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I wanted to make a comment on something that is bothering me. How contingent (adjunct and nontenure track lecturers) will be discarded as this goes forward. I& #39;m on a yearly contract as a lecturer myself and we have been told there is a hiring freeze amid fears of lower enrollment
The idea that all the extra work this semester could result in a loss of job as the most expendable part of the department.
Background, I& #39;m on my 3rd such job in 4 years, having moved across the country twice in that time, sometimes in short notice.
I& #39;ve had to create multiple classes from scratch, only to have them unused now that I& #39;m at a new place, and new classes to be created.
I& #39;ve had to create multiple classes from scratch, only to have them unused now that I& #39;m at a new place, and new classes to be created.
My last place told me I had a job for the following year, until March, when they decided not to renew my contract. I had to find a last second job this past summer, since that was not enough time to apply for most tenure track jobs.
That led me to where I am now, a Lecturer on a yearly renewable contract. I teach 2 courses more a year for less money than my colleagues. I have the most students of any professor at my college. I get stellar student reviews, since my focus is always on the students
I wanted help and get them through classes before this and even more so now. I feel lucky to have such a good relationship with my students.
But I& #39;ve also been told that if I want tenure track I need to do research and publish a few papers this year. I don& #39;t have a work computer, and as a lecturer I won& #39;t get one. I do all my lectures on a cheap personal laptop that can& #39;t run my research codes.
They& #39;ve told me for months that my contract will be renewed because of my successes this year. But now there is a hiring freeze. And even though my department is fighting for me, there is no guarantee there is money to keep me.
Maybe I& #39;ll be ok. Maybe I& #39;m a fool for believing a word of mouth commitment again. I love it here and now I& #39;m working extra hard with the knowledge that I may be kicked to the curb in a few months despite how hard I& #39;ve worked with such a course load.
But it& #39;s clear. I& #39;m the only one who can be cut, so I will be if needed. And with all my fears and anxieties, now I have to worry about this. That I& #39;m expendible, no matter how hard I work and how much my students care about me and I them.
So please, help out and think about not just your most vulnerable students, but also your most vulnerable faculty. It& #39;s hard doing a good job, when being told in a few months you aren& #39;t important enough to keep.
While this knowledge stews and grows inside me as anger and fear, i& #39;m still receiving messages from students telling me how much they appreciate my effort through this online transition. Some realize the situation I& #39;m in and have asked if there is anything they can do.
I had the highest student evals for my department last semester, because I truly care and put in extra effort. It& #39;s heartbreaking they want to stand up for me, but I truly am the only one who can go. Their input may mean nothing to those in charge (but the world to me).
