Our Legislative Priorities
An Adjunct’s Death Exposed a Broken System
In 2013, Margaret Mary Vojtko, who taught French at Duquesne University as an adjunct faculty member for over 25 years, died at the age of 83, destitute and nearly homeless. Her passing stoked anger over the inequities for faculty in academia, and fueled union organizing for adjunct faculty nationally. Read more here.
Survey Results:Â
NJ Adjunct Faculty Health Insurance Facts
AFT-NJ's Adjunct Healthcare Committee launched an in-depth survey of the state's adjunct faculty. The survey was administered from December 2023 through February 2024 and was completed by 1,365 individuals working as adjunct faculty across the state. We believe that this is the most comprehensive survey of adjunct faculty healthcare data ever compiled in the United States. Read the report from the study here.
Professional Recognition
We push for the recognition of adjunct faculty in institutional governance and decision-making bodies to ensure their voices are heard.
Other Surveys on Adjunct Faculty
We strive to eliminate the 'at-will' employment model, ensuring that adjunct faculty have the opportunity for career progression and long-term stability.
Work-Life Balance
We advocate for reasonable workloads and flexible scheduling options that respect the personal lives of adjunct faculty members.
Same Job, Shorter Straw: The Adjunct Reality
Colleges and universities employ two types of full-time:Â faculty in full-time secure jobs are tenured or on the tenure track. Contingent faculty do not have the same job protections or benefits.
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There are two types of contingent faculty: full-time professors who are on contracts that generally expire after 1-5 years, and part-time adjunct faculty. It's nothing new, though within this framework, higher education has gone through a dramatic transformation over time.Â
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In _____YEAR, X% of college professors were tenured or on the tenure track. Contingent faculty were not strictly academics. They were professionals whose life and work experience in the world contributed to the academic knowledge and experiences provided by tenured faculty. Most were "moonlighters" who didn't need the additional income, the health insurance or other benefits, as they were secure in another job.