Students and faculty rallied in support of part-time instructors on Adjunct Action Day, but college officials said that nothing will change unless state funding increases — a lot.
Southwestern College adjunct instructors were praised as heroes, role models and the backbone of the college by their students and admiring full-time colleagues. Part-time instructors make up about 75 percent of all academic personnel, according to college data. They are also paid considerably less than full-time faculty.
Professors generally teach 15 units a semester, which is considered a full-time course load. Adjuncts are only allowed to teach up to nine units and are paid at a lower rate. Adjunct English instructor Geoffrey Johnson said that this often forces part-timers to teach at two or three colleges every day each semester. Adjuncts have been nicknamed “freeway flyers” because they frequently race along county freeways to teach at Southwestern, San Diego City College, Mesa, Grossmont, Cuyamaca and SDSU. Some drive to Palomar College, Saddleback College in Orange County, and even colleges in Riverside and San Bernardino counties.
Johnson said speaking up for adjuncts is an issue of social and labor justice.
“Adjunct Action Day is about protecting our students,” he said. “Seeing that they are safe, but also protecting the quality of their instruction. I am not a lift in your shoes. I represent an essential part of this institution.”
Johnson said he organized the event for adjuncts to speak out about their frustrations and gather signatures for a petition addressed to Governor Jerry Brown for better Community College funding.
Liliana Tolson works part-time at the Academic Success Center and National City Higher Educational Center as a tutor. She earned a master’s degree in educational technology and learning, but said she has to scramble to scrape together a living.
“Some of us have to work at multiple locations just to make ends meet, but we are happy to be here with all of you,” she said. “Imagine if an adjunct instructor had additional office hours to provide you with that care beyond the classroom. Those additional hours are crucial for those who need additional support. If we are able to provide that for our faculty, I could just imagine how many amazing things they could do for all of you.”
Biology instructor and SWC alumna Maria Rodriguez-Aguirre said she usually works 40-50 extra hours each semester for students who need additional assistance, but only gets paid for nine. She said she wants to make a difference at SWC and see her students succeed, but she has to work a full-time job during the day because she cannot make a living wage as a college instructor.
“I really love SWC,” she said. “It is part of me, part of my children. I would love to teach here full-time at some point, but right now there has not been an opportunity for me.”
Professor of Philosophy Alejandro Orozco said adjuncts are the “backbone of the college” and he feels fortunate to have a full-time position at SWC.
“I am a spotted owl,” he said. “I represent a very small percentage of full-time, fully-employed, fully-represented people with health care benefit. I am living good! I have that, but I would love that for our part-time faculty members, too.”
Johnson said two adjuncts live in their cars. He said he works 70 hours a week and still requires government assistance to feed his family. Part-time instructors are integral to the academic success of students and should be compensated as such, he said.
Part-time educators inform SWC students about the reality of being an adjunct professor.
