A tough few days all across our campus. In addition to the normal end of the semester shenanigans, we are operating under some pretty severe state imposed budget cuts. We have to implement these cuts mid-year and are in the process of prioritizing programs and (adjunct) faculty. Public universities are in a double bind when it comes to recessions. During most recessions, enrollment in state colleges and universities rises as parents can no longer afford to send little Johnny to more prestigious institutions. In addition, workers who have been laid off will return to college to gain additional skills as they retool for future employment. So at the time when enrollment swells, we have to cut back on the number of sections being offered. Irony abounds but money doesn’t.
Although our campus has been through difficulties like these before, it is my first time to experience them in a decision-making position. And it’s a much different perspective. I had to recommend a list of adjunct faculty to be cut for this semester. Part of the challenge is balancing needs. The needs of the students come first of course, but there are also the needs of some adjuncts to, you know, eat. And their regular income was supplemented by income from teaching that they were counting on. But we're not given any idea ahead of time how many positions we should cut. So, like Gideon sending men to the river, we will start whittling down until we are told to quit. We should find out over the next couple of days how this will pan out.
And apparently we have much company, including some colleagues in at least one of our Southern Baptist institutions.
It makes for a tough week before Christmas.
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2 comments:
On the other hand, adjuncts know (or should know) there is no guarantee beyond the end of the current semester.
I'm fortunate in that I don't have to rely on money earned as an adjunct to pay my bills (pay for weddings, yes; but not for bills).
Tough decisions.
Bowden,
I would say about 95% of our adjuncts teach because they love to teach and 5% depend on it for income. For example, in our department none of our adjuncts will be out on the street because of these decisions. But it's the 5% in other departments that has me concerned.
Plus, this is only the first round. My greater fear is that happens next. Next comes the instructors, those full time teachers who are not on the tenure track. In almost all cases they do depend on their contracts to eat.
(And of course I recognize that in the real world, all workers are subject to job loss in difficult financial times, not just adjuncts.)
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