 Dependence
on adjunct professors leaves ASU needing qualified help
by Jennifer Schneider
Staff Writer
Appalachian State University tries to balance its budget
and compensate for all departments, but some are worried
that it is just not enough.
The biggest worry about budget for some is the overabundant
need for adjunct professors. Department of communication
professor Dr. Norman E. Clark said adjuncts are part-time
professors. Most of them have other jobs, and they all have
the ability to leave the campus at any time.
The problem comes from not having the constant and dependable
staff a department would have if they were completely made
up of full-time professors.
The department of communication in particular is facing a
large loss in the number of adjuncts in the fall.
A great number of their part-time professors are relocating
or are simply moving on to higher paying jobs.
“If there are no faculty raises, people are not going
to stay,” department of English Chair Dr. David P.
Haney said
“Any department on campus has to balance how many classes
they offer by the number of professors they have,”
Clark said. “The loss of the adjuncts creates a gap
between the number of classes and professors.”
The predicament arises from not having an adequate amount
of full-time faculty positions because there is not enough
money in the budget to hire them. Full-time professors are
supplied with benefits in addition to their higher wages.
Haney said the biggest distinction between full-time and
adjunct professors is that the full-time teachers get raises
and perks where as the adjuncts are just paid according to
each course they teach.
Money is available to hire more adjuncts but there is a shortage
in the number of qualified adjuncts who are willing to teach
at Appalachian State.
“You can’t teach a class without a teacher,”
Clark said. “Qualified professors are hard to find
in this area.” Every professor is required to have
a Masters in the area they are teaching as well as having
some experience in their field as well.
“We are always looking around for qualified teachers,”
Clark said. “Right now the market is pretty tapped
out.”
The department of communication is facing the need to cut
back on the classes they offer. All full time professors
in the department already teach at least a full load with
some even taking overloads.
The department has also taken back any release time the professors
may have requested for next year. Release time offers professors
some time off so they may write a book or focus on research.
With the shortage of professors it can no longer be an option.
“We are trying to create more full-time positions,”
Haney said. “It may require cut backs in other areas
but we will do it.”
“Any time a department relies on adjuncts it is always
a problem and it will only get worse as Appalachian State
takes on more students,” Clark said. “Tuition
pays for a very small portion of university expenses. A much
greater percentage comes from taxes and outside sources.
The more students the more money is needed so the university
must go searching for outside sources.”
“Universities are trying to teach in the cheap all
over the country, not just at Appalachian State,” Haney
said. “Even in good years though, we are using too
many adjuncts.”
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