View in EDS HTML Full Text

The Underclass Is in Session.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: The Underclass Is in Session.
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]
Copyright of Academe is the property of American Association of University Professors and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Education Research Complete
Full text is not displayed to guests.
FullText Text:
  Availability: 1
Header DbId: ehh
DbLabel: Education Research Complete
An: 191565268
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Periodical
PubTypeId: serialPeriodical
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: The Underclass Is in Session.
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22BANKS%2C+DAVID+A%2E%22">BANKS, DAVID A.</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo>
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Academe%22">Academe</searchLink>. Winter2026, Vol. 112 Issue 1, p12-17. 6p. 1 Color Photograph.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subject Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Academic+employment%22">Academic employment</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Academic+freedom%22">Academic freedom</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Employment+tenure%22">Employment tenure</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Labor+unions%22">Labor unions</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Workers'+rights%22">Workers' rights</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Poor+people%22">Poor people</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Part-time+employment%22">Part-time employment</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: 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]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Academe is the property of American Association of University Professors and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=ehh&AN=191565268
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 6
        StartPage: 12
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Academic employment
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Academic freedom
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Employment tenure
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Labor unions
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Workers' rights
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Poor people
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Part-time employment
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: The Underclass Is in Session.
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: BANKS, DAVID A.
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 01
              Text: Winter2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 01902946
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 112
            – Type: issue
              Value: 1
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Academe
              Type: main
ResultId 1