 "Liberal professors are ruining college," reads a recent headline in Boston Magazine. In a conservative state like Louisiana that has one of the worst records on education in the nation and has cut funding to higher education over the past decade more than any other state, it is not uncommon to hear college professors vilified in public narratives. “I’m no ivory tower scholar,” some may say pejoratively. Others may say something like, “College professors are a bunch of out-of-touch liberals who don’t know what it is like to have to work for a living” My purpose in writing this blog is not to debate labels, but I would like to debunk some common myths about life as a professor. | |
Those who can't do, teach? Think again!
I am not sure labels are very helpful, but depending on one’s perspective some college professors are liberal, but then again plenty are social conservatives. I myself was a pastor for 16 years before I became a professor. I do not personally know a single instructor who earns a six-figure salary; although I know several who have six-figure school loan debt. The first obvious point to clarify is that even if you think a typical college professor works too little and is paid too much (and I will address this myth shortly), think of the years of education and training that go into preparing one to become a professor. I challenge anyone who thinks it would be easy to be a college professor to earn three or four degrees and write a 300-page dissertation to gain the credentials to become a professor, and then come talk to me. I say this not to sound elitist, but to point out the obvious: becoming a professor takes years of hard work, personal sacrifice, and financial commitment, not unlike what is needed to become a physician or lawyer with a terminal doctoral degree. But let’s talk about the return on investment.
Professors are overpaid? Think again!
As a college instructor at a state university my salary is a matter of public record, as is the salary of every other state employee. When I was hired in 2010 it was with a contract to teach five classes each fall and spring, and the salary was a far cry from six figures at only $34,000. Six years later, I have not had a single merit or cost of living raise, but I did earn a promotion, and my salary is now a whopping $37,202. I am still required to teach four classes each fall and spring. Why only four classes now? Because with the promotion comes the expectation of publishing research.
Professors have an easy work schedule? Think again!
I think my example clearly debunks this mythical figment of imagination that a typical college professor rides a gravy train, but let me go ahead and set the record straight on a few more things. In addition to teaching my classes and publishing research, I am required to provide “service” to my department, academic college, university, and the local community. This means I am expected to devote a significant amount of my time to maintaining regular office hours, serving on various committees, advising students, supporting student organizations and events, and doing various volunteer work in the community. I do not have a teaching assistant, and some weeks it seems like I will never get out from under the mountain of grading I have to do. I am also expected to perform research. I am expected to produce papers and present them at regional, national and international conferences—often without a travel fund that fully reimburses me. With my promotion, the tenure clock also started ticking. This means I have six years to perform the necessary research and get it published in highly competitive peer-reviewed scholarly publications, and to dot all the other I’s and cross all the other T’s in order to earn tenure or else at the end of the six years I will lose my job.
Professors receive a great pension? Think again!
Although I am only required to teach four classes each term (which is a full load and one done without the aid of any teaching assistants), I take on many more than four by teaching overload courses for my university and by doing adjunct teaching for two other schools in order to supplement my income. Any of this supplemental income earned within the state college system is subject to the standard deductions for my state retirement, even though the income itself is not factored into my pension formula (think of it as akin to taxation without representation); the pension is only based on my base salary. I will never receive my full pension either because I entered the career field later in life and will most likely not be able to put in a full 30 years. But wait, it gets better, because I will receive a partial state pension one day, I cannot collect my full social security benefit. Some gravy train, huh?
Professors get the summer off? Think again!
Now let’s talk about those summers off. What summers off? I work all summer long without pay. I have to do research and writing over the summer because of the tenure requirements, plus I have to research and do course prep for new classes I will be teaching in the fall. The committees I serve on also continue to meet over the summer. Granted, I do not have to show up at an office or punch a clock, but I am still working throughout the summer, although I am not receiving a paycheck for it. But I still need a paycheck during the summer, so I teach at least two summer courses every year in order to supplement my income.
Yes, there are some college professors, albeit a very small minority, who may only have to teach one or two courses and earn a six-figure salary. I have never seen one in person, but I hear they do exist. But even these have a heavy burden of research and an expectation of publishing their research that can be very demanding. And this research in university labs, almost completely funded by grants, is what often leads to innovations and amazing scientific breakthroughs. The value of a professor is not determined merely by course load. The easiest work I do is in the classroom. What I do in the classroom is, however, a relatively small part of my job as a college professor.
Yes, there are some college professors, albeit a very small minority, who may only have to teach one or two courses and earn a six-figure salary. I have never seen one in person, but I hear they do exist. But even these have a heavy burden of research and an expectation of publishing their research that can be very demanding. And this research in university labs, almost completely funded by grants, is what often leads to innovations and amazing scientific breakthroughs. The value of a professor is not determined merely by course load. The easiest work I do is in the classroom. What I do in the classroom is, however, a relatively small part of my job as a college professor.
So, why teach?
Despite all of this, believe it or not, I love teaching students. I love being a college professor, but it is not because of the pay or because it is an easy job. I love being a college professor because I believe in the value of higher education. I believe it is important help students develop the discipline, understandings and critical thinking skills that can hopefully lead to a more prosperous and civil society. If that is an important goal for you as well, then thank a teacher, thank a college professor, and elect legislators who will defend higher education and restore its proper funding levels.
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