The State of Adjunct Faculty
Did you know: A new AFT report reveals that a large percentage of part-time faculty are barely getting by on their poverty wages. The report, "An Army of Temps: AFT 2020 Adjunct Faculty Quality of Work/Life Report," shows what all feared is true - that part-time faculty are economically vulnerable workers dealing with unstable income, often no health care, and limited ability to retire. With non-tenure track positions estimated to approach 75% of faculty by 2030, it is essential that faculty unite now to improve the situation!
Facts:
37.4% of part-time faculty chose "I can't imagine how I will retire" from a list of six options.
45.4% have postponed healthcare and 66% dental care because of costs in the last 12 months. This is actually far worse because you need to add in the fact that nearly 20% of the people that do have medical care get it from Medicaid.
Nearly 25% rely on public assistance.
10% suffer from food insecurity.
63.7% make less than $50,000/year and 82.5% make less than $75,000/year.
27.2% struggle to pay their bills in the summer months.
Bottom Line: There is no reason to believe Palomar College's part-time faculty are any different. While PFF has worked to increase the compensation and benefits of part-time faculty through increasing the number of steps on the pay scale, increasing the number of paid office hours, and expanding health benefits, we still have a long way to go. Full-time faculty can be a huge help to their part-time colleagues by being their advocates whenever the opportunity arises.