Recent decisions to alter the UB women's studies program - specifically phasing out adjunct professors that teach many of its popular classes - have reignited arguments that have long plagued the department.
Women's studies is an educational discipline that, more so than most traditional college programs, is under constant scrutiny. Opponents say feminism is a dead issue - sometimes labeled a 1960s dinosaur - while proponents contend that with the global community becoming increasingly connected, the need for women's studies has never been greater.
The department, which branched off of the American studies department 10 years ago, has been rapidly developing since its inception, with core faculty doubling in the past two years.
"Women's studies was established as a department 10 years ago, with only one permanent faculty member," said Barbara Wejnert, the program's chair. "The department is developing rapidly. Three years ago, we had half the full-time tenure-track faculty we have now."
And this swift expansion has brought the department to a major turning point, where in order to continue to succeed, the department must phase out adjunct professors and look to hiring full-time tenure-track professors.
"In order to provide regular teaching to undergraduates when the department was starting, we had to reach into temporary service and hire adjuncts on a per-semester basis. At the beginning, the department had to hire up to five adjuncts teaching on a temporary basis," Wejnert said. "Phasing adjuncts out step by step and replacing with tenure-track faculty gives more service and can better represent school."
Some students, however, say that getting rid of the adjunct women's studies professors is doing a disservice.
"It's great to see the department expanding, but in the same breath, it's like it's undervaluing the education here," said Joelle Bence, a senior women's studies major and president of the Women's Center. "It's a double-edged sword, really."
Tara Viceconte, a senior women's studies major and one of the most vocal opponents to the firings, agreed.
"We do have professors who teach more than one course as adjuncts, and they are extremely, extremely qualified in their field," Viceconte said. "We have adjunct professors who are active in the legal system who have experience that can't be paralleled by people doing research. We have people in the medical system, and these are people who are extremely well regarded in both medical and feminist communities. And these people are being fired."
And while these adjuncts may be exceptionally qualified to teach their respective subjects, Wejnert said the department would benefit more from full-time faculty filling those positions.
"An adjunct professor is temporary, and they perform very different tasks than a full-time faculty member," Wejnert said. "Full-time faculty guide senior theses and honor theses and are working with undergraduate and graduate students on an extended basis, whereas a temporary instructor cannot do any work with graduate students. Tenure-track faculty not only serve students on levels adjuncts cannot, but they serve graduate students better."
Unlike adjunct professors, full-time university professors represent the department on different committees and can work to develop the department by streamlining the curriculum. Additionally, the full-time professors have opportunities to present and publish research, which ultimately increases the university's reputation and, in turn, grants to the department.
"Adjuncts can't do this," Wejnert said. "Ultimately, building a core base of full-time tenure-track faculty better serves the students in the women's studies department."
Viceconte said adjuncts have specific advantages over permanent faculty.
"The problem is that the adjuncts have the most attractive classes at this point, and they're the ones attracting the most students to become women's studies majors and minors," Viceconte said. "They get the best reviews at the end of the semester, and they also have the highest enrollment in their courses."
She said this is due to the adjuncts' "real-life" experiences they bring to the classroom.
"The adjuncts that I talk to have other jobs, they don't need to teach for an income. But they teach because they care primarily about the students and they care about the department, they're not there to further their careers," Viceconte said.
"Instead, these adjuncts are being replaced either by full-time faculty who don't spend time in the field or by inexperienced graduate students," she added.
Despite students' protests, Wejnert maintains that hiring full-time faculty is the best move for the women's studies department at this time.
"As the department grows and develops, the hiring of full-time professors is a good sign because it shows support and good faith from the university. It shows that UB has a vested interest in developing this department," Wejnert said. "We don't intend to lose the practical point of view or ties to the community, which traditionally came from adjuncts, this will only add to what we have. This phase-out will only help develop the department."
And while Bence said she understands the reasoning behind these changes, she would have liked more advanced notice.
"Nobody was given notice, and that's the biggest thing that upset the students. Nobody was included in the making of this decision," Bence said. "I was upset about it, but I'm more understanding now. Regardless, it's still sad to see them go, and I would like to see exceptions here and there."
