Eight reasons are given against the use of merit pay for university faculty. The introduction of salary schedules is suggested to eliminate the debates and inequities of merit evaluations. (FG)

The contemporary academic labor market is examined using concepts from labor market economics and sociology to elucidate why teaching, universally acknowledged to be at the center of American academic life, is not at the center of the academic labor market and is only modestly rewarded. First, tenets of the neoclassical labor market model are…

Argues that faculty evaluation procedures undertaken to improve instruction need to be separate from those used to reward excellence. (SRT)

Adam Smith's discussion of the payment modes of teachers and resulting consequences for the quality of teaching and process of curricular innovation are reviewed through the conceptual lens of modern agency theory. Smith's analysis of higher education in his day (eighteenth century) sheds light on faculty incentive and assessment problems that…

Nine observations on an article published in the September 1982 "ABCA Bulletin" deal with the quality of college-level technical writing programs and the competency of teachers involved in those programs. (AEA)

Most college and university administrators claim to care deeply about the quality of teaching at their institutions. But, too often, their actions belie their words. Consider, for example, the following questions. Which candidate for a faculty position is usually viewed as more attractive, the promising researcher or the promising teacher? Who…

The types of merit pay increments and arguments for and against merit increments are reviewed, along with important variables a college should address when considering merit increments. The least common system at colleges and universities today is that of determining the entire faculty salary on the basis of merit. Most common at the university…

Distinctive characteristics of higher education institutions in Texas are described. Its lack of recognition as a leading state higher education system is emphasized. Academe in Texas is viewed as being in the developing stages but showing great potential. (BH)

Perspectives on the use of adjunct faculty are provided by the Chancellor of Indiana University at Kokomo. Colleges can call upon adjunct faculty to offer courses that would not ordinarily be offered. Adjunct faculty are important in bringing an amount of productivity and experience to degree programs, since they bring expertise in a given…

Current teacher-compensation policies typically reward teachers for years of experience and level of knowledge as measured by educational credits. However, the current system does little to encourage teachers to develop the skills needed to achieve organizational goals. This paper examines the compensation systems in four complex, knowledge-based…

In order for teacher compensation to serve as an incentive that reinforces broader organizational goals, the norms of the compensation structure must be aligned with the norms of the school organization. The first section of this paper presents a brief overview of changes in teacher compensation from 1820 to 1950. It describes how such changes…

A junior faculty member reflects on the dilemma of that professional position, noting that its anxieties fall into two categories: "Is this all there is?" and "What if we lose it?" She examines problems with, and prohibitions against, speaking one's mind in that position, sees solutions as being institutional or individual, and examines how…

Six major areas of part-time college faculty employment practices are discussed that illustrate how current practice can be detrimental to part-time faculty performance. Attention is directed to appointment, support services, communication with peers, participation in governance, compensation, and job security. The following areas that require…

It is argued that use of a management system can improve faculty productivity through reduction of rivalry and increased teamwork and collaboration. Monitoring of productivity with computers encourages self-competition. The five-stage process is described. (MSE)

Ways in which colleges can meet the needs of part-time faculty are suggested, based upon the experiences of community colleges. Recommendations concern basic needs, orientation, and staff development and evaluation. Advice for institutions includes: establish a salary scale for part-time faculty equal to that for full-time faculty teaching…