Friday, June 13, 2025
The faculty union at Nassau Community College announced on May 14 that it would take legal action against the college administration for refusing to submit faculty tenure and promotion recommendations to the Board of Trustees, a move the union claims violates the current collective bargaining agreement.
At a press conference held inside the Nassau County Legislature Building, Acting Nassau Community College Federation of Teachers President David Stern accused college leadership of disregarding established rules and breaching contractual obligations.
“NCC thinks the rules no longer apply to them,” Stern said. “They think they can say one thing and do another. That ends now.”
More than 15 faculty members were recommended for tenure and promotion by their respective committees in February and March. Stern said the union’s legal counsel had sent a letter to the college administration earlier that day, demanding that the college follow through on the recommendations made by committees composed of faculty and administrators. He called the administration’s failure to advance those recommendations to the board “unprecedented.”
“The issue is simple,” Stern said. “A committee of faculty, including an administrator, recommended tenure and promotions to a number of hardworking, dedicated professors who have labored here for years. NCC not only violated the terms of our contract, it demonstrates an arrogance and disrespect that we have long endured.”
Stern specifically named Chief Administrative Officer Maria Conzatti, accusing her of refusing to meet with union representatives or bring the recommendations to the Board of Trustees.
“The arrogance begins with Maria Conzatti… who has refused to meet with us, let alone address the concerns in good faith,” Stern said. “She has refused to present these committee recommendations to the Board of Trustees.”
In response, Jerry Kornbluth, vice president of community and governmental relations at NCC, defended the administration’s stance. He told the Herald in a previous interview that promotions, sabbaticals, and tenure decisions “don’t take effect until the fall of 2025 — under the new contract,” adding that discussions about the next agreement must begin before such actions can move forward.
In a recent interview, Kornbluth reiterated these comments, explaining that Conzatti presented recommendations for sabbaticals at a Board of Trustees meeting held the following day. He added that promotions and tenure recommendations would be addressed in June.
Kornbluth explained that the delay in promotions and tenure appointments is due to an ongoing investigation into “potential irregularities on the promotion process,” but did not elaborate on the specifics of the investigation.
However, Stern argued that the current contract remains in effect until August 31 and that the administration is obligated to act on recommendations that have already been vetted through the formal committee process.
“That’s absolutely incorrect,” Kornbluth said in response to Stern’s argument. “This has nothing to do with the contract. This is all about trying to make Maria Conzatti and the administration look bad.”
Suzanne Kaebnick, an English professor and union secretary, said the administration’s inaction directly affects students.
“The cuts and their refusal to forward the recommendations for tenure and promotion hurt our students,” Kaebnick said. “In the nursing department, we have classes that have been unstaffed all semester.”
She added, “To not support our full-time faculty… is to say that we’re not invested in this college. That’s not fair to Nassau.”
“Faculty members are hired either temporary or probationary,” Kornbluth said. “They’re fully aware of it and it’s part of the collective bargaining agreement. After the academic affairs evaluates the courses and enrollment, there is a good possibility that someone who is terminated on this contract could be re-up in the fall.”
