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Kayaker170 t1_ixhg6qi wrote

When I was an adjunct I was working in a research lab and teaching was for fun and a few extra bucks. The role of adjuncts was never intended to be a full-time job. Adjuncts we’re hired to fill in gaps when full-time faculty were on leave. Or, to have someone with specialized knowledge offer a class that was outside the expertise of the full-time faculty.

Sadly, school admins figured out that adjuncts are way cheaper than full-time faculty members. I’ve been both and ain’t no one getting rich on an academic salary. And anyone trying to make a living as an adjunct is going to be struggling mightily.

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___pa___ t1_ixhksfm wrote

As someone in academia for 25 years, I agree completely. I believe that adjuncts should be people that have a full-time job (the younger people typically) and/or run their own business (the older people typically) and do it for enjoyment or to give back to academia. Trying to make a living as an adjunct would not be advised in my point of view. I have seen it done and the person had to teach full adjunct loads at three schools to do it. Imagine the schedule and commute!

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