Working Poor Profs
Recognize the faculty majority makes up a large portion of the "working poor" and work to cause universities and colleges to stop under paying and under employing part time faculty.
26 votes
I disagreeRecognize the faculty majority makes up a large portion of the "working poor" and work to cause universities and colleges to stop under paying and under employing part time faculty.
41 votes
I disagreeAdjunct faculty compose more than 70% of the faculty at community colleges, yet because they are typically considered 'contractors', they do not receive even the minimum labor law protection that a McDonald's employee gets. Adjuncts do not have minimum wage protections. Adjuncts do not have discrimination protections. Adjuncts do not have safe working environment protections. Adjuncts do not have overtime protections ...more »
Adjunct faculty compose more than 70% of the faculty at community colleges, yet because they are typically considered 'contractors', they do not receive even the minimum labor law protection that a McDonald's employee gets. Adjuncts do not have minimum wage protections. Adjuncts do not have discrimination protections. Adjuncts do not have safe working environment protections. Adjuncts do not have overtime protections or even protection from working a 7 day work week. Adjuncts can be fired for any reason including those prohibited by law for most other employees and do not receive unemployment insurance. Adjuncts even have to pay their own social security!
And these are the people teaching our next generation. Isn't it time we at least give them the minimum of labor law protections?
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26 votes
I disagreeThough it is true that many states exploit their part-time faculty and that more and more FT positions are being replaced with adjuncts because they are cheaper, there is also little incentive for PT faculty to become involved in governance. And because so many of us are "freeway flyers," there is also little time for governance participation, scholarship, or other activities that often lead to full-time positions. Rather ...more »
Though it is true that many states exploit their part-time faculty and that more and more FT positions are being replaced with adjuncts because they are cheaper, there is also little incentive for PT faculty to become involved in governance. And because so many of us are "freeway flyers," there is also little time for governance participation, scholarship, or other activities that often lead to full-time positions. Rather than allowing the administrators of community colleges to continue to exploit their part-time faculty, there should be a federal mandate for community colleges to develop pathways to full-time employment for those part-time faculty members who would choose a full-time teaching career. Colleges should be required to limit the percentage of faculty who are part-time so that all faculty can more effectively serve their students.
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54 votes
I disagreePlease include the voices of some of the nearly 1 million adjunct & contingent faculty who teach on American college and university campuses. How can you have a serious discussion without including the ever-marginalized contingent faculty upon whom the community college system depends for its very survival? It's insulting that these important stakeholders are being left out of the conversation.
23 votes
I disagreeI'd like a session on how part-time (contingent) faculty fit with the organized labor ("union") structure in the various states.