The Underclass Is in Session.
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| Title: | The Underclass Is in Session. |
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| Authors: | BANKS, DAVID A.1,2 |
| Source: | Academe. Winter2026, Vol. 112 Issue 1, p12-17. 6p. 1 Color Photograph. |
| Subject Terms: | *Academic employment, *Academic freedom, Employment tenure, Labor unions, Workers' rights, Poor people, Part-time employment |
| Abstract: | The article examines the current state of academic labor, highlighting the precarious conditions faced by a majority of faculty members who are often untenured and reliant on public assistance. It notes that a significant portion of tenured positions is concentrated in a small number of elite universities, while many faculty, particularly those from underrepresented groups, are employed in low-paying, non-tenure-track roles. The article critiques the romanticization of past academic structures, arguing that tenure is increasingly tied to private interests rather than academic freedom. It suggests that unions may offer a more equitable alternative to the traditional tenure system, emphasizing collective worker protections over individual achievement. [Extracted from the article] |
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| Database: | Education Research Complete |
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| Abstract: | The article examines the current state of academic labor, highlighting the precarious conditions faced by a majority of faculty members who are often untenured and reliant on public assistance. It notes that a significant portion of tenured positions is concentrated in a small number of elite universities, while many faculty, particularly those from underrepresented groups, are employed in low-paying, non-tenure-track roles. The article critiques the romanticization of past academic structures, arguing that tenure is increasingly tied to private interests rather than academic freedom. It suggests that unions may offer a more equitable alternative to the traditional tenure system, emphasizing collective worker protections over individual achievement. [Extracted from the article] |
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| ISSN: | 01902946 |
