The alarming stories from adjunct faculty, who now comprise a majority of higher-education teachers nationally, share troubling commonalities. The frustrations are financial, personal, and professional. In decades past, most adjunct faculty worked full-time outside of academe and taught an occasional course based on a particular expertise or…

On February 1, 2012, Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels signed a "right to work" (RTW) provision in the state's labor laws, making Indiana the 23rd RTW state in the nation. In addition to becoming the 23rd RTW state in the nation, Indiana is the first in more than a decade to pass a law undermining the ability of unions to organize and represent their…

A study at San Diego State University (California) investigated the decision-making process in 388 cases of faculty reappointment, tenure, and promotion (RTP) over a period of five years. It examined the degree of support for RTP decisions at six different decision-making levels and in nine colleges, particularly when "no tenure/no promotion" or…

Argues that higher education's response to change is resulting in the disappearance of tenure, and provides a bibliography of actual institutional and faculty decisions in relation to tenure since the mid-1970s. Focus is on six issues: changes in the meaning of tenure; management of tenure decisions; financial exigency or discomfort; faculty…

Reports on a survey of Minnesota's African-American community college faculty concerning their own employment situations and the reasons why the recruitment and retention of African-American faculty have not been successful overall despite two decades of affirmative action. Looks at social and psychological barriers to increasing diversity, and…

While women earn more bachelor's and master's degrees than men annually, college faculty continue to be predominately male, with males more economically secure. This significantly limits the role models for women students. Faculty recruitment should focus more actively on women candidates and provide support mechanisms to retain women faculty.…

Drawing on longitudinal data from federal surveys for 1974-75 and 1992 and other studies, tenure patterns and trends are examined in 3 groups of college faculty: full-time faculty with at least 50% teaching responsibility; women faculty; and all faculty. Conclusions are drawn about the meaning of tenure, and steps to be taken in clarifying its…

A study of 330 faculty leaving 1 research university over a period of 10 years investigated the reasons for faculty departure from the institution. Salary, retirement, and faculty development opportunities were the three most common reasons for leaving. Trends by academic rank, gender, and discipline varied over the study's period, with…

Many women find it difficult to reconcile the responsibilities of a career and a family. Issues discussed are: sexual discrimination on campus, women faculty members less productive than male colleagues and therefore less qualified for promotion, family responsibilities restricting women's opportunities for advancement, the 1978 Pregnancy…

The California Faculty Association (CFA) seeks to secure and maintain sound retirement options that encourage phased faculty retirement. Their experience in negotiating and administering retirement options are discussed. Defined benefit plan and defined contribution plan are described. CFA agreements are appended. (MLW)

An article and three responses on sexual harassment in higher education are presented: "Sexual Harassment in Higher Education: What We've Learned" (Anne Truax); "Who Is Responsible for Sexual Harassment?" (Barbara G. Taylor); "The Feminist-Unionist Dilemma" (Sherna Berger Gluck); and "Sexual Harassment and Academic Power" (Loralee MacPike). (MLW)

Because part-time faculty play an important role in Minnesota, a study to learn about part-timer concerns, their areas of satisfaction and dissatisfaction, and the actions that would improve their situation was funded. The survey results are presented in six subsections. (MLW)

A review of the literature on minority underrepresentation in higher education and issues specific to community colleges suggests several solutions, including improved institutional commitment to hiring for diversity among faculty and administrators, multicultural expertise as a qualification for some positions, more hospitable campus and…

A study of lawsuits filed by college faculty against their institutions looked at the effects of litigation on the people and institutions involved. The discussion examines standards of judicial review and construction of a fair personnel decision-making process. Careful planning, conscientious application of policies, and meaningful internal…