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[tenured_feminist]

Recent posts in this forum really raise this issue. Obviously the answer will vary tremendously based on your individual financial situation and your personality. But under what circumstances is it time to give up on teaching in post-graduate education and figure out something else as a primary career?

I know people who've stayed in adjuncting for decades and been increasingly bitter, angry, depressed, and anxious, who probably would have been better off stopping. But I also know people who adjuncted for a very long time fairly happily, enjoying the flexibility to teach or not teach as they wanted. I know a few people who adjuncted for long periods and then ended up on the tenure track. I know more people who adjuncted and then ended up working for the university in another capacity, usually administrative -- some of these folks are happy where they are and others are still unhappy that the tenure-track dream never came true.

If you've been adjuncting for more than five years, why do you stay? Are you satisfied? And what would make you leave?

[hrvatski18]

I think the best answer is:  when you realize that you just don't like adjuncting anymore, for whatever reason.   Then it's time to go, or at least take a break.

[dr_dre]

A colleague of mine has been adjuncting at the same school for over 20 years. She is quite happy there, and has seniority enough that she always teaches at least four and sometimes six courses per semester. She also teaches at other area institutions, such as museums and community centers. She wanted to spend her life in the region.

If I don't find a TT position before my degree turns stale, I don't plan to continue to adjunct. I enjoy teaching, but not to the extent that I would pursue it permanently as a part-time, low-paid position.

[mathguy]

Hmm....interesting question. I know of colleagues who have adjuncted for decades, some who are bitter and some who have survived relatively intact. I am an adjunct with a Ph.D. and have been in it for some years. Based on my observations/experiences, here are some of my thoughts:

1. Unless a person has a compelling reason to stay in academia as an adjunct, s(he) should move onto better career prospects. A person (thinking that a TT-track job will someday arrive) will more than likely become dissappointed and bitter, as the years roll on with no tenure-track job offers in sight.

2. The adjunct should realize that the department/adjunct relationship is one-directional. That is, loyalty is often shown from the adjunct towards the department, but not the other way around. This type of relationship is more parasitic than symbiotic. Adjuncts are used as cheap labor (and are hired/fired at will).

3. If the adjunct does not continue to grow as a scholar in his/her discipline (research, conferences, professional development), I don't think that a person will be able to make adjuncting as a long-term career.

4. This may sound very selfish....however, as for myself....since I get paid to teach, I teach. I do nothing more for the department unless there is something in it for me. I don't go to time-wasting meetings (which often reduce to argument about worthless issues), I don't organize colloquia, etc. I essentially fly 'under the radar' and do my own thing. I continue to publish research, go to conferences to present papers, and network with colleagues. I freely use all of the departmental resources available to me (travel money, office supplies, computers, etc.) Every year which passes, I accrue service credit for my pension and I use my health benefits.

5. The continued reliance on contigent faculty (temporary, non-tenure track, part-time, adjunct, etc.) in the academy will NOT change in the foreseeable future. The way that they are treated (as a whole) may or may not change, via union negotiations and labor laws. However one thing which is clear is that the increasing use of contingent faculty in the academy is an INDIRECT attack on the tenure system. Administrators would love to abolish the tenure system and have everybody be contingent faculty. This would give them 'hire and fire at will' power. Perhaps in a generation or so, there will be no tenure system within the academy.

6. Since an adjunct (or anybody, for that matter) has one chance to live life, there is no point in throwing a 'self-pity' party. Weigh the pros/cons and make a decision. After some time has passed, weigh the pros/cons and make a decision....repeat.

7. I should say that in my case, I think that I have been more productive as a lecturer than I could ever have been in a TT-track position. Perhaps this is just rationalization on my part. However, currently my CV far surpasses the CV's of some my tenured (deadwood) colleagues....and this pleases me to no end.

Recent posts in this forum really raise this issue. Obviously the answer will vary tremendously based on your individual financial situation and your personality. But under what circumstances is it time to give up on teaching in post-graduate education and figure out something else as a primary career?

I know people who've stayed in adjuncting for decades and been increasingly bitter, angry, depressed, and anxious, who probably would have been better off stopping. But I also know people who adjuncted for a very long time fairly happily, enjoying the flexibility to teach or not teach as they wanted. I know a few people who adjuncted for long periods and then ended up on the tenure track. I know more people who adjuncted and then ended up working for the university in another capacity, usually administrative -- some of these folks are happy where they are and others are still unhappy that the tenure-track dream never came true.

If you've been adjuncting for more than five years, why do you stay? Are you satisfied? And what would make you leave?

