of internet or cell phone services. As Part-Time Faculty, many of us already struggle financially, and we all face even more difficult circumstances during COVID. We need all the assistance we can get, and we must receive the help we are legally entitled to.

USF administration has argued that the limited space available on campus exempts them from this obligation. However, requiring adjuncts to come to campus in order to access adequate internet service is in violation of the San Francisco Department of Public Health order, which requires all businesses to maximize the number of people who work remotely from home.

USF enjoys a strong reputation because of the work of its faculty. But even as we all do our best to overcome unprecedented challenges, we have been provided with minimal additional resources, technological or otherwise, and only after protracted negotiations. Just as we are doing our part, you need to do yours.

We, the undersigned faculty, staff, and USF community members, ask that USF administration provide the following:

* Reasonable compensation for all adjuncts who use their own broadband service to teach USF classes
* Continuation of internet subsidy as long as classes are offered remotely
* Automatic payment to all adjuncts using home internet, instead of a cumbersome “opt-in” process