[INDOLOGY] What is an “Instructional Professor?”

[Andrew Ollett]

Dear all,

I agree that this is one of many structural issues in U.S. higher education
(and more broadly). I would add, however, that "Instructional Professors"
at the University of Chicago have one thing that tenure-stream faculty
don't have (and legally can't have): union representation. The title
"Instructional Professor" itself, along with details such as course load,
renewal, promotion, annual raises, leave, and benefits, is governed by
a collective
bargaining agreement
<https://intranet.uchicago.edu/-/media/project/uchicago-tenant/intranet/human-resources/collective-bargaining-agreements/seiu-local-73-lecturers.pdf>
between the University of Chicago and Service Employees International Union
Local 73.

Andrew


On Tue, Sep 29, 2026 at 7:59 PM Dominik Wujastyk via INDOLOGY <
indology at list.indology.info> wrote:

> More or less so, yes.  Universities have long shamelessly exploited
> early-career academics by hiring them on temporary contracts and assigning
> them a large teaching burden.  This is well-known under the name "
> precariate <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Precariat>".  Many within the
> university system recognize how damaging and exploitative this is to junior
> academics and are making efforts to improve the situation.  Calling such a
> hire a "teaching professor" is a well-intended attempt to provide some
> dignity and recognition to the employee and a better job title that may
> strengthen their CV and improve future employment opportunities.   However,
> the underlying problem of precarity is not solved.
>
> Best wishes,
> Dominik
>
> --
> Dominik Wujastyk, Professor Emeritus, Classical Indian History
> University of Alberta
>
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