A group of part-time faculty in California filed at least five lawsuits alleging unpaid work by community colleges, arguing they were not compensated for duties performed outside classroom hours. Plaintiffs cited preparation, travel to different campuses, grading, and ongoing student communication. The lawsuits target the California Community Colleges Board of Governors and multiple district employers, following an $18 million settlement between adjunct faculty and the Long Beach Community College District over similar claims. System data cited by reporting indicates more than two-thirds of academic employees in the California Community Colleges system are temporary or part-time. The allegations point to a recurring staffing and compliance challenge across two-year institutions: adjuncts can perform work that functions like full-time responsibilities while being paid under short-term contracts with limited benefits compensation. If courts and settlement terms expand, districts may face higher labor costs, changes to contract structures, and new compliance requirements for how faculty work outside class is tracked and paid.