Professor vs. Senior Lecturer

Posted: Friday, March 28, 2008 10:17 AM by Domenico Montanaro

From NBC's Domenico Montanaro
The University of Chicago released a statement clarifying Obama's status at the university. He is a senior lecturer and has cited that he is a constitutional law professor on the trail. That's something that has caused some criticism and allegations of exaggeration. It's something the Clinton campaign has pushed as well in conference calls with reporters in the past week.

Here's the statement:
"The Law School has received many media requests about Barack Obama, especially about his status as "Senior Lecturer." From 1992 until his election to the U.S. Senate in 2004, Barack Obama served as a professor in the Law School. He was a Lecturer from 1992 to 1996. He was a Senior Lecturer from 1996 to 2004, during which time he taught three courses per year. Senior Lecturers are considered to be members of the Law School faculty and are regarded as professors, although not full-time or tenure-track. The title of Senior Lecturer is distinct from the title of Lecturer, which signifies adjunct status. Like Obama, each of the Law School's Senior Lecturers have high-demand careers in politics or public service, which prevent full-time teaching. Several times during his 12 years as a professor in the Law School, Obama was invited to join the faculty in a full-time tenure-track position, but he declined.

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Comments

As the wife of a University Lecturer not even a "Senior" one) I can assure you that they teach the same courses, and the same students as tenured Professors. A Senior Lecturer is a lauded position that is reserved for very high-level professionals who are too busy to take a full-time Professorship which has all sorts of administrative and committee duties.
Clearly Obama was not lying or even exagerating - he never called himself a Full Professor.

Colleen, NY (Sent Friday, March 28, 2008 11:01 AM)

For those of you who obviously do not understand the nuances of academia, calling yourself a professor is legit even if you are an adjunct and serve as a junior lecturer or senior lecturer. I don't see any big deal with any of Obama's terminology about his role at the Univ. of Chicago Law School. FYI, I'm an adjunct research professor and I also teach part-time, research most of the time. These titles are sometimes arbitrary and many times dependent on whether or not you bring external research funding into the university. Money and financial compensation usually provide the bottom line definition or designation of a position title and that can also vary among universities/colleges/professional schools. I vote that the Clintons STOP nit-picking. This is not an issue...but I suppose they think they can make it one with an uninformed public that may distrust all those professorial "elites".

KYObserver (Sent Friday, March 28, 2008 11:02 AM)

And so what is wrong with being the first black president and making more money? I would rather have someone in office who knows about government, and how it works, rather than a complete buffoon, like the one we currently have. Incidentally, GWB certainly has reached the highest level of incompetency, demonstating the "Peter Priciple" to perfection.

Obama supporter, AZ (Sent Friday, March 28, 2008 11:03 AM)

So glad that's settled.

John Mehan, San Francisco, CA (Sent Friday, March 28, 2008 11:04 AM)

During my time in college any individual who taught law for a full time was consifered a professor.PERIOD.

sozzi (Sent Friday, March 28, 2008 11:04 AM)

There seems to be little comprehension of what the University of Chicago has just said.
In plain English, they regarded Sen. Obama as a professor - the only reason the title was not bestowed was that he still had a job as community organizer, per Sen. Obama's wish.
If the University of Chicago offers a person a full-time, tenure track position as law professor - that is a full statement of that individual's qualifications.
For the clinton's to try to use this as resume inflation is totally incorrect - they are counting on those persons who are unfamiliar with academic titles to misinterpret what they say. Bravo for all the dummies who haven't yet understood that Hillary LIED again on this one.
12 years of teaching our Constitution to law students is certainly more than relevant to leading the United States - if any of you happen to have a copy, check out the oath of office - it requires the incoming President to declare to uphold said Constitution.

Sara, Wisconsin (Sent Friday, March 28, 2008 11:07 AM)

This is what the Clinton campaign now comes up with. Is he a Senior Lector or not. It seems the U of C confirms he is/was. Hill's husband should be the expert of what the word "is"-is so ask him. Please, stop insulting the intelligence of the voters. Can she now see why her negitive rating keeps going up?

dt,IL (Sent Friday, March 28, 2008 11:11 AM)

A politician saying anything to get elected? You mean like Hillary lying about landing in sniper fire in Bosnia?
You mean like Hillary lying about just how involved she was in the peace process in Northern Ireland?Is that what you are talking about Eric?
Obama '08

Obama Supporter, NY (Sent Friday, March 28, 2008 11:12 AM)

Come on folks, it's all over cept the shoutin'. You know it, I know it, the American people know it. In some ways I can sympathise. It's hard to give up something everyone was telling you for years was yours. But it didn't turn out that way. Preserve some dignity Senator Clinton

Peggy Greensboro (Sent Friday, March 28, 2008 11:13 AM)

Hillar fans CANNOT you read this: OBAMA WAS INVITED SEVERAL TIMES BY UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO TO JOIN FACULTY AS FULL TIME TENURE TRACK PROFESSOR , OBAMA DECLINED.

what in it can you pinheads not understand?

