A is for “Adjunct”: Examining Grade Inflation in Higher Education

Abstract

Though grade inflation is hardly a new problem, it may be worsening as universities increase their reliance on temporary, part-time instructors. Adjunct instructors, hired on a term-by-term basis, are easily replaced; thus, most face serious pressure to earn good evaluations from students. Keeping students happy may mean giving higher, potentially inflated, grades. This study explicitly compared the average class grade given by adjunct instructors and full-time faculty over a 2-year period at a small public university. The results suggest that adjunct instructors do give higher grades than do full-time faculty.