One-Third of College Employees Are Part-Timers, Education Dept. Reports

The proportion of part-time employees at colleges with students eligible for federal financial aid is holding steady at about one-third of the work force, according to an annual report released today by the U.S. Education Department’s statistical arm, the National Center for Education Statistics. The report, “Employees in Postsecondary Institutions, Fall 2008, and Salaries of Full-Time Instructional Faculty, 2008-09,” echoes findings in the report’s last three editions, covering 2005, 2006, and 2007. The employment data largely predate the effects of the financial crisis, so its impact on employment levels is not necessarily reflected in the report. Better salary data for the 2008-9 year have already been issued by the American Association of University Professors and the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources.