adjunct issues

Make no mistake about this, Dr. Lopez Prater lost her position because she was an adjunct, without job protection. The administration claims she wasn't fired. She simply wasn't re-hired for the next semester. Does one need a better example of "the Precarity"? She wasn't afforded the luxury of the necessary and thorough-going discussion of academic freedom that the incident that led to her dismissal requires -- within the academic community. She was on the outside looking in.

Don't get mad; get creative. An AI can only produce content if it has information in its dataset. The answer is to create assignments that specifically reference course content, put unique information together in new and interesting ways, and make use of third-party (hopefully free and accessible) tech tools to make creative projects. An AI can turn out a passable essay on Moby-Dick since there are many examples to choose from.

Since many of us are going to be grading exams and essays these days, I thought it would be important for us to read and reflect on this article: https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2022/12/chatgpt-ai-writing-college-student-...

What kinds of reasonable and realistic responses can we make to this phenomenon? If an AI can churn out C-grade essays in no time, what is to be done?

Opinion The hard life of an adjunct professor

"I found myself stuck in the world of adjuncts with a small paycheck, no office, no secretarial help and no job security."

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/05/06/hard-life-an-adjunct-professor/

"In a city full of adjunct faculty members, many struggle to get by"

 “The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at UCLA seeks applications for an assistant adjunct professor on a without salary basis. Applicants must understand there will be no compensation for this position. Responsibilities will include: teaching according to the instructional needs of the department. Qualified candidates will have a Ph.D. in chemistry, biochemistry, or equivalent discipline and have significant experience and strong record in teaching chemistry or biochemistry at the college level.”

Virtual Discussion on Adjunct and Contingent Issues - Friday, February 11

The OAH Committee on Part-Time, Adjunct, and Contingent Employment is hosting a discussion on Friday February 11, at 3pm ET to discuss the current OAH's Standards for Non-Tenure Track Faculty and develop a new 

Hi all, I hope everyone is as well as can be,

(Read the Precarious Historical Instructors' Manifesto ! https://activehistory.ca/2020/02/precarious-historical-instructors-manifesto/) 

Citing the pandemic, administrators are pushing cuts—despite receiving millions in federal relief funds.

https://www.thenation.com/article/economy/universities-budget-cuts-covid/