Quit lit

[Mobius]

We've all come across some of the more infamous academia-related quit lit out there, and I won't name names. They seem to be similar in they are adjunting, have done so much for the institution they are adjunction for, and why isn't that institution hiring them for a TT position. Latest one I came across seemed especially naive in that they received their doctorate for the institution they are adjuncting for, and didn't seem to realize getting hired on by your Ph.D.-granting department is rare.

In any case, what can be done with the adjunct army? We know TT lines won't be created for the vast majority of them.

[marshwiggle]

We've all come across some of the more infamous academia-related quit lit out there, and I won't name names. They seem to be similar in they are adjunting, have done so much for the institution they are adjunction for, and why isn't that institution hiring them for a TT position. Latest one I came across seemed especially naive in that they received their doctorate for the institution they are adjuncting for, and didn't seem to realize getting hired on by your Ph.D.-granting department is rare.

In any case, what can be done with the adjunct army? We know TT lines won't be created for the vast majority of them.

Demobilize them, and have them get "civilian" (i.e. non-academic) jobs.

[dismalist]

In any case, what can be done with the adjunct army?

Nothing needs to be done with them, except by themselves. Adjuncting is voluntary. Requests for better conditions and more money are like similar requests by anybody else -- special pleading.

[spork]

I would like to see essays by people who were full-time faculty at colleges and universities that have closed -- what are they doing now?

[Caracal]

In any case, what can be done with the adjunct army?

Nothing needs to be done with them, except by themselves. Adjuncting is voluntary. Requests for better conditions and more money are like similar requests by anybody else -- special pleading.

At least in my field, there are a smaller number of people are adjuncts than you'd think, probably because most people don't actually do it for long. I wish someone would try to do an actual census of adjuncts. Anecdotally, people find other jobs because it doesn't work for them to be dependent on unpredictable income streams that involve no, or at best, limited benefits. Most people with advanced degrees do have options.

The people I know who adjunct longer term, tend to be people who aren't reliant on the adjunct salary as their primary source of income and benefits. That doesn't mean these people are landed gentry and that they are doing it as a hobby. The quit lit articles really tend to perpetuate the stereotype of the adjunct as young, in some major city, and in desperate financial circumstances and I think that really distorts the discussion.

[apl68]

I would like to see essays by people who were full-time faculty at colleges and universities that have closed -- what are they doing now?

Somebody really ought to produce and publish accounts like that.  Where are they going?  How many are finding work elsewhere in academia?  What other options are they finding?  How many are landing on their feet, and how?

[marshwiggle]

Is this a thread that should have a

SHPWAAS

inserted? If not, what makes it different?

[polly_mer]

In any case, what can be done with the adjunct army? We know TT lines won't be created for the vast majority of them.

The blunt answer using my engineering hat is the adjunct armies will be disassembled as college enrollment declines, general education requirements are modernized, faculties are adjusted for enrollment needs, service departments are consolidated as majors are discontinued, and colleges continue to merge and close.

The adjunct armies are mostly humanities and social science faculty teaching general education service courses at non-elite institutions.  The five years before Covid saw adjustments to the need for the armies.  Covid has accelerated the factors that will reduce the armies in terms of offering sections.

The solution will be adjuncts figuring out other jobs for themselves or choosing to starve in the streets.  There will be no mass migrations within the academic system to allow everyone qualified for a faculty position to have one.

Professional fellows will remain and may grow in some STEM fields as the solution to a lack of full-time faculty.

Adjuncts as temporary fill-ins or the occasional overflow section will continue.  However, the demand for the armies is greatly lessening due to factors outside the adjuncts' control.

[downer]

I would like to see essays by people who were full-time faculty at colleges and universities that have closed -- what are they doing now?

They do all sorts: deans, "visiting faculty," tenured or TT faculty, adjuncts, and retired. What would you want the essays to be about?

[ciao_yall]

Given that the unemployment rate for people with Master's and Doctoral degrees is about 2%, I'm not too worried about them.

[dismalist]

Given that the unemployment rate for people with Master's and Doctoral degrees is about 2%, I'm not too worried about them.