[watermarkup]

If my profession has no full-time position for me, it's time for me to move on. I would adjunct part-time for one semester to give me the best possible CV for one last shot at the job market. After that, though, it's time to go.

[patchouli]

OP, great question.

Like you and others, I have known those who have been adjuncting for close to twenty years, some bitter, some not.  I couldn't personally fathom doing that.  I have also seen adjuncts not get rehired after years of service.  This also happens with regularity to new adjuncts.  Like Mathguy below, I see this reliance on adjuncts as an indirect attack on the tenure system.  The highly competitive nature of the academic job market also contributes to the problems in adjuncting and teaching in higher ed. 

In my experience working at different non-academic jobs before gaining my degrees, it has been in the university/college system where I see the most fear among employees (faculty) about speaking out or moving on.  At a low-level no-degree job, leaving a poorly-paid job to find another better-paying job is not so difficult as one has not invested years of preparation into training and study for that position.  Even working at a mid-level job with education, moving to another corporation/state is not such an impossible dream.  Fast forward to the higher education world where a newly placed tt-track professor, one who has spent years investing in this one position, and the fear of leaving or speaking out is palpable.  That fear keeps things as they are, as no one wants to be "the one" to speak out about problems in the system.  That, to me, seems in direct contradiction to the university and its mission.

As to when to leave as an adjunct, it depends on why one is teaching.  If one is very young and has years to practice and hone one's craft, or if one's SO makes the major income, or if one is making additional income while raising a family, it might not matter so much about getting that tt position.  I know a few adjunct colleagues in these situations.

If, however, the tt-track with its security, benefits, and recognition have been part of one's goal and after years of adjuncting those appear to be unattainable, I would consider going into industry or another profession.  That was my plan.

When adjunct teaching, I gave myself over five years, but under ten, to get it together; after that, I would have walked away into another profession, in industry, and had begun making plans to do that very thing the year prior to my being hired on the tt-track.

 
5. The continued reliance on contigent faculty (temporary, non-tenure track, part-time, adjunct, etc.) in the academy will NOT change in the foreseeable future. The way that they are treated (as a whole) may or may not change, via union negotiations and labor laws. However one thing which is clear is that the increasing use of contingent faculty in the academy is an INDIRECT attack on the tenure system. Administrators would love to abolish the tenure system and have everybody be contingent faculty. This would give them 'hire and fire at will' power. Perhaps in a generation or so, there will be no tenure system within the academy.

[dr_stones]

When your personal life, relationships, and well-being start to suffer, it is time to change things.

Martyrs are admired, but they are lousy company.

[marcbousquet]

I think this is going to be a really fruitful line of discussion. Anyone who would like to tell their story on video should please contact me at pmbousquet (at) gmail (dot) com. See the project at http://howtheuniversityworks.com or at the "How the University Works" youtube channel: http://www.youtube.com/MarcBousquet

If you are passing through the San Francisco Bay area, I can meet you for a 30-minute interview: I can also edit video that you shoot and mail/email to me. I can loan you a camera or consult with you about buying a web-suitable cam/tripod for $120.  Solidarity, M

[mathguy]

M,


I went to your website to find out more about your project(s). Indeed, it seems like you are doing good things in getting the 'story' told about the condition of the Academy.

However, you must also realize that adjuncts do not enjoy academic freedom and the security of tenure. While I applaud the brave men/women adjuncts who are willing to 'go public', I cannot take that type of risk. Were I to speak my mind in such a public venue, I would probably lose my job.

Unfortunately, contingent faculty are playing a game with the Academy, where the rules are heavily biased against the adjunct. However, I am very good at playing games (board games, as well as real-life games) and I play to win. I'll continue to fly in 'stealth-mode' while working in the Academy, and use all of the resources available to me (within the Academy) while giving the minimum (I get paid to teach, so I teach) back. I don't want to do this. However, the Academy does not care, so why should I?

Good luck with your projects and I wish you the best.


Mathguy

I think this is going to be a really fruitful line of discussion. Anyone who would like to tell their story on video should please contact me at pmbousquet (at) gmail (dot) com. See the project at http://howtheuniversityworks.com or at the "How the University Works" youtube channel: http://www.youtube.com/MarcBousquet

If you are passing through the San Francisco Bay area, I can meet you for a 30-minute interview: I can also edit video that you shoot and mail/email to me. I can loan you a camera or consult with you about buying a web-suitable cam/tripod for $120.  Solidarity, M

[categorical]

Unfortunately, contingent faculty are playing a game with the Academy, where the rules are heavily biased against the adjunct. However, I am very good at playing games (board games, as well as real-life games) and I play to win. I'll continue to fly in 'stealth-mode' while working in the Academy, and use all of the resources available to me (within the Academy) while giving the minimum (I get paid to teach, so I teach) back. I don't want to do this. However, the Academy does not care, so why should I?

