How many people, in revering the hallowed halls of higher education, know about its dirty little secret? More and more universities and colleges are employing increasing numbers of adjunct professors, with no sign of reversing the trend.

Adjunct professors, are, quite simply, professors with similar or the same qualifications as their tenured brethren, but with much less pay and no benefits.

It is no wonder that universities employ adjuncts: with budgetary concerns always in the forefront, it seems a real deal to hire five adjuncts for the price of one full-time professor.

An average full time professor's salary in a large state university, with a minimum of a Master's Degree, a publication history, and at least five years of teaching experience, would likely be approximately 60,000 a year, with full health benefits, paid vacation and sick leave, and a paid year-long sabbatical. In contrast, an adjunct professor with the exact same qualifications and experience would make about 12,000 a year, with no benefits of any kind. This leads many adjuncts to work the equivalent of two full-time jobs, often at several different schools.

This is a situation that deserves further examination. Andreas Killen provides an excellent inside look : WHEN ALL THE POSTAL WORKERS HAVE BEEN SEDATED AND LOCKED AWAY, WILL ADJUNCT PROFESSORS FOLLOW IN THEIR GUN-POWDERED FOOTSTEPS?.. "There's a constant temptation to avoid working hard because you're simply participating in your own exploitation."

Posted by Rhys Alexander