National Bureau of Economic Research study based on data from more than 15,000 students who arrived at Northwestern University from 2001 to 2008.
Study Sees Benefit in Courses With Nontenured Instructors
By TAMAR LEWIN
Published: September 9, 2013
While many higher education experts — and parents — bemoan the fact that tenured professors are a shrinking presence, now making up less than a quarter of the academic work force, a study released Monday found, surprisingly, that students in introductory classes learned more from outside instructors than from tenured or tenure-track professors.
Students taught by untenured faculty were more likely to take a second course in the discipline and more likely to earn a better grade in the next course than those whose first course was taught by a tenured or tenure-track instructor, the report said.
By TAMAR LEWIN
Published: September 9, 2013
While many higher education experts — and parents — bemoan the fact that tenured professors are a shrinking presence, now making up less than a quarter of the academic work force, a study released Monday found, surprisingly, that students in introductory classes learned more from outside instructors than from tenured or tenure-track professors.
Students taught by untenured faculty were more likely to take a second course in the discipline and more likely to earn a better grade in the next course than those whose first course was taught by a tenured or tenure-track instructor, the report said.
See Also
- Berrett, Dan. “Adjuncts Are Better Teachers Than Tenured Professors, Study Finds.” Chronicle of Higher Education September 9, 2013.
- Figlio at SSRN
- Jaschik Scott. “The Adjunct Advantage.” Inside Higher Ed September 9, 2013
- Safdar, Khadeeja. “Students Learn Better From Professors Outside Tenure System.” Wall Street Journal Blog
- Schapiro President of Northwestern Page
