<p>Ah, but Sylvan, in point 9, the same post makes clear that this is not always the case. The teaching that takes place in the classroom might be absolutely stellar by any given professor, but it’s the support services that can be lacking for an adjuncta as described in points 7 and 8 who have multiple teaching gigs at a number of places to try to get enough hours and jobs to make ends meet. The university may not offer any accommodation in the way of office space either, and if the pay is so low and the hours so precious to some of these teachers, getting face time with them after class may be difficult or not doable.</p>
<p>My kids’ experiences, I’ve said right out, have been nothing but positive with adjuncts, but I don’t know of them having any who were doing it except because they wanted to teach part time. They might have had the “hit and run” sort, but if they did, it was unremarkable enough of an experience that it never came up.</p>
<p>Many, if not most of our friends are professors, adjunct and full time, as well as a sizeable number of our classmates from college. The ones who are full research, writing type profs, are NOT interested in teaching underclassmen, for the most part. Though, yes, that is a generality, it is one well known. Many contracts and offers for these established profs include light or no teaching “burden” at all to entice. Their main purpose is not to teach. Not to say they are al that way, and not say that when they do teach, they are not outstanding and don’t put in extra effort. Many of them have so light of a teaching load that they can shower attention on the few clases and students that they may have if it is not a lecture hall situation. </p>
<p>Nothing personal is intended in these posts. It’s remarking about a situation that has been gaining attention, that of the overuse and abuse of adjuncts. How do they hurt the unversity community, what are the issues, what can be done, if anything, is there a growing problem here? IMO, the number of permanent teachers and professors in university commities is a problem. Even more problematic is the ratio now between the adminstrator and the teachers. This has shifted drasticall away from the university being run by the teachers. The old student/teacher primary focus of school is being changed by administration taking the lion’s share of the role in a unversity, and in some schools. I’ve commented on that, as I’ve seen it in my kids’ schools and school districts. With fewer permanent, tenured professor, the power shift has been toward making the universities business centers rather than primary places of learning of academia. With a lot of adjuncts in place, it shifts the balance so much the more. Rather see some adjunct types and temp or contract employees working in administration instead. I have friends in these jobs making 6 figure salaries and the infrastructure is frightening. </p>
<p>So I am not picking on any specific turf here. I truly don’t know the solution to the issues that the article Xiggi shared with us are.</p>