Adjuncts at the University

Institutions of higher education are always looking for ways to save money.  One trend has been to lower the cost of instruction.  An easy way to accomplish this: lower the salary of the individual teaching the course.  Instead of paying a tenure-track professor to teach three or four courses, it's much more cost-effective to higher adjunct instructors to teach the same load.  A typical salary for an adjunct teaching one three-hour course at a public university in the south: $2000-3000.  The salary for a tenure-track professor teaching the same course: 3 to 4 times that amount.*

This approach to higher education may feel pressure from the federal government: according to Megan McCardle, a fight will be brewing on the status of adjunct faculty, especially over what constitutes full-time status. The reason: The Affordable Health Care Act, as anyone who is considered full-time must be given health benefits.  This writer knows of adjuncts who carry the same load as full-time professors but who do not get any health benefits.  This may no longer be permissible.  If so, the cost of higher education may suddenly jump, putting further pressure on tuition, student loans, etc.   Stay tuned for updates!