Mathguy voices an important point here about "care" and its relation to adjuncting.  Many adjuncts, I think, quite rightly feel as if their employers don't care about them or their work.  This might be the most corrosive thing about adjuncting, since "not caring" does seem contagious. 

I think that "not caring" on the adjunct side needs to be very forcefully managed, though.  If it's fully embraced by the adjunct, it can't help but negatively affect the adjunct's teaching and perhaps even the prospects for a full-time position.

[mathguy]

categorical,


Interesting point that you have made and I agree with you. If an adjunct takes the 'stop caring' to an extreme level, then s(he) is doing great damage and should leave the Academy.

I guess one of my earlier remarks can best be illustrated in the following way: Have you ever had a student in your class who was very bright, but really did not care to put much energy/effort into the class? Namely, a student who could easily get an A, but just does enough to get a B or C?


Mathguy

Unfortunately, contingent faculty are playing a game with the Academy, where the rules are heavily biased against the adjunct. However, I am very good at playing games (board games, as well as real-life games) and I play to win. I'll continue to fly in 'stealth-mode' while working in the Academy, and use all of the resources available to me (within the Academy) while giving the minimum (I get paid to teach, so I teach) back. I don't want to do this. However, the Academy does not care, so why should I?

Mathguy voices an important point here about "care" and its relation to adjuncting.  Many adjuncts, I think, quite rightly feel as if their employers don't care about them or their work.  This might be the most corrosive thing about adjuncting, since "not caring" does seem contagious. 

I think that "not caring" on the adjunct side needs to be very forcefully managed, though.  If it's fully embraced by the adjunct, it can't help but negatively affect the adjunct's teaching and perhaps even the prospects for a full-time position.

[cat_on_track]

I know a few people who adjuncted for long periods and then ended up on the tenure track.

That's me; thirteen years, initially adjunct, mostly VAP (12 years of this at same school). Reason: joint custody. Couldn't leave for a real job with the kittens, wouldn't leave without them. Ex-hubby got the 5-minute commute, the good pay, and the real career, I got the over-an-hour commute, lousy pay, and stagnating career. Bitter, moi? But the miracle did happen: when I could finally look, NewSchool was looking, too - I like the match!

[lotsoquestions]

Thank you, cat.  You've given me hope.  I, too, am hanging around, believing the assurances that eventually a more permanent arrangement can be found at the institution which is fifteen minutes from my house, where I like the poeple and the values, in the city where my husband is employed and my children are unbelievably happy.  I, too, will not look elsewhere until my children are older or perhaps even gone on to university themselves.  Though I still read the ads all the time  and fantasize about teaching at a teaching college in the middle of nowhere (with a really low cost of living). 

[tenured_feminist]

If you are thinking to get on the TT after a long time, just be aware that it's no Cinderella story where the fairy godmother comes along and waves a wand and lo and behold your noble prince-of-a-university realizes that your foot fits the glass slipper.

The adjunct Cinderella version would be more like where Cinderella wove the ball gown herself, taught herself to make ball shoes, went to seminars to learn all the fancy ball steps, and then trounced the other 100 princesses at the ball by being better looking, a superior conversationalist, more stylishly dressed, a better dancer, and sporting at least one stellar letter of recommendation from a prince in another realm.

In the couple of instances I have seen where this has worked out, the successful adjunct has been a take-no-prisoners relentless worker who was able to prevail clearly in a national search. One person came in on the TT with a research record that was tenurable, finally getting the entry-level position over an ABD candidate and a newly minted. And having been on that committee, I can tell you that it was still uphill every damn step of the way.

[mathguy]

I absolutely concur with tenured_feminist's assessment.


Mathguy

If you are thinking to get on the TT after a long time, just be aware that it's no Cinderella story where the fairy godmother comes along and waves a wand and lo and behold your noble prince-of-a-university realizes that your foot fits the glass slipper.

The adjunct Cinderella version would be more like where Cinderella wove the ball gown herself, taught herself to make ball shoes, went to seminars to learn all the fancy ball steps, and then trounced the other 100 princesses at the ball by being better looking, a superior conversationalist, more stylishly dressed, a better dancer, and sporting at least one stellar letter of recommendation from a prince in another realm.

In the couple of instances I have seen where this has worked out, the successful adjunct has been a take-no-prisoners relentless worker who was able to prevail clearly in a national search. One person came in on the TT with a research record that was tenurable, finally getting the entry-level position over an ABD candidate and a newly minted. And having been on that committee, I can tell you that it was still uphill every damn step of the way.