The Busy Lives of Motivated Adjuncts

If you have ever been, are now, or plan to be a part-time university instructor, this article will be of interest to you. The statistics were, quite frankly, startling to someone who has be... See More

If you have ever been, are now, or plan to be a part-time university instructor, this article will be of interest to you. The statistics were, quite frankly, startling to someone who has been an adjunct professor for over a decade now. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are 1.7 million college professors in the US, and at public 4-year institutions, 36 % of faculty are part-timers. At private 4-year schools, 51% (over half of the faculty) are considered “adjunct”, and over 70% of the faculties at community colleges are not on tenure or teaching in tenure track positions. The reasons for becoming an adjunct are numerous. Many adjuncts bring current field experiences into their classrooms and worldly connections that can lead their students to potential job opportunities through their business contacts. This article hones in on the exploitation of this population of dedicated, hard working, and, oft times, exhausted staff members.