Wendell Fountain

Academic Sharecroppers: Exploitation of Adjunct Faculty and the Higher Education System Wendell Fountain

This is a nonfiction book which addresses the exploitation of adjunct faculty and the higher education system. The term "academic sharecroppers" is used synonymously with the nomenclature "adjunct faculty" because of the minimal financial and other support given to adjunct faculty by institutions of higher learning. This book is a result of the research, personal observations, and experiences of an academic sharecropper that spans nearly three decades. The issues of what is right, just, and fair are addressed relative to the failure of the academic system to properly recognize and reward adjunct faculty-academic sharecroppers. This book maintains that ethical and moral breaches by administrators in the higher education industry needs to be addressed at the societal level. Chapter one is titled "This Is the Way It Is-Believe It or Not" because of the outrageous exploitation of academic sharecroppers, students, and the general public. Chapter two is concerned with the issue of outsourcing of college and university teaching, Chapter three shows that the education industry is primarily a big business which rivals the healthcare industry. The influence of sports is highlighted and discussed. The plight of the adjunct is dealt with in chapter four. Chapter five is concerned with the efficacy of online courses. Chapter six expounds on the problems with the vagaries of student grades and the games people play. Chapter seven examines the issue of Student Faculty Evaluations (SFEs). Chapter eight provides insight into the administrative incompetence and strategic bungling of administrators in higher education. Chapter nine discusses the student customer and customer student dilemma. Finally, chapter ten is comprised of a series of vignettes experienced by the author in the execution of his teaching assignments in various geographical locations, and lastly, the epilogue contains final thoughts and reflections about the higher education system.