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[seniorscholar]

You all do understand that the state appropriation for Penn State, Temple, and Pitt has been cut by fifty
percent ?  Half as much money from the state for its three leading public universities as in the current academic year? Yes, all of the schools are busy cutting non-TT lines, so that in the basic service and intro courses largely taught by non-TT faculty the class sizes will shoot up to the limit of the room size, and of course the undergrads will continue to get a wonderful education . . . just ask the governor if that isn't true.

By the way, he's also cut the funding for the public schools across the state. But refuses to put a drilling tax on the natural gas industry, while continuing to talk about how Pennsylvania will thrive by drilling (just like Texas and Alaska). Of course he has failed to notice that those two states have no individual income tax because of the amount charged to the oil and gas companies . . .

[mouse66]

Thanks, recruited. Anybody looking to hire an applied linguist with a Ph.D. from UPenn with a winning smile and a scintillating personality? Just kidding. I'm trying to keep my spirits up, as I have the next four weeks to look for some work.

[alleyoxenfree]

Somehow Bridget Jones' "smug marrieds" springs inexorably to mind, recruited.

Most married people eventually learn not to count on their chickens, even after they think they've hatched.

You may be right :)  But I hope not.

And I do sympathize with the OP. They don't have a legal case but they do have a moral one, in my opinion.  Unfortunately, its the people that lack protection of tenure or an airtight contract that take it in the shorts during times like these.  I think that "Mutual consent" clause is the killer.

In the sciences, things can get bad, but comparatively we are insulated a bit more than the humanities.  When if a University decides to get rid of me, the fact that I will take several million dollars in grant funding with me tends to give me options, whether I stay or go.

What I meant was, a) you should not be giving legal advice unless you are a lawyer, since you don't know the OP's contract and in addition, it's always classy not to gloat on a thread where someone is requesting both practical and moral support.  Also b) you are very young in your field, and also not reading the national signs, if you think that grant funding cannot also go away, sometimes very quickly, and even after it is awarded.  Or that it cannot migrate to an area where you are not eligible or the chosen child.  I know an internationally known STEM researcher in just such trouble, and no one suspects except the inner circle.  Soon, you will see hu scrambling for a post at a non-profit....but whoops, no funding there now either....or in industry, but whoops, hu's experience makes them too pricey, or too old,....or at another university, but whoops, they cannot afford the person, or don't need someone with that much attitude, or cannot arrange a spousal hire or....whatever.

For your sake, I hope you'll be eaten last, but gators can be unpredictable that way.

[recruited]

you are very young in your field, and also not reading the national signs, if you think that grant funding cannot also go away, sometimes very quickly, and even after it is awarded.

Heh.  I'm not young in my field and I do read the national signs.  But I do get what you are saying.  However, I'm 100% soft money and have been for 8 years.  I think I understand better than most the fickleness of government funding.

Frankly, if my funding gives out at Penn State, I'll still be in a much better position than if it gives out at my current institution.  Here, I'll get a kick in the ass and a (probably immediate) pink slip. 

[bioteacher]

You all do understand that the state appropriation for Penn State, Temple, and Pitt has been cut by fifty percent? Half as much money from the state for its three leading public universities as in the current academic year? Yes, all of the schools are busy cutting non-TT lines, so that in the basic service and intro courses largely taught by non-TT faculty the class sizes will shoot up to the limit of the room size, and of course the undergrads will continue to get a wonderful education . . . just ask the governor if that isn't true.

By the way, he's also cut the funding for the public schools across the state. But refuses to put a drilling tax on the natural gas industry, while continuing to talk about how Pennsylvania will thrive by drilling (just like Texas and Alaska). Of course he has failed to notice that those two states have no individual income tax because of the amount charged to the oil and gas companies . . .

Gotta love our governor. :-) He's sure shaking things up and getting things done down in Harrisburg.
Never mind that the PA legislature is still huge in proportion to other states' legislatures... and I don't see any cuts happening there anytime soon.

And I have to apologize for the existence and continued reelections of local rep to the state legislature. S/he/it is an embarrassment to many of us. Unfortunately, many others continue voting him/her/it into office. They only let me cast one vote per election, and while I often hold my nose while doing so, I do vote.  In the last election, I did what I could. But I have a "gift" for picking those who lose elections.

I wonder if the pollution of local wells will make voters sheep even easier to manipulate and control in coming years.

[daniel_von_flanagan]

From the wording in the original post it does sound like a possible breach of contract; the "mutual consent" etc language seems like it should apply after 3 years, not 2.

It is normal during financial hard times for the contingent faculty to go first, but the school should probably not offer 3 years contracts if they are not willing to honor them. - DvF

[adjunctprincipessa]

I'm so sorry for this situation, and I wish you all the best as you go forward.  It sounds like your lawyer is a good one - other lawyers might have pressed you to move forward with a case, even though you wouldn't be able to cover your costs. 

[retrenchment]

There are adjunct contracts that say something like "the completion of this contract is subject to the availability of funds." If yours doesn't say that, I think it's a three year contract.
The fact that they give two justifications for your being fired suggests to me that they know that either reason alone is weak. Both together are equally weak.
Your end of the bargain was to do good work and be available. The funding for paying you and the program needs are their concern, only.
Perhaps the NFM (New Faculty Majority) could be helpful. If you are willing to search far and wide, there may be legally trained people who would help for reduced fees, just to see a good thing happen.

[glowdart]

There are adjunct contracts that say something like "the completion of this contract is subject to the availability of funds." If yours doesn't say that, I think it's a three year contract.

"Three-year contract" can have any number of meanings.  

Consider: Among the many contracts we issue are seven-year contracts (TT) and five-year, three-year and two-year NTT contracts.  But, each person also signs a new document each and every summer which details COLA, merit raise and any other new temporary administrative duties and compensation.  Each person can be non-renewed at any point during those contracts. But they have a 7, 5, 3, or 2 year long contract.  

The school's commitment to the person ends at the end of the 7,5,3 or 2-year contract, but that doesn't mean that the commitment is bound to continue through that entire time.  This is where the individual language in the contract(s) becomes crucial.    

Thus, the fact that the OP has a "three-year contract" may be utterly irrelevant in the face of the rest of the language in his/her documents and any annual documents that s/he might sign.  As DvF points out, the mutual consent clause might only apply after three years, or it might be written so that it can be invoked at any point during the length of the contract.  Only the OP and the OP's lawyer can know what that language actually says.

Without access to the OP's contract, we can't fully advise.  (And we should not have access to the contract.)  It is irresponsible of us, frankly, to surmise what the contract means and says from a distance.

[_touchedbyanoodle_]

If you had any sort of a contract that extended beyond a single semester, you weren't really an adjunct. You were non-tenure track. Let's not make light of what it really means to be an adjunct instructor, which is worse than what you are describing.

That said, any sort of teaching position that is not tenure-track is typically contingent on annual funding. I've never heard of a non-tenure track contract that wasn't written that way. The promise wasn't a minimum of three years of employment; it was a promise of a maximum of three years of employment.

[retrenchment]

You need a union.

[bioteacher]

And I need a insert whatever you need at the moment here.

Unions can help, but their power is begin eroded bit by bit, too. And the chances of getting a union in place in time to help the OP? Well, I'm more likely to get a unicorn to show up on my doorstep.

Even with a lawyer, the OP is unlikely to come out ahead on this one. Even if there is a settlement in OP's favor, untold energy and time will be spent on this issue. With finite time and energy to work with, combined with a need for employment sooner instead of later, it may be in OP's best interests to STFU and put all available energy into a job search. It's not right, it's not fair, but life doesn't play by those rules.