A long, polished conference table made of warm oak stretches across a modern faculty meeting room, covered with neatly arranged open laptops, color-coded binders, and printed contract pages spread in organized clusters. In the background, tall windows reveal a sunlit California campus with trees and terracotta roofs. Soft afternoon natural light pours in, reflecting gently off the table’s surface and highlighting the textures of paper and wood. The mood is professional, collaborative, and focused. Shot at eye level with sharp focus throughout, the photographic realism emphasizes a clean, modern aesthetic that suggests faculty union work, contract negotiation, and shared governance without showing any people or text.

Membership

Become a Member!
Joining SOCCCDFA means you have a say in what happens at the negotiating table and protections if things go wrong on the job. Members get voting rights in association elections and contract ratification, $1 million in Educators Employment Liability Insurance, legal counsel if you need it, life and AD&D insurance, and discounts on travel, entertainment, and major purchases through NEA and CTA. We also directly assist members filing contract-related grievances and work to elect Board of Trustees members who reflect faculty priorities.

Join Online (fastest way to join)

  1. Go to join.cta.org and select community college.
  2. Under “Employer/District,” choose South Orange County Co. District.
  3. Fill out the rest of the form. Your dues amount will be calculated automatically based on your employment status. 

Join by Paper Form

Prefer paper? Download and print the Membership Enrollment Form. Fill out your personal information and sign. Leave the dues amounts blank — those vary by employment status.

Once it’s filled out, send it using intercampus mail, or drop it off directly in the recipient’s mailbox:

  • At IVC: Deanna Scherger, English Department, MAILBOX INFO HERE
  • At Saddleback: Caroline Gee, Psychology Department, BGS XX

Questions about the form? Not sure how intercampus mail works? Want us to pick up the form from you? Contact Caroline Gee, Membership Chair — CGee@saddleback.edu (please put “SOCCCDFA Membership” in the subject line) or 949-582-4595.

2026–2027 Dues 

Part-Time AnnualPart-Time MonthlyFull-Time AnnualFull-Time Monthly
SOCCCDFA$100.00$10$250.00$25.00
CCA$49.50$4.95$99.00$9.90
CTA$107.90$10.79$899.00$89.90
NEA$83.50$8.35 $234.00$23.40
Total$340.90$34.09 $1,482.00$148.20

PT faculty pay $34.09 per month via automatic paycheck deductions during the 10 month calendar. PT faculty who are already a member of the union at another CA Community College will pay only the local dues: $10 per month. 

Frequently Asked Questions

I’m part-time faculty. Can I still join?
 Yes. Part-time faculty are full voting members with the same rights and protections. Dues are lower and scaled to part-time employment (see the table above). If you are already a union member at another community college, you only pay the $10 local Faculty Association dues!

I teach only 3 LHE. Do I still pay the full part-time dues?
 Yes. Dues are a flat rate for all part-time faculty since they include things like the Educator’s Employment Liability Insurance, life, and AD&D insurance.

How are dues paid?
 Dues are paid fall and spring semesters through payroll deduction once your enrollment is processed, so there’s no separate bill to keep track of. Dues are not collected over the summer, even if you’re teaching summer classes.

Can I cancel my membership later?
 Membership includes a Maintenance of Dues provision: once you join, you can only cancel during a specific window – 30 to 60 days before the anniversary of the date you signed your original enrollment form. Outside that window, dues continue automatically. Contact Caroline Gee if you need help figuring out your window.

Does joining affect my paycheck right away?
 Deductions begin once your enrollment form is processed by the District, which can take one or two pay cycles depending on timing.

What’s the difference between SOCCCDFA, CCA, CTA, and NEA dues?
 SOCCCDFA is your local association dues. CCA, CTA, and NEA are the state and national affiliates that provide additional legal protection, insurance, and legislative advocacy. These state and national educational associations give us resources and legal leverage that a local group wouldn’t have. In addition, they are working for fair practices in higher education at the state and federal level. Your membership includes all of them together.

How do I add beneficiaries for my CTA life and NEA D&D
Deductions begin once your enrollment form is processed by the District, which can take one or two pay cycles depending on timing.

I’m new faculty – when should I join?
 As soon as you’re hired – there’s no waiting period. Joining early means your first negotiations and elections as faculty are ones you actually get to vote in, and it also means your liability insurance coverage starts with your very first class. 

Questions?

Contact Caroline Gee, Membership Chair 

 CGee@saddleback.edu (subject line: “SOCCCDFA Membership”) 

949-582-4595