untenured
On far too many committees
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« Reply #90 on: February 15, 2009, 05:59:35 PM » |
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I'll bite. That was an interesting video highlighting the concerns of many adjuncts. Videos like those can spotlight problems in academia. It also spotlights the power of collective action. I still do not conclude that all adjuncts are exploited, however. Untenured |
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You are among the Pure and Truthful, however small their Number.
My goodness, that was an exceptionally good analysis of the forum. |
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untenured
On far too many committees
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« Reply #91 on: February 15, 2009, 06:06:55 PM » |
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You are among the Pure and Truthful, however small their Number.
My goodness, that was an exceptionally good analysis of the forum. |
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educator1
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« Reply #92 on: February 16, 2009, 11:44:57 AM » |
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The first video was effective in pointing out the problems with taking non-tenure track jobs as "bridge" to something else and not realizing that it may not lead there. There is an up-front offer from a University that either makes sense to the university AND the potential employee or not.
The second video finally makes its true goal clear when he talks of a limit on the proportion of classes that can be taught by contingent faculty. Perhaps the tenure types in the AAUP are feeling the pressure that the teaching portion of their jobs can be handled (frequently better) by other alternatives and that they had better fully justify their existence by the quality and contributions of their research.
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archman
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« Reply #93 on: February 16, 2009, 03:26:51 PM » |
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According to my morning newspaper, more than one school in the broadly-defined local area allows people to teach a full load every semester as an adjunct with no long term contract. This situation made front page news this semester when several long-term adjuncts received very little notice that they would not be teaching the classes they had been teaching as a standard for several years (decades for a couple of the people mentioned in the article).
The adjuncts were extremely angry because they were not full-time faculty in terms of pay or job security, but they were teaching full-time loads (five classes a semester for one person as I recall) and living with that pay as their primary, if not sole, income. Therefore, finding out with a week or so notice that they would have no adjunct income this semester was a very bad situation for the people interviewed for the article.
Yes, this is the sort of situation where I feel adjuncts truly are being exploited. These are full-time instructors in higher education, and yet they are treated much worse than primary and secondary school teachers. For part-time adjuncting, I can see how a university can rationalize the crap pay and treatment. Full time adjuncting seems like an oxymoron. What's the functional difference between what these adjuncts are doing vs. salaried instructors, lecturers, or teaching VAP's? Contact hours for teaching are the same, yes? |
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untenured
On far too many committees
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« Reply #94 on: February 16, 2009, 10:57:01 PM » |
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These videos are both interesting and compelling. I can't imagine teaching under those conditions for so long.
Untenured
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You are among the Pure and Truthful, however small their Number.
My goodness, that was an exceptionally good analysis of the forum. |
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jonesey
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« Reply #95 on: February 17, 2009, 11:31:51 AM » |
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If someone is teaching (adjuncting) FT at a college (which is a 4/4 load or higher where I am, for example) how come they aren't entitled to medical and dental benefits, like other businesses?
IOW, if this same person were working at Target for 40 hours/week, he or she would be entitled to FT bennies (this, of course, is why many business play the "Sorry, you've only got 38 hours this week" card; to avoid being forced to offer bennies under the law).
If an adjunct is teaching a full load at one institution, it should be mandatory (under state/federal employment law) that this person be entitled to the same benefits as any other full time employee.
Of course, if this person is teaching 5 courses at several different schools, that's just the way it goes. If an adjunct is teaching a 5/5 load at one college, that person is a full time employee, in fact if not by contract.
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Jonesey, I know you're a being of sensitivity and refinement. |
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neutralname
A person without qualities, except for being a
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« Reply #96 on: February 17, 2009, 11:37:15 AM » |
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If someone is teaching (adjuncting) FT at a college (which is a 4/4 load or higher where I am, for example) how come they aren't entitled to medical and dental benefits, like other businesses?
IOW, if this same person were working at Target for 40 hours/week, he or she would be entitled to FT bennies (this, of course, is why many business play the "Sorry, you've only got 38 hours this week" card; to avoid being forced to offer bennies under the law).
If an adjunct is teaching a full load at one institution, it should be mandatory (under state/federal employment law) that this person be entitled to the same benefits as any other full time employee.
Of course, if this person is teaching 5 courses at several different schools, that's just the way it goes. If an adjunct is teaching a 5/5 load at one college, that person is a full time employee, in fact if not by contract.
