2008 Woodie Awards
English Department Considers the Issue of Adjuncts Teaching Freshman Composition
Possible Move to Full Time Professors Being Examined
Harry Portman
Issue date: 11/19/07 Section: Features
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The ongoing curriculum review process has given each department within Yeshiva University a chance to rethink its academic components. Hopefully, the departments can realign themselves with new and improved programs to benefit current and future students enrolled at Yeshiva.
Of particular note is the English Department's examination of the freshmen composition courses and how they might be modified or enhanced to create a better learning experience for incoming students. This idea is part of a process of reshaping the first year on campus and rethinking the relationship of writing to other fields of study.
One primary issue involving freshmen composition courses is the dependence of Yeshiva College on adjunct professors. As adjuncts, these teachers have multiple responsibilities in other institutions beyond their courses taught on Wilf Campus. Many students find their personal experience with the required pair of two credit writing courses falling quite short.
Dr. Gillian Steinberg, Assistant English professor, presented another issue with adjuncts, stemming from the perspective of the professors themselves. "We have been incredibly lucky with our adjuncts. Despite their low salary, they give a tremendous amount of their time and experience to their students, but hiring them has been good fortune more than anything else."
Dr. Steinberg elaborated that the adjuncts are at a severe disadvantage when measured up against their full-time co-workers. They are not involved in curriculum or university decisions, they are allocated shared or insufficient office space, and they do not participate in department meetings nor act as advisors for students. In general, "They are not directly involved in the culture of being a part of YU. If you just run in and teach two courses, then run out, and on top of that get paid little money, the feeling is not the same as it is for the professors or the students."
An alternative to the current system would mean replacing all the adjuncts with full-time professors, an idea that has numerous advantages. Full-time professors generally have higher credentials than adjuncts, the scrutiny applied to applicants would be greater, and the fact that they would be part of the staff for an extended period of time would enable them to have a greater involvement with the university and the students. Full-time benefits for the professors themselves would include greater job security, health coverage, as well as personal office space and a voice in departmental decisions.
Of particular note is the English Department's examination of the freshmen composition courses and how they might be modified or enhanced to create a better learning experience for incoming students. This idea is part of a process of reshaping the first year on campus and rethinking the relationship of writing to other fields of study.
One primary issue involving freshmen composition courses is the dependence of Yeshiva College on adjunct professors. As adjuncts, these teachers have multiple responsibilities in other institutions beyond their courses taught on Wilf Campus. Many students find their personal experience with the required pair of two credit writing courses falling quite short.
Dr. Gillian Steinberg, Assistant English professor, presented another issue with adjuncts, stemming from the perspective of the professors themselves. "We have been incredibly lucky with our adjuncts. Despite their low salary, they give a tremendous amount of their time and experience to their students, but hiring them has been good fortune more than anything else."
Dr. Steinberg elaborated that the adjuncts are at a severe disadvantage when measured up against their full-time co-workers. They are not involved in curriculum or university decisions, they are allocated shared or insufficient office space, and they do not participate in department meetings nor act as advisors for students. In general, "They are not directly involved in the culture of being a part of YU. If you just run in and teach two courses, then run out, and on top of that get paid little money, the feeling is not the same as it is for the professors or the students."
An alternative to the current system would mean replacing all the adjuncts with full-time professors, an idea that has numerous advantages. Full-time professors generally have higher credentials than adjuncts, the scrutiny applied to applicants would be greater, and the fact that they would be part of the staff for an extended period of time would enable them to have a greater involvement with the university and the students. Full-time benefits for the professors themselves would include greater job security, health coverage, as well as personal office space and a voice in departmental decisions.
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