Captains?

A sad reality is that many colleges are increasing the number of adjuncts as a way to reduce costs. In some places, the number of adjuncts is greater than the number of full-timers. The tenured/tenure track folks typically are not crazy about having a lot of adjuncts, not because they pose a threat of any type, but due to the perception that adjuncts dilute the quality of the program. In professional schools many think that it is good that students get some exposure to the so-called real world, and adjuncts are great at bringing their full-time job experiences into their part-time adjunct work. Students usually like the "war stories." However, as we typically don't view professional schools, or at least business schools, as vocational schools, a little bit of the purely practical goes a long way, as it is applied theory, or the understanding of the why and not just the what, that is the great shortcoming of adjuncts. Ironically, though, adjuncts often get higher student ratings than full-timers, not just because of typically easier grading, but because college students of today all-too-often overemphasize entertainment as the standard for quality instruction.

In my mind adjuncts are really treated atrociously, though I suppose there may be some debate as to whether the qualifications and performances of adjuncts merit better pay and benefits. We have seen adjuncts organizing at many colleges. What is most disturbing to me, however, is the disappointing lack of respect too often shown to adjuncts. Rarely do they have offices, and if they have anything it may be a "bullpen" or shared offices. They pick up the scraps on scheduling and resources, and full-time faculty rarely interact with them. Students usually don't think of them as "real" professors. And yet we have tons of people trying to be "college professors." It reminds me of the punchline to an old Myron Cohen (Vaudeville and Catskills/Borscht Circuit comedian): "To me, you're a captain [college professor]. But to a captain, you're no captain!"