Skip to content

Adjuncts are the Majority

  • by

18 of the first 20 jobs (on the first page of listings) are job postings for adjuncts or part time professors. 7-15-2023

https://careers.insidehighered.com/jobs/fine-and-performing-arts/?Keywords=theatre#browsing



There are a number of negative consequences of having more and more adjuncts as professors. These include:

  • Lower pay and benefits: Adjunct professors typically earn lower pay and have fewer benefits than tenured professors. This can make it difficult for them to support themselves and their families, and it can also make it difficult for them to focus on their teaching and research.
  • Less job security: Adjunct professors are typically hired on a contract basis, which means that they can be fired or not renewed at any time. This can make it difficult for them to plan for the future and to build a stable career in academia.
  • Less time for teaching and research: Adjunct professors often have to juggle multiple jobs in order to make ends meet. This can leave them with little time for teaching and research, which can impact the quality of their work.
  • Less connection with students: Adjunct professors may not have the same level of connection with students as tenured professors. This is because they are often not on campus as often, and they may not have the same office hours or access to resources.
  • Less diversity of perspectives: Adjunct professors are often drawn from a narrower pool of applicants than tenured professors. This can lead to a lack of diversity of perspectives in the classroom, which can limit students’ learning opportunities.

In addition to these specific concerns, the growing reliance on adjuncts has also led to a number of broader problems in higher education, such as:

  • Increased costs for students: As colleges and universities rely more on adjuncts, they are able to offer fewer full-time positions. This means that students are often paying more for their education, but they are not getting the same level of teaching and support.
  • Decreasing quality of education: The increasing reliance on adjuncts has led to concerns about the quality of education at colleges and universities. Some studies have shown that students who take classes from adjuncts are more likely to drop out of school or change majors.
  • Less innovation in teaching and research: Adjunct professors are often less likely to be involved in research or to have the opportunity to develop new teaching methods. This can limit the innovation in higher education and make it more difficult for colleges and universities to stay ahead of the curve.

Overall, the growing reliance on adjuncts as professors has a number of negative consequences for students, colleges and universities, and the field of higher education as a whole. It is important to be aware of these issues and to advocate for policies that will protect the quality of education at colleges and universities. (Via Bard)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *