---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Mon, 29 Jul 2013 07:49:19 -0400
From: Joyce M Latham <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Adjuncts and higher education
An interesting approach to these questions about focus of instruction may
be to study how student evaluations influence faculty annual / tenure
reviews.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Gretchen Whitney" <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Sunday, July 28, 2013 7:15:48 PM
Greetings,
In addition to the note appended, please note the AAUP report on the use
of adjuncts in general in higher education at
http://www.aaup.org/sites/default/files/files/2013%20Salary%20Survey%20Tables%20and%20Figures/Figure%201.pdf
Or at tiny url
http://tinyurl.com/blqxeof
I mix into these articles the assertion that undergraduates and graduate
students are paying more and more for their education. Granted. Given.
I assert that the other half of the equation ", but students are getting
less and less for what they pay" is being given little attention.
In other words, students are going to college and paying more and more,
but they are being asked to do (and learn) less and less.
They are being asked to do (and learn) less and less because they are
being taught by graduate students and adjuncts who are judged in their
student evaluations by how well they are liked. Not challenged to broaden
their thinking, challenged to consider new ideas, or challenged to do work
that they did not know that they could do, but discover that they can.
Of course, if you want to be liked you are more likely to assign 2
two-page essays and a multiple choice final exam for your course, rather
than a big term paper and other assignments and a comprehensive written
exam.
Just some more things to think about, and pulling diverse comments
together talking about the same thing.
Here is a really ugly question. I don't want or expect answers. But it
is something to think about. As a faculty member, is your primary goal to
be liked or respected?
And does your administration support you in that goal?
The above two sets of evidence suggest the first.
--gw
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
Gretchen Whitney, PhD, Retired
School of Information Sciences
University of Tennessee, Knoxville TN 37996 USA [log in to unmask]
http://web.utk.edu/~gwhitney/
jESSE:http://web.utk.edu/~gwhitney/jesse.html
SIGMETRICS:http://web.utk.edu/~gwhitney/sigmetrics.html
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Sun, 23 Jun 2013 15:38:29 -0400
From: Lorna Peterson <[log in to unmask]>
Reply-To: [log in to unmask]
To: [log in to unmask], aliseadjunct <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: [ALISEadjunct] Adjuncts use noted in July 2013 Harper's Index
The below message was forwarded to a list I subscribe to and I though it
might be of interest to readers on this list. The original post references
this "Portion of university teaching positions that are filled by graduate
students or adjunct faculty = 3/4" You can see the original list here:
http://harpers.org/archive/2013/07/harpers-index-351/
Below is a copy of the message:
Date: Sun, 23 Jun 2013 09:20:49 -0400
From: David H Slavin <[log in to unmask]>
To: Contingent Academics Mailing List <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: [adj-l] adjuncts in Harper's Index July 2013
The first six lines of Harper's Index for July 2013 issue
Number of US retail jobs Doritos Locos tacos created in the past year,
according to Taco Bell = 15,000
Number of retail jobs created worldwide by Apple in that same period = 400
Portion of US factory workers who have college degrees - 1/4
Portion of university teaching positions that are filled by graduate
students or adjunct faculty = 3/4
Percentage of college professors teaching online courses who do not
believe students should receive credit for them = 72
Number of US states whose highest-paid public employee is a sports coach
= 37
Perhaps the word is getting out?
David
Slavin, Decatur GA
