In solidarity and gratitude, we are sharing a series—”Studies in Precarity”—of stories from departing contingent faculty, who still have much to teach us. Scores, perhaps over 200, of Miami contingent faculty have received notices of non-renewal for 2020–21. Many may soon find themselves unemployed and without health insurance in the middle of a pandemic and economic crisis.
These non-renewals cannot be attributed only to COVID-19. They follow many years of spending on areas outside our core academic mission (athletics and sky-high upper-administrator salaries) that could have served to protect our educational mission from the damage of the current crisis. To the visiting assistant professors, instructors, and part-time faculty who taught long hours, built relationships with students, and contributed to our intellectual and social lives: Your absence will diminish our students’ educational experiences and opportunities, and you will be missed. Thanks to all of you for your work at Miami. #OneFaculty
I have been teaching full-time at Miami for 15 years. After my sixth year as a Visiting Professor,* I was offered a 75% position and a $10,000 salary cut. Nevertheless, I continued my teaching, service and publication. I received several Faculty Commendations and was nominated multiple times for teaching awards. My classes typically filled and I would teach a wide variety of classes as program need changed.
I applied for and got several internal grants and was able to secure a modest $5,000 outside grant that supported student workers. I had numerous publications, two in one of the top journals in my field. All this despite earning no credit for publication. I remained active in my field and chaired numerous committees in both regional and national conferences. I was also President of a national professional association and a regional one. I was so active in service on campus that I won two service awards and a local professional association award. And like so many others, I was months away from retirement.
I am now put in the position of looking for positions as a front office worker, personal assistant, warehouse worker, or supermarket worker, just so I can have health benefits for me and my family. There are no faculty jobs during a worldwide pandemic. I used to be proud to say I worked at Miami. No more.
I would like to remain anonymous. There is no telling what they can do to us still.
*Visiting faculty positions are generally limited to 5 years; faculty hired to remain beyond that point usually must do so at a reduced salary. 75% positions at Miami are considered full-time.
Leave a Reply