My Favorite Time of Year
It is hard to believe that Thanksgiving is this Thursday. This weekend will start the beginning of the holiday season. For most of us, this means shopping for those we love on a tight budget. This time of the year is considered the best time of the year. As we come to the close of another year and embark on the New Year, my thoughts turn not to holiday shopping but to keeping my teaching contracts. This time of year marks my struggle to retain my teaching contracts. With the downturn in the economy, state budgets are being slashed to save money.
Educational institutions across the country must come up with ways to make up for the decline in revenue. Cost cutting measures include cutting positions and offering fewer classes and services to students. I watched several news stories this week that highlighted how the economic downturn has affected education. Some schools must raise student tuition for both in- and out-of-state students. Many schools will not be admitting any new students because they are having to cut back on the faculty.
As an adjunct instructor, this does make me a little uneasy. In this type of environment, adjuncts will be the first positions to go. When adjuncts are let go, full-time faculty will pick up the slack. Entering the education field as an adjunct was a great way to get experience and give my resume creditability with class room teaching experience. I was aware of the nature of an adjunct position but wanted to dive into this any way to get the experience.
Being an adjunct does make you more aware of the fickle nature of working from contract to contract. When I landed my first teaching position, I knew that I could not count on this as my sole method of income. Once I gained enough experience, I worked hard to get other teaching contracts. If one contracts come to an end, I have something else I can rely on. In this economy, you can never assume that your position is safe. You must be pro-active and market your abilities to survive these tough economic times.