Iowa State Faculty Senate Debates Tenure For Adjuncts

THE FACULTY SENATE at Iowa State University is looking to create part-time tenure-track positions and adjunct instructor changes. Senate members hope to establish a policy that would create guidelines for how part-time faculty can gain tenure at Iowa State. Currently, there is no policy, and tenure is limited to only full-time faculty.

Jack Girton, Faculty Senate at-large senator for the College of Agriculture, says those faculty who choose to work part-time should be recognized as well.
There is disagreement, however, as to whether those who work part-time should be considered full faculty members. Girton went on to say that there are those faculty who argue that a faculty position is, by definition, something that can only be done full-time.

Other Faculty Senate members, however, argue that such a title is too limiting.

There is also the problem of whether it’s feasible to create tenure guidelines for part-time faculty, many of whom may find it difficult to dedicate the amount of time required by the institution to gain tenure.

“I think yes, lecturers should be considered faculty,” says Sana Akili, a part-time marketing lecturer.
Akili says she feels there should be long-term employment opportunities for part-time faculty.