Hello, Fellow Adjuncts:

The following link is from Inside Higher Education regarding Tufts University and its new model for adjunct faculty.  I hope you find it interesting.

https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2014/10/28/tufts-adjuncts-tout-pay-and-job-security-gains-first-union-contract

Back with more soon.

Ever the Adjunct,

Linda Martinak, Ed.D.

The LATEST in ADJUNCT FACULTY ORGANIZING

Hello, Fellow Adjuncts:

I just wanted to share this site that summarizes the current state of adjunct faculty organizing and unionizing.  I hope you find it interesting.  

I'll be back with another post soon!

http://labornotes.org/blogs/2014/10/wave-contingent-faculty-organizing-sweeps-campuses

Ever the adjunct,

M. Linda Martinak, Ed.D.

SO WHAT'S IN A TITLE?

Hello Fellow Adjuncts:

Some recent articles have mentioned that there are numerous titles that adjuncts hold at our colleges and universities.  Adjunct Faculty member seems to be the most obvious one and I think we all relate to what that appears to mean.  No tenure, no or few benefits, no guarantees.

  

At some of our colleges, we are associate faculty.  At others, contingent faculty.  I am sure there are many that I am missing.  If we think more about it, we might also use a title that may or may not be related to our status as part-timers: like Professor or Doctor, Mr. or Ms. etc.  In fact, some part-time faculty members prefer that students speak to us on a first-name basis.

If we, in fact, hold a "rank" within the part-time faculty, such as Assistant Professor, Associate Professor or Professor, I wonder if there are any perks that come with those.  Do these titles result in the ability to secure more courses per year or per semester?  Or are these titles conferred on us due to our previous teaching experience, either at the current institution and/or including our total teaching experiences elsewhere.

 

Have you actually noticed what occurs in your own circumstance?  Are full professors teaching more often than those with lesser titles?  Or are those with more experience privy to more courses?

  

Notice, I am not mentioning additional pay or opportunity for more benefits. This post is really all about Who We Are at the college and if we have different titles, what do those titles mean in terms of courses we can teach and how often we teach them.  Does it really matter what we are called? 

I know you just hate to add opinions to these posts, but I am hoping you'll add a thought or two about your experiences with titles and what they mean to you, including whether it makes you feel better to have a more meaningful title.  In the meantime, I hope you enjoy the fall foliage.

Ever the Adjunct,

M. Linda Martinak, Ed.D.

Some Small Progress for Adjuncts

Hello, Colleagues:

As summer fades into the past and autumn begins to bring us into busier times, we should take a look back at a few pieces of news that occurred during August and early September.

I wish I could tell you that adjuncts are out of the woods, fully accepted in the academic community and now have reasonable salaries and benefits.  However, pipe dreams are not reality.  But if we look a little closer to the news, there are hints of change.  Yes, just hints.  

According to the Chronicle, we have made strides during the 2013 -14 academic year.  Our plight has been discovered on capitol hill and Congress may actually take a look at the serious struggle that adjunct faculty have, along with the questionable working conditions many have across the country.

On a similar note, the Council for Higher Education Accreditation has discussed including "how adjuncts are treated" when colleges are reviewed.  (Chronicle, 8/22/14- Sarah Hebel).  I have this overwhelming desire to say "ya think", here, but I'll let it go.

As mentioned in previous posts, unions have been on many campuses this past year.  But, in fact, they have made considerable strides in at least 10 metro areas across the U.S.  That actually resulted in 25,000 adjuncts joining unions this past year.  Since this is a topic that will continue into the future, I hope you will share news from your own campuses.  As mentioned in my July 4th post, there should be no topic that cannot at least be discussed in academia.  However, you likely will not hear about it at any conferences.   Fear of "political issues" such as these, are just not going to be permitted.

Since the discussion surrounding adjuncts may involve better salaries, keep in mind this statistic.  The median salary for college Presidents, two years ago, according to Ms. Hebel's column, was $478,896.  At private colleges, at least 40 Presidents were paid more than one million per year.  And yes, that probably includes extras, but the fact remains that's pretty big money.

Let's all hope that the positive steps made last year, multiply during this academic year.  More than any other time, we all need to be the best possible teachers.  Be known for your dedication to our students' success; speak up at your institution; and as Elizabeth Warren just posted on facebook (not related to adjunct faculty)---if you're not seated at the table, you're probably part of the menu.  Be part of the discussions about adjunct life on campus.

Ever the adjunct,

M. Linda Martinak, Ed.D.

 "In Academe, The Future is Part-Time".

Please check out these videos from the Chronicle of Higher Education.

http://chronicle.com/article/In-Academe-the-Future-Is-Part/148489/?cid=cc&utm_source=cc&utm_medium=en

Hoping this will stimulate some discussion on this Blog and at your own institutions.

Ever the adjunct,

M. Linda Martinak, Ed.D.

Recommending Another Adjunct Blog

Hello All:

While I am working on my next post, I would like to recommend to you another blog just for you.

Please try http://precariousfacultyblog.com.

If you are also following blogs that discuss adjunct issues, I hope you will pass them along to me and I will be sure to get the word out.

Wishing you all a smooth and successful fall semester and hoping you were able to get the courses you wanted to teach.

Ever the adjunct,

M. Linda Martinak, Ed.D.

Check out We-The-Undersigned from the Adjunct Project/Chronicle of Higher Education

Here's an interesting article and petition posted in the Chronicle of Higher Education's Adjunct Project as a comment on the status of higher education, today.

I hope you will read the "petition to David Weil of the U.S. Department of Labor to investigate faculty working conditions, mistreatment of adjunct professors, and student learning conditions in higher education. So far, 3,200 people have signed on in agreement. Anyone can sign and share this petition—activists, professors, former professors, students, parents, university employees, or anyone else."

Please comment with your opinions on this one.  Names can be held in confidence.

Here's the link to the article by Joseph Fruscione     

Link to We-The-Undersigned

Ever the adjunct,

Linda Martinak, Ed.D.