Contingent Labor: The Realities, Implications, and Cautions for Latinx Studies and Latinx Scholars

The decline of tenure-line positions and the increase of contingent faculty threatens the stability of higher education. What are the specific ways in which this new relationship of labor within the university affect Latinx... [ view full abstract ]

The decline of tenure-line positions and the increase of contingent faculty threatens the stability of higher education. What are the specific ways in which this new relationship of labor within the university affect Latinx Studies? How will this affect the production of knowledge in Latinx scholarship? This roundtable explores the lived-reality of contingency, a description of the problems for faculty and students, and some recommendations for contingent scholars, their allies, and the Latina/o Studies Association.

1) What are the conditions of contingent/ precariat labor? We will discuss compensation, titles, research funds, mentorship, and high teaching loads, as well as professional development as part of controlling the means of production.

Specifically, how does contingent/precariat labor shape mental health, scholarship production, and academic efforts both inside and outside of the classroom? (Lea Hernandez)

What's at stake regarding the production of knowledge in relation to Latinx Studies scholarship? (Myrna Garcia)

2) How do we contextualize the recent calls for increased institutional diversity in relations to the overwhelming number of under-employed Latino and Black PhDs and how well are Latinx PhDs prepared to labor outside of academia? (Sergio Lemus)

3) Pragmatically: Drawing on the trope of migrant labor and the historical contexts that control means of production in the academy, we outline specific kinds of requests that can/should be made by non-tenure eligible faculty, recommendations on how how tenure-line faculty might support their colleagues, and a concluding gesture toward Latinx Studies students.(Monica Russel y Rodriguez)

4) How might the universities, academic association, and non-profit organizations/granting agencies partner to creating platforms and proactive strategies to address this changing landscape in a manner that advances Latinx knowledge production. (Arlene Torres)