Melinda Ciccocioppo
I was nine months pregnant when I defended my dissertation at the University of Pittsburgh. Writing and taking care of a two-year-old was a challenge to say the least, and after I defended I was ready to move on. Ready for more stability, more respect, and more money. Unfortunately, I would discover that my struggle for these things had just begun.
Having taught all through graduate school, I knew I wanted to keep teaching. Over the next four years, I worked as an adjunct instructor at several institutions in western PA, including Pitt. Yet I earned half as much money as an adjunct as I had made as a graduate student teaching fellow (which was barely enough to live on to begin with). In fact, at Pitt I was paid half as much to teach a course I had taught as a graduate student. Since there was no guarantee that I would be able to teach from one semester to the next, I took every course that was offered—some semesters I taught five courses at three different institutions.
Needless to say, I was ecstatic to finally land a full-time NTS position at Pitt last year. I love teaching. I love my department, and I love the University of Pittsburgh, but I still find myself searching for the stability, respect, and money that all faculty deserve. Last semester, I taught over 1,000 students, yet I make substantially less than tenure-stream faculty in my department, and my contract is up for renewal every year. I support the union because, without it, we have no power to influence the administration to enact changes that will benefit our faculty, our students, and ultimately our institution. Solidarity is our greatest strength.
--Melinda Ciccocioppo, Psychology
Having taught all through graduate school, I knew I wanted to keep teaching. Over the next four years, I worked as an adjunct instructor at several institutions in western PA, including Pitt. Yet I earned half as much money as an adjunct as I had made as a graduate student teaching fellow (which was barely enough to live on to begin with). In fact, at Pitt I was paid half as much to teach a course I had taught as a graduate student. Since there was no guarantee that I would be able to teach from one semester to the next, I took every course that was offered—some semesters I taught five courses at three different institutions.
Needless to say, I was ecstatic to finally land a full-time NTS position at Pitt last year. I love teaching. I love my department, and I love the University of Pittsburgh, but I still find myself searching for the stability, respect, and money that all faculty deserve. Last semester, I taught over 1,000 students, yet I make substantially less than tenure-stream faculty in my department, and my contract is up for renewal every year. I support the union because, without it, we have no power to influence the administration to enact changes that will benefit our faculty, our students, and ultimately our institution. Solidarity is our greatest strength.
--Melinda Ciccocioppo, Psychology
