Massachusetts’ ambitious plan to make community college free is laudable in its goal, but critics warn it may come at the expense of the very instructors who make higher education possible. The proposal, aimed at boosting affordability and access, would rely heavily on the good will of already overworked and underpaid adjunct faculty. As the plan moves forward, questions are mounting over whether it will simply exacerbate the exploitation of those on the frontlines of teaching and learning.
Adjuncts: The Backbone of Higher Education
Adjunct professors, who work on a contract basis without the benefits or job security of tenure-track positions, form the backbone of community college instruction. They teach the majority of courses, often for poverty-level wages and without offices, professional development, or a voice in departmental affairs. Despite their integral role, adjuncts are frequently forced to juggle multiple jobs, commute between campuses, and grade papers in coffee shops. The result is a precarious, unsustainable model that threatens both instructor well-being and educational quality.
Free College, At What Cost?
While making community college free would undoubtedly benefit students, many fear it would come at the expense of further exploiting adjuncts. The Massachusetts plan relies on redirecting existing funds rather than investing new money, leaving many to wonder how schools will absorb the added enrollment without hiring more full-time faculty. The likely result, critics warn, is an even greater reliance on adjunct labor, with instructors shouldering the burden of expanded course loads and responsibilities without commensurate pay or support.
A Matter of Equity
The issue goes beyond mere economics, striking at the heart of educational equity. Research has shown that heavy reliance on adjuncts can negatively impact student outcomes, particularly for the very low-income and minority students free college aims to help. When instructors lack office hours, advising time, and even access to photocopying, it erects barriers to support and success. By exacerbating the adjunctification of the faculty, free college could inadvertently widen the equity gaps it seeks to close.
A Call for Sustainable Funding
As Massachusetts moves forward with its free college plan, it must confront the elephant in the room – the unsustainable working conditions of its adjunct faculty. This will require more than just redirecting funds, but a fundamental commitment to valuing and supporting those who teach. Whether through converting adjunct lines to tenure-track, providing professional development, or simply paying a living wage, creating a just and equitable higher education system demands investing in the instructors who make it run. Anything less risks undermining the very goals free college seeks to achieve.
