How some adjuncts teach 15 units or more per semester is beyond me. I’ve met people whose workload has been anywhere from 18-28 units on any given semester, and they’re working between several schools, which means plenty of time on the road. I remember hearing about one such person who had done it for so long that he could not afford apply for (and accept if available) a full-time at one institution.
I wonder how much of this is workaholism and how much of it is dealing with economic realities of the early 21st century. Some people seem to have the capacity for infinite work. The larger the workload, the more they keep themselves occupied. However, especially in major metropolitan areas, the cost of living is incredibly high. In order to live in these areas, especially when one has a family, one may need to take on various sources of income in order to keep up. One instructor I’ve known since grad school fits into this category, but he once said something very noteworthy to me.
As a literary person, he described writing as a habit that must be supported. In addition to supporting his family, he supported this habit, which included original writing and translations of works by authors writing in his native language.
That’s something we get into these jobs for, isn’t it?
I, too, have no idea how someone teaches that much, John. However, I do think that if an adjunct wants to keep up with the skyrocketing cost of living, he or she had better figure out how to bring in more money.
So, if a teacher can’t handle 5,000 classes per year, it might be a good idea to understand the unemployment benefit system.
I put up this blog just to alert adjuncts about this issue;
http://www.adjunctunemploymentbenefits.blogspot.com/
Thanks!
Michael
Thanks for the link. Could you set comments for Open ID? I have a Blogger account and a blog on Blogger, but I’d rather not post any comments under that ID.
Unemployment benefits is a significant issue. I know it’s a right in California, but I don’t know about other states.