Is Academia Suffering from 'Adjunctivitis'? Low-Paid Adjunct Professors Struggle to Make Ends Meet (Feb. 6, 2014)

The video explores the challenges faced by adjunct faculty, who make up a significant portion of college staff but receive low pay and few benefits. It highlights personal stories, such as Nicole's struggle to support her family, and discusses the economic pressures on colleges that lead to the reliance on adjuncts. The video also covers advocacy efforts for better pay and conditions, and questions the responsibility of universities in producing PhD graduates for a saturated job market.

What significant change in faculty composition has occurred since the 1970s?

• Decrease in faculty salaries

• Increase in non-tenured faculty

• Decrease in adjunct faculty

• Increase in tenure-track positions

What financial challenges does Nicole Beth Whalen Brock face as an adjunct professor?

• High salary with no benefits

• Part-time work with high pay

• Low pay and reliance on public assistance

• Full-time employment with benefits

How does the use of adjunct faculty affect the quality of education?

• Reduces the quality of feedback

• Increases faculty availability

• Enhances classroom resources

• Improves student engagement

What is one reason universities continue to hire adjuncts despite their low pay?

• To improve faculty satisfaction

• To reduce student enrollment

• To maintain financial flexibility

• To increase tuition fees

What tragic event highlighted the plight of adjunct professors?

• A government policy change

• A strike by tenured professors

• A protest at a major university

• The death of Margaret Mary Vojtko

What advice is given to adjuncts struggling financially?

• Ignore financial difficulties

• Demand higher pay

• Seek alternative careers

• Continue teaching regardless

Why do universities continue to offer PhD programs despite the job market challenges?

• To increase their prestige

• To fill their own classes

• To reduce faculty workload

• To improve student outcomes