That's actually the rate for Bachelors Degrees and higher. That is, just before Covidity. Less than high school was just below six per cent. Man, do we have it good [on average]!

[polly_mer]

I would like to see essays by people who were full-time faculty at colleges and universities that have closed -- what are they doing now?

From the institutions that I've been watching:

* People who were long-term faculty in crowded fields who had been applying out unsuccessfully for years are just screwed if they can't retire.  The good case is moving to be with family and then getting an office job with an ergo chair and minimal heavy lifting or adjuncting in the bigger city where the family is.  These folks are bitter and essays like that aren't usually published.  What's published are the sorrowful essays upon closure announcements about what is lost by closing this place that is so special to a few thousand alumni, a few hundred currents students, and current employees.  There's usually also sorrow regarding more losses in the liberals arts, but really only the humanities and primarily general education faculty jobs.

* People who were relatively new hires in the crowded fields tend to get a pity offer somewhere for a limited term position so they can keep applying.

* People who are in less crowded fields, have built solid reputations in their fields, and are willing to move  tend to find another position in one job cycle.  People at Super Dinky in this category were announcing new jobs on social media within six weeks.  These were jobs at non-elite institutions, but were good enough academic jobs.

* Very few people, other than nurses, leave for industry jobs in their fields.  That's because those folks tend to leave before the very end because they see the writing on the wall years in advance and can get other jobs.  Most competent administrators above the clerk level will leave before the end with only new folks (under two years) left to shut down.

[Caracal]

In any case, what can be done with the adjunct army? We know TT lines won't be created for the vast majority of them.

The blunt answer using my engineering hat is the adjunct armies will be disassembled as college enrollment declines, general education requirements are modernized, faculties are adjusted for enrollment needs, service departments are consolidated as majors are discontinued, and colleges continue to merge and close.

The adjunct armies are mostly humanities and social science faculty teaching general education service courses at non-elite institutions.  The five years before Covid saw adjustments to the need for the armies.  Covid has accelerated the factors that will reduce the armies in terms of offering sections.

The solution will be adjuncts figuring out other jobs for themselves or choosing to starve in the streets.  There will be no mass migrations within the academic system to allow everyone qualified for a faculty position to have one.

Professional fellows will remain and may grow in some STEM fields as the solution to a lack of full-time faculty.

Adjuncts as temporary fill-ins or the occasional overflow section will continue.  However, the demand for the armies is greatly lessening due to factors outside the adjuncts' control.

Apparently engineering hats just allow one to speculate without any information. I'll just point out again, that its amazing to me how little actual quantitative work has been done on adjuncts. Everyone is just happy to assume they understand who adjuncts are based on anecdotes.

[mleok]

Apparently engineering hats just allow one to speculate without any information. I'll just point out again, that its amazing to me how little actual quantitative work has been done on adjuncts. Everyone is just happy to assume they understand who adjuncts are based on anecdotes.

Isn't that something your professional organization should be gathering information about? Why would STEM faculty care about doing research about the adjunct situation in the humanities or social sciences? In any case, we're relying on the only data available to us, as Ray Wolfinger said, "the plural of anecdote is data."

How do you explain, for example, the sources quoted in this article,

https://www.chronicle.com/article/the-great-shame-of-our-profession/

[marshwiggle]

I'll just point out again, that its amazing to me how little actual quantitative work has been done on adjuncts. Everyone is just happy to assume they understand who adjuncts are based on anecdotes.

Why does it matter, if indeed:

At least in my field, there are a smaller number of people are adjuncts than you'd think, probably because most people don't actually do it for long.

Anecdotally, people find other jobs because it doesn't work for them to be dependent on unpredictable income streams that involve no, or at best, limited benefits.

Most people with advanced degrees do have options.

The people I know who adjunct longer term, tend to be people who aren't reliant on the adjunct salary as their primary source of income and benefits.

The quit lit articles really tend to perpetuate the stereotype of the adjunct as young, in some major city, and in desperate financial circumstances and I think that really distorts the discussion.

If the "adjunct problem" is grossly exaggerated, why should it be studied, unless it's simply to prove that it doesn't really exist?