The Poverty of Academia: My Life as NonTenure Track Faculty

Abstract

Non-tenure track (NTT) positions include faculty who teach full and part-time and are not on the tenure-track. These positions include full-time lecturers, fixed-term faculty, etc. Positions such as these are typically on one-year contracts, though some may be on 1 - 3 year contracts. While the title, pay and status, among other things, varies by institutions, it is undeniable that universities and colleges have been shifting in recent years to this kind of contingent labor force. These positions also include part-time adjuncts including professionals teaching a class here and there, and professional teachers who may teach at many institutions. Individuals who are not on the tenure-track often find themselves with little job security, an often inequitable distribution of labor (in terms of class preps, class size, etc.), and in positions that pay significantly less than their tenure-track counterparts’ salaries.