Are Higher Education Faculty Essential Workers Amid Pandemic?

As the world continues to navigate the ongoing pandemic, identifying essential workers has become more critical than ever. Essential workers are those who directly contribute to ensuring the continued safety and functioning of society. These include first responders, hospital staff, grocery store workers, and food production and delivery personnel. However, does the crucial role of higher education faculty during a pandemic come to light through their essential work?

Learning from the Pandemic

The term 'essential workers' originally encompassed individuals whose roles are vital in maintaining the necessary infrastructure of society. As the pandemic surged, this definition expanded to include those essential in the digital realm, ensuring that educational institutions continued operations seamlessly. Faculty members, especially those in higher education, played a pivotal role in ensuring the continuity of learning through online teaching and asynchronous methods.

Personal Reflection: A Faculty Member's Perspective

As a faculty member, I often reflect on my role and contributions to the academic community. While I proudly identify as a great teacher, a competent researcher, and a cooperative colleague on committees, paperwork is an area where I require support. Managing administrative tasks requires efficiency and timeliness, which can be challenging. Compromised administrative support can severely impact my travel opportunities, desired teaching assignments, and more.

Working closely with administrative staff, I often find solutions to problems quickly and effectively. This is partly due to their ability to address issues promptly and efficiently. In times of crisis, such as the pandemic, having a competent administrative assistant is crucial for maintaining institutional continuity. The transition of such roles from one individual to another can sometimes disrupt normal operations, underscoring the importance of having reliable support staff.

The Role of Administrative Assistants in Higher Education

Administrative assistants in higher education institutions are the ‘problem solvers’ who ensure that behind-the-scenes operations run smoothly. They play a critical role in maintaining the institutional memory and training new staff members, ensuring that the institution can withstand changes in leadership. This continuity is essential for the smooth functioning of higher education institutions.

Through online teaching and remote evaluation, I have been involved in a wide range of hiring and evaluation processes. Being able to participate in these processes without the constraints of traditional classroom schedules is a significant advantage. The versatility required to assess different roles—from high-level administrators to ground staff—highlights the importance of administrative assistants. These staff members are behind-the-scenes champions who ensure that all components of an institution can function optimally.

Conclusion

Higher education faculty members, while not traditionally categorized as 'essential workers,' play a critical role in ensuring the continuity and quality of education during challenging times. Their ability to adapt to online teaching and coordinate various administrative processes demonstrates their importance in the current landscape. Administrative assistants, often unrecognized, are the backbone of these institutions, ensuring that essential work can continue even in the face of adversity.

Keywords

higher education faculty essential workers pandemic response