Contingent Faculty and the Remaking of Higher Education

More about the book

An educational crisis from its origins to present-day experiences reveals that nearly three-quarters of faculty in U.S. colleges and universities are contingent workers. They face significant challenges, including job insecurity, lack of health care, professional disrespect, and low wages, often requiring them to hold multiple jobs. This collection of essays examines the contingent faculty system through the lens of labor history, exploring the structural changes that have led to the increased reliance on contingent faculty and how this precarity affects their daily experiences in academia. Contributors analyze collective actions and strategies employed by contingent faculty to resist austerity measures, improve working conditions, and advocate for reforms in higher education. By confronting the issues surrounding contingency, the volume emphasizes the need to reclaim the public purpose of higher education. With an interdisciplinary approach and diverse perspectives, this work surveys the adjunct system and its associated costs, providing insights into the ongoing educational crisis.