Adjunct faculty members across U.S. universities increasingly face uncompensated research demands as institutions pursue prestigious AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) accreditation. This growing practice forces contingent educators to undertake academic publishing far beyond their contractual teaching obligations, creating what experts call “the invisible tax” on part-time professors.
The Accreditation Paradox: How AACSB Standards Create Unfair Burdens
The AACSB accreditation process evaluates business schools on faculty research output, but institutions often transfer this burden disproportionately to adjunct instructors. While full-time professors receive course reductions and research support, contingent faculty typically receive:
- No additional compensation for publishing
- No reduction in teaching loads
- Limited access to research resources
Contractual Imbalances in Academic Labor
Most adjunct contracts specify teaching duties only, yet department chairs increasingly pressure faculty to publish. A 2022 AAUP study found 68% of adjuncts faced implicit research expectations despite having no contractual research obligations. This creates a “publish or perish-lite” scenario where:
- Teaching-focused faculty must suddenly become researchers
- Evaluation criteria shift without contract amendments
- Career advancement becomes tied to uncompensated work
Structural Solutions for Equitable Evaluation
Reforming this system requires multi-stakeholder action. Universities could:
- Clearly define expectations in initial contracts
- Offer proportional compensation for research work
- Create separate teaching- and research-track positions
Accreditation bodies like AACSB must also reconsider how they measure faculty qualifications, moving beyond blanket research requirements that incentivize institutional exploitation of contingent educators.
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