Legal loopholes. At my school, adjuncts can teach no more than 3 courses per semester, and something like 9 courses per year (including summer teaching). The FT faculty official load is 4 courses per semester. So the adjuncts count as part time, though many adjuncts end up teaching more classes than FT faculty. |
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"My loathings are simple: stupidity, oppression, crime, cruelty, soft music." Vladimir Nabokov
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aneumey
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« Reply #97 on: February 17, 2009, 09:14:50 PM » |
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If someone is teaching (adjuncting) FT at a college (which is a 4/4 load or higher where I am, for example) how come they aren't entitled to medical and dental benefits, like other businesses?
IOW, if this same person were working at Target for 40 hours/week, he or she would be entitled to FT bennies (this, of course, is why many business play the "Sorry, you've only got 38 hours this week" card; to avoid being forced to offer bennies under the law).
If an adjunct is teaching a full load at one institution, it should be mandatory (under state/federal employment law) that this person be entitled to the same benefits as any other full time employee.
Of course, if this person is teaching 5 courses at several different schools, that's just the way it goes. If an adjunct is teaching a 5/5 load at one college, that person is a full time employee, in fact if not by contract.
The argument is that full time faculty members are expected to do more than teach (committee work, publish, etc.). I am not saying that really justifies the pay and benefits disparity, but I am saying that so far it is what has allowed them to get away with it legally. |
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born2late
I often times wish I had bought Grandpa's farm and stayed on the land. Instead I'm an underemployed
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 3,025
Often referred to as an "interesting individual"
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« Reply #98 on: February 17, 2009, 09:16:37 PM » |
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If someone is teaching (adjuncting) FT at a college (which is a 4/4 load or higher where I am, for example) how come they aren't entitled to medical and dental benefits, like other businesses?
IOW, if this same person were working at Target for 40 hours/week, he or she would be entitled to FT bennies (this, of course, is why many business play the "Sorry, you've only got 38 hours this week" card; to avoid being forced to offer bennies under the law).
If an adjunct is teaching a full load at one institution, it should be mandatory (under state/federal employment law) that this person be entitled to the same benefits as any other full time employee.
Of course, if this person is teaching 5 courses at several different schools, that's just the way it goes. If an adjunct is teaching a 5/5 load at one college, that person is a full time employee, in fact if not by contract.
The argument is that full time faculty members are expected to do more than teach (committee work, publish, etc.). I am not saying that really justifies the pay and benefits disparity, but I am saying that so far it is what has allowed them to get away with it legally. I would be glad to serve on a committee of some kind if it were part of a FT job. |
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"nothing says headed towards the margins of society like learning the banjo"
Quando omni flunkus moritati
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archman
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« Reply #99 on: February 18, 2009, 12:01:25 PM » |
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The argument is that full time faculty members are expected to do more than teach (committee work, publish, etc.). I am not saying that really justifies the pay and benefits disparity, but I am saying that so far it is what has allowed them to get away with it legally.
Except that argument falls apart with full-time teaching staff. Lecturers and teaching VAP's are normally hired purely for teaching. That's it. Heck, I know several lecturers that *want* to serve on useful committees (e.g. advising), but can't because of their "teaching-only" contracts. |
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« Last Edit: February 18, 2009, 12:02:11 PM by archman »
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aneumey
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« Reply #100 on: February 18, 2009, 05:29:32 PM » |
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I didn't say it was a good argument, I just said it was an often-used argument. And an argument they often get away with.
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educator1
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« Reply #101 on: February 19, 2009, 10:47:43 AM » |
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I guess that this varies significantly from institution to institution. At mine, teaching faculty who teach full-time receive full-time benefits (this is one of the reasons that I have been doing it for so long). We are still "contingent" , i.e. yearly contracts and no different from employees in most corporations.
I started out at 4/4, but have recently been cut to 3/3 for all the predictable reasons. I am still considered full time, however, and enjoy the same benefits as other full-time faculty with a lower salary and without the lifetime guarantee of tenure.
I have the ability to participate in curricular and other committees, but I am not required to do so and do not have to publish.
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runwithscissors
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« Reply #102 on: March 21, 2009, 08:00:59 PM » |
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OP: I found you a tenure track job in Film Studies (well sort of) in Nr. Ireland. Belfast is a fantastic city: http://www.jobs.ac.uk/jobs/TR552/Lecturer/Why stay in the stagnant job pool of America? |
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"Space is invisible mind dust, and stars are but wishes"
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untenured
On far too many committees
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« Reply #103 on: March 21, 2009, 08:50:38 PM » |
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OP was last active 2/15/09. Probably not coming back. Who knows tho. Untenured |
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You are among the Pure and Truthful, however small their Number.
My goodness, that was an exceptionally good analysis of the forum. |
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kamiakin
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« Reply #104 on: March 21, 2009, 10:00:06 PM » |
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Also, the OP said he was place bound. Yet still a victim.
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