Why We Must Oppose New Teaching-Only Streams

Abstract

Across Canada, university faculty and their unions are being asked to accept new colleagues who will be full-time teachers, but not scholars. Teaching-only streams are high on the agenda of academic managers looking for ways to cheapen labour costs. The model varies a good deal, but typically, it seems, these instructors are asked to teach four full-year courses. They are not expected to engage in any scholarship (except perhaps that related to pedagogy), and are not assessed on such professional contributions. They might have some job security, perhaps even something approximating tenure, but not necessarily.