Lecture to Lab Hours
The Texas Association of Schools of Art survey indicates there is a history, and growing movement to compensate instructional lab and lecture hours equally at 1:1. The larger Texas community colleges located close to metro areas seem to be the most likely to compensate equally (Alamo District, Dallas Community College District, Lone Star District, College of the Mainland, Trinity Valley, Houston Community College District, Texas State Technical College, Tarrant County
District). There are other, mostly smaller colleges that compensate at .5, .67, .75 and .83 so it is not consistent.
The Affordable Care Act and new changes to TRS was said to have supported the 2014 Houston Community College change in how they compensate lab/studio hours.
Employment measured in semester or course hours or credits, instructional units, or any other unit representing class or instructional time is to be converted to clock hours and counted as a minimum of two clock hours for each clock hour of instruction in the classroom or lab. This reflects instructional time as well as preparation, grading, and other time typically associated with one hour of instruction. If the employer has established a greater amount of preparation time for each hour in the classroom or lab, the employer’s standard will be used to determine the number of clock hours scheduled for work.
Texas Administrative Code
Title 34, Part 3, Chapter 25, Subchapter A, Rule 25.1
(d) For purposes of subsection (a) of this section, full-‐time service is employment that is usually 40 clock hours per week. If the TRS-‐covered employer has established a lesser requirement for full-‐time employment for specified positions that is not substantially less than 40 hours per week, full-‐time service includes employment in those positions. In no event may full-‐time employment require less than 30 hoursper week.
i) For purposes of this section, employment in institutions of higher education (including community and junior colleges) as an instructor of classes taken by students for college credit that is measured or expressed in terms of the number of courses; semester or course hours/credits; instructional units; or other units of time representing class or instructional time must be converted to clock hours and counted as a minimum of two clock hours for each clock hour of instruction or time in the classroom or lab in order to reflect instructional time as well as preparation, grading, and other time typically associated with one hour of instruction. If the employer has established a greater amount of preparation time for each hour in the classroom or lab, the employer's standard will be used to determine the number of clock hours scheduled for work. Employment as an instructor of an on‐line class taken by students for college credit that is measured or expressed in terms of the number of courses; semester or course hours/credits; instructional units; or other units of time representing class or instructional time must be counted as a minimum of two clock hours for each course hour or semester hour. Employment as an instructor of continuing education, adult education, and/or classes offered to employers or businesses for employee training, that is not measured or expressed in terms of the number of courses; semester or course hours/credits; or instructional units or other units of time rather than clock hours and for which the students/participants do not receive college credit must be considered for membership based on the number of clock hours worked.