Yolanda T. Moses
President
American Association for Higher Education
Invisible Colleagues?: The Role of Full-time Non-tenured
Faculty in Shared Governance
For almost a decade researchers in higher education have been
documenting alternatives to the tenured and tenure-track faculty
model. From the dual labor market model described by Gappa and
Leslie, to models for full-time non-tenurable appointments, to
employment practices from the professions, both inside and outside
the Academy (Trower). It is clear that non-tenure track full-time
appointments are on the increase. How have these appointments
helped to create more flexibility for departments and
institutions?
On the other side of the coin, how have these appointments
affected the ability of these faculties to participate freely in
the teaching and research process? What conflicts do these
faculties face, if any, as they try to participate in the faculty
shared governance process on their campuses? This paper will look
at the growing number of full time non-tenure track faculty and
their status vis-à-vis tenure track faculty around key faculty
shared governance issues. Issues to be examined include 1) control
over course and curricula, 2) participation on key departmental
and extra-departmental committees, and 3) participation in
departmental program reviews. The paper will also look at factors
that mitigate and enhance the establishment of new departmental
and institutional cultures that honor the presence and work of
faculty who will never be tenured in the department.
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