(476b) Stategies to Support Contingent Faculty in Engineering for Better Work Conditions

This faculty development workshop will help participants better understand the barriers that contingent faculty in engineering face. Contingent faculty are non-tenure track faculty who had positions that are contract-term bound or are of a temporary appointment. Literature suggests that contingent faculty face a slew of challenges that their tenure-track colleagues don't such as job insecurity, inconsistent health care, low pay, lack of sense of belonging, and under-resourced working conditions. The lack of stable working conditions for these faculty, in turn, negatively impact student persistence and retention.

This workshop will present some findings from the authors' research following by reflection activities and dialogue on professional development opportunities to help faculty identify strategies to help them advocate for better working conditions. While the workshop is tailored to contingent faculty, graduate students, postdocs, administrators, and tenure-track faculty are welcome to join.