Fixed-term contracts are a relatively recent, yet growing category of employment for teachers in the public school system in New South Wales (NSW), Australia. In this article, we draw on quantitative and qualitative data from a large state-wide survey (N = 18,234) of members of the public-school teacher union, the NSW Teachers' Federation, in…

The increasing casualisation of academic labour over recent years has been noted across the global north. In the UK, this takes a number of forms, including fixed term, hourly paid and zero hours contracts. What tends to characterise them all, however, is a focus on the short-term. In this paper, we draw on a qualitative study with 20 UK-based…

Expanding enrollment in online programs has concurrently created a demand for qualified faculty to assume the increasing workload. As full-time faculty have been unable to fill the gap due to workload or resistance, organizations are more frequently turning to adjuncts to meet the needs of their online learners. As a result, there has been…

This monograph provides a portrait of non-tenure-track faculty, describes studies of their experiences, and proposes plans of action. Much of the research, particularly early on, tried to provide a picture and description of this faculty that have been largely invisible for years. Therefore, "Portrait of Non-Tenure-Track Faculty" focuses on the…

A national study indicates that part-time faculty now teach a major portion of undergraduate studies, and that most institutions plan to use more in the future. Data from the study are used to describe part-time faculty characteristics, how they contribute to their institutions, and the conditions in which they work. Suggestions are made for…

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…

Part-time college and university faculty account for over 40% of faculty nationwide, double the proportion two decades ago. Increasingly, these groups are becoming organized, often separately from full-time faculty. Issues include pay and workload. Some administrators express concern that part-time faculty are rushing to organize rather than…

When recruiting high-powered scholars, colleges and universities must be able to offer not only good salaries but also such benefits as light teaching loads, new research facilities, jobs for spouses, and other aspects of an attractive lifestyle. Sometimes such job offers are used as leverage for increasing benefits at home institutions. (MSE)

Even if convergences are to be observed among the orientations adopted by higher education policies in European countries, they still are characterized by strong national features. One of the most striking national patterns of each system is its academic labor market, salaries, status, recruitment procedures, workloads, career patterns, promotion…

A description of the status of college faculty in China looks at their number, composition, academic qualifications, tendency toward inbreeding, workload, salaries, retirement system, employment stability, lifestyle, and social standing. (MSE)

A study compared employment patterns, working conditions, and workload among college and university faculty in Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, England, Japan, and the United States, based on data from an international faculty survey. Results indicate considerable differences across academic rank, particularly in the European countries. However,…

A national survey of representatives of medical college family practice units concerning their perceptions of the unit's and the institution's values on research, teaching, patient care, and administrative duties found consistent disparity between the units' and institutions' value structures, but also a trend toward faculty promotion and tenure…

A study of doctoral candidates who left doctoral study considered these factors: financial difficulties, relationships with advisors and/or committees, research problems, personal problems, employment interference, family demands, peer support loss of interest, and employment patterns. Implications for policy formation are considered. (MSE)

The New Pathways Project was initiated by the American Association for Higher Education in 1995 to reframe the debate about tenure within a broader examination of academic careers. Project goals include expanding choice in academic employment, balancing individual rights and responsibilities, and strengthening community. Project activities,…

Analysis of the state of academic careers in the United States looks at employment patterns and trends, retrenchment, enrollments trends, research funding, faculty workloads and pressures, tenure, academic freedom, and research funding. It is concluded that, although the future for faculty is not particularly bright, it is also not disastrous.…