In this policy memo, PHENOM makes the case for why legislators should implement the Adjunct Pilot Program (H. 1434) in the 2025-2026 legislative session. Universities’ chronic mistreatment of adjunct faculty is not just a disservice to the professors themselves: adjunct faculty’s poor conditions hurt students’ learning outcomes as well. Read the full policy paper below!
Amid fiscal uncertainty due to federal funding cuts, the Adjunct Faculty Pilot Program creates a trial run for key improvements to adjunct faculty working conditions at the cost of just $2 million per year for three years.
While a more comprehensive bill such as the Adjunct Faculty Reform Act (AFRA) is necessary to give adjunct faculty the quality of life they deserve — and in turn, give students the education they deserve — the current fiscal constraints mean passing the Adjunct Pilot Program is the next best option.
By testing out the implementation of key tenets of AFRA such as healthcare benefits, career advancement and improved resources, the Adjunct Pilot Program would pave the way for AFRA’s eventual passage. All the while, it would show policymakers what works and what does not so they can make improvements to existing legislation.