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"It seems a huge part of this problem is some are treating these jobs as real, life supporting careers. They aren't meant that way." The problem is that the un
by wmagato 11y ago
"It seems a huge part of this problem is some are treating these jobs as real, life supporting careers. They aren't meant that way."
The problem is that the universities do not advertise it that way. They don't take thousands of dollars from parents and tell them "thanks, hopefully we will find a volunteer to teach your kid by the time class starts next week".
- bphogan 11y agoYou're right. They say "professor with experience in her field." Which is what an adjunct provides when done right. Unfortunately enrollment is a big deal at schools, and sometimes more classes are offered than there are people to teach them. And some adjuncts are simply just not qualified to teach anything because they have no experience that's relevant. Seen it too often in my time in public higher ed.
- SilasX 11y agoYeah, I think it would look different to prospective students and their parents if they were explicitly told, "you will be taught by a barely-scraping-by post doc who won't be devoting her full attention to the class because she's panicking about whether her food stamp application will go through".
- rhino369 11y agoIt's an open secret that professors don't teach a huge portion of these programs. Usually it's grad students who get paid even less than adjuncts (sometimes they actually pay for the privilege. Though I do wonder if schools are lying to the adjuncts. Maybe suggesting this could help them get hired full tenture track. If so, that is abusive.
- kaitai 11y agoMost grad students get health care though!