This article critically
examines the systemic exploitation of adjunct faculty in higher education,
focusing first on Cleveland State University (CSU) and then expanding to a
nationwide context. Adjuncts, who now make up the majority of college
instructors in the United States, are essential to academic operations but are
often paid poverty-level wages, denied job security, and excluded from
institutional governance. At CSU, adjuncts earn roughly $3,900 per course, even
when teaching large classes of 30 or more students that generate tens of
thousands of dollars in tuition revenue for the university. This stark
disparity illustrates a growing divide between revenue generation and faculty
compensation.
The paper further explores how nonprofit institutions,
protected under 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, continue to post financial
surpluses while investing heavily in administrative costs, athletics, and
facilities—often at the expense of instructional quality and labor equity.
Through financial analysis and literature review, the article highlights how
these practices exploit adjuncts while compromising student engagement,
academic continuity, and educational outcomes.
The broader national analysis shows that this model is
not unique to CSU. Across the country, adjuncts often juggle multiple teaching
jobs at different institutions, receive no benefits, and work without contracts
that guarantee employment stability. These conditions not only erode the
professional dignity of educators but also degrade the student experience in
higher education. As universities increasingly operate under corporatized
frameworks, their reliance on underpaid academic labor raises ethical, economic,
and social concerns.
To address this crisis, the article offers a series of
policy recommendations, including the provision of living wages, multi-year
contracts, access to health and retirement benefits, and meaningful inclusion
of adjuncts in governance. These changes are essential to realigning
institutional priorities with their stated missions of academic excellence and
equity.
