Oof life is a grind but if you can surround yourself with the right relationships/community and keep putting your best foot forward things will get better on the job front.
Yeah I’ve worked my way into a profession where if you’re not the lucky 1/500 that gets the full time, tenure track job, you’ve just got to work at 2-3 different universities part time, with no insurance. There are worse choices I could have made, but academia was not a good one. At this point I will never have a full time job unless I change professions; once you’ve adjuncted long enough you’re essentially toxic to any hiring committee. And as far as I can tell, I unlike other industries, personal and university connections are actively detrimental; it reflects poorly on a department to hire people who’ve got a connection to the department.
That’s really sad. My father entered into academia in 1960, got tenure in a reasonable amount of time and, by the time he retired, was making a really good salary, able to afford things like taking us on a two-week vacation to Italy. I have a friend whose husband is in academia and suffering similar problems from you. What the hell changed and why?
Generally speaking - There was a huge change a while back in how schools were getting money. Originally the government was paying 75% and the institute only needed to make the last 25%. Then things started to change and it flipped, so now most schools get 25% or less in funding and have to make up the rest of the 75%. (I’m generalizing numbers but they aren’t too far off). This drastically changed how things were ran and just like a business that’s gone private to public they are now trying to make money however they can.
They also got rid of/are limiting most full time jobs and have just increased adjuncts & grad students workload significantly. There is a block on all fulltime hires unless someone retires at at least 3 universities near me. Additionally most adjuncts make a pittance and have little/no say in their schedule or classes. Even when the department does try to accommodate, they generally have their hands tied by higher ups. Oh and schools will cancel required classes before the first day because of “low enrollment” (more than 12 people was the lastest requirement at one near me). Mind you that most students don’t get notified of their financial aide until the first week of school and can’t enroll until they have financial aide secured.
Again generally speaking - nowadays working a minimum wage job has better benefits, stability, and pay than being an adjunct. Even the poster you responded to said they have to work at multiple universities to get by - all without insurance. It wouldn’t be bad if it was only for a short while, before moving to a fulltime position. Yet I know of many qualified adjuncts (with goals of fulltime) that are hitting double digits in their adjunct positions waiting for an opening to go fulltime. Academia is unfortunately very different than it used to be.
That’s really sad. I’m really sorry to hear it. I know my dad was always disappointed that neither my brother nor I went into academia, but it sounds like we made the right choice.
Man I’m so fully employed that I have three part time jobs. All of which I need to pay rent. Pretty sweet!
No I do not have health insurance.
Oof life is a grind but if you can surround yourself with the right relationships/community and keep putting your best foot forward things will get better on the job front.
Yeah I’ve worked my way into a profession where if you’re not the lucky 1/500 that gets the full time, tenure track job, you’ve just got to work at 2-3 different universities part time, with no insurance. There are worse choices I could have made, but academia was not a good one. At this point I will never have a full time job unless I change professions; once you’ve adjuncted long enough you’re essentially toxic to any hiring committee. And as far as I can tell, I unlike other industries, personal and university connections are actively detrimental; it reflects poorly on a department to hire people who’ve got a connection to the department.
That’s really sad. My father entered into academia in 1960, got tenure in a reasonable amount of time and, by the time he retired, was making a really good salary, able to afford things like taking us on a two-week vacation to Italy. I have a friend whose husband is in academia and suffering similar problems from you. What the hell changed and why?
Generally speaking - There was a huge change a while back in how schools were getting money. Originally the government was paying 75% and the institute only needed to make the last 25%. Then things started to change and it flipped, so now most schools get 25% or less in funding and have to make up the rest of the 75%. (I’m generalizing numbers but they aren’t too far off). This drastically changed how things were ran and just like a business that’s gone private to public they are now trying to make money however they can.
They also got rid of/are limiting most full time jobs and have just increased adjuncts & grad students workload significantly. There is a block on all fulltime hires unless someone retires at at least 3 universities near me. Additionally most adjuncts make a pittance and have little/no say in their schedule or classes. Even when the department does try to accommodate, they generally have their hands tied by higher ups. Oh and schools will cancel required classes before the first day because of “low enrollment” (more than 12 people was the lastest requirement at one near me). Mind you that most students don’t get notified of their financial aide until the first week of school and can’t enroll until they have financial aide secured.
Again generally speaking - nowadays working a minimum wage job has better benefits, stability, and pay than being an adjunct. Even the poster you responded to said they have to work at multiple universities to get by - all without insurance. It wouldn’t be bad if it was only for a short while, before moving to a fulltime position. Yet I know of many qualified adjuncts (with goals of fulltime) that are hitting double digits in their adjunct positions waiting for an opening to go fulltime. Academia is unfortunately very different than it used to be.
That’s really sad. I’m really sorry to hear it. I know my dad was always disappointed that neither my brother nor I went into academia, but it sounds like we made the right choice.