Adjunct Issues
By G.S. Enns, posted 23 September 2006
Reprinted from the ECCTYC Newletter by Shant Shahoian.
Erik Fritz, an adjunct instructor and co-director at ECCTYC, delivered a report on the harrowing plight of adjuncts. While the faint glimmer of a pay raise is on the horizon, all is not gold. Adjuncts are still not compensated regularly or consistently for office hours, and they generally report feeling disconnected, disorganized, and uninvolved. Addressing the problem: There is no way to address the problem. Just kidding. But that’s probably how most part-timers (a.k.a. freeway flyers, campus jugglers, portable office holders) feel. There is something we can all do. The next time your union representatives ask for feedback, tell them to address the issue of pro rata pay for part-time instructors first. We cannot ignite in our students a reverence for equality and justice when the adjuncts are clearly exploited. Also, we should all be communicating with others about this issue.
comments on "Adjunct Issues"
Comment left by Susan Yonker 833 days ago
Speaking from my own experience, I think it is very important for part-timers themselves to join and become involved in their faculty unions. Of course, it's hard to do when you're constantly racing between campuses, but not only does becoming involved give part-timers a direct line of communication with their union reps, who negotiate contracts, but it is also a great way to find that often missing sense of connection.Of course, there is also the whole power in numbers thing, and get all the part-timers together, and you'd have a pretty intimidating number!
Comment left by David Moton 804 days ago
I was lucky enough to get a full time job fresh out of Grad School, so I never fully felt the struggle of being an adjunct. However, I was chair of English at BC last year, and I was rather shocked at how poorly they were treated. They get no union representation, no seniority, and with our school, not even a contract. We can just hire and fire them at will. I fear however that things are only going to get worse. The growing trend is for MORE part timers and fewer full timers at most colleges. Why pay someone full benefits and all the extra dough, when they can just pay them "academic minimum wage." I think Gary said it best, though--"We cannot ignite in our students a reverence for equality and justice when the adjuncts are clearly exploited."