2003 ChemLuminary Award Nominations

Award Category: Division-Local Section Interaction

After the January, 2003 C&EN article on adjunct faculty and their plight, the Chicago Section and the Division of Professional Relations decided to co-sponsor a symposium at the Great Lakes Regional Meeting on the various issues surrounding the use of part time faculty by institutions of higher education. The Division is always concerned with conditions affecting chemists working in any venue and the Section has a very large number of chemists working in education. The Chair of the Section and the Chair of the Division served as co-chairs and organizers of the symposium.

The four individuals chosen to present at the symposium came with different perspectives on the issues involved. They included a former part time instructor, a full time faculty member, a former dean and a union representative. Following these presentations, a very lively question and answer period took place with active participation by members of the audience as well as the presenters. Everyone agreed that the symposium was both informative and thought-provoking.

Attendance at the session was very good all afternoon, averaging about 25 even though there were several other concurrent sessions. The members of the audience ranged from experienced teachers to retired chemists to graduate students.

Shortly after the meeting, SOCED contacted us with a request for information on the symposium and adjunct faculty issues was put on their agenda for the New York meeting. At that meeting, they set up a subcommittee to look further into this matter. If guidelines for adjunct faculty eventually come out of this, both the Section and the Division will be extremely satisfied with their collaboration. This is an issue that needs more attention.

Adjunct Faculty Issues in Higher Education

James Maxwell, former adjunct faculty member at several institutions
Susan Shih, full time faculty at College of DuPage and former adjunct
Constance Churchill, former dean and current full time faculty at Oakton Community College
Donna Manering, Illinois Education Association Higher Education representative
Co-sponsored by Division of Professional Relations & the Chicago Local Section

2/26/04