"" Several times during his 12 years as a professor in the Law School, Obama was invited to join the faculty in a full-time tenure-track position, but he declined.""

JSmith (Sent Friday, March 28, 2008 11:14 AM)

Pat,

Obviously you cannot read, and from reading many of your post, you don't know how to spell or write simple sentences. Lecturing, teaching, and Professors are all things that must be to intellectual for you to understand. I am a teacher, and I am HIGHLY OFFENDED that you would say teaching is just pretty words. This shows a complete lack of RESPECT and INTELLIGENCE.

Furthermore, instead of whining like a child over something that you obviously do not understand, why don't you go ask YOUR candidate why she LIED to your face about her little trip to Bosnia. Of course you probably wouldn't understand that either.

p.s. My second graders have a better command of written language than you. How pathetic.

PROUD to be a 2nd Grade teacher (Sent Friday, March 28, 2008 11:14 AM)

This is soooooo stupid. As former editor of the Harvard Law Review (and as the first black editor) Obama could have had a tenure-track faculty position at any law school in the United States. He chose equivalent but non-tenure track senior lecturer status to pursue separate legal and political careers. Unbelievably petty by the Clinton campaign.

Kensingtonbill (Sent Friday, March 28, 2008 11:16 AM)

Obama is not running on his "experience" as a law professor. He is not creating stories about that experience nor is he creating television ads with him in front of the classrroom.

Hillary is running on her foreign policy "experience" which now consists of a bunch of fairytales and false television advertisements.

Romona (Sent Friday, March 28, 2008 11:19 AM)

Not even close to being comprable to "Sniperfire-GATE"

Mary, Ohio (Sent Friday, March 28, 2008 11:22 AM)

And that settles that question...any other petty attacks from the Clinton camp?

Joe (Sent Friday, March 28, 2008 11:23 AM)

A Lecturer is considered a PROFESSOR. Not sure what the story is here, other than Hillary's Exaggeration again about the truth. The story is he was a Lecturer and Professor. So one in the same, he did not lie, he did not exaggerate he spoke the truth.. Just another game of semantics being played by the Clinton Campaign.

Roger B (Sent Friday, March 28, 2008 11:24 AM)

"Twelve years as a teacher of constitutional law. Wow. I didn't realize he did this this long."
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Exactly, which is why all those accusations about him being anti-American are so completely ridiculous. Yeah, he hates America SOOO much that he CHOSE to teach the CONSTITUTION for 12 years.

Linda. Boston, MA (Sent Friday, March 28, 2008 11:28 AM)

Just another Clintonian msitatement. I mean come on folks this is getting insane. How important was it and why does the media waste time and energy looking into it. I mean get a little backbone and don't be diverted by the Clinton Gang.

Candi Yuba City Ca (Sent Friday, March 28, 2008 11:30 AM)

So my question still is...has obama ever worked a real job in the real world or has he always been a ward of the gooberment or the education mill?

You know neither he nor his wife have invested a penny in any kind of retiremeent accounts so you have to wonder how they plan on funding their retirements? I'm guessing they both think the taxpayers owe them a retirement...sounds like entitlement to me

Rick, NC (Sent Friday, March 28, 2008 11:35 AM)

I was a TA during grad school and my students called me professor. I also referred to every adjunct who taught me as "professor." It's both a generic term and a title. To go after Obama on this is ridiculous. If you teach a class in college, you're a professor.

JZ, New Haven, Ct (Sent Friday, March 28, 2008 11:37 AM)

I invite Pat from NY and anyone else to take a constitutional law class for semester and then come back and say whoever ran the class was just a "lecturer". As a law school grad, trust me, it's not "just words". The university's statement is simple and logical. Back to real issues please.

JBanks, Montgomery, AL (Sent Friday, March 28, 2008 11:44 AM)

To Frank at PA:

Please...are you really going to capitalize "Embellished" as if you're raising a substantive issue?

For those who want to talk about substantive issues. Here's a man who taught at one of the nation's top law schools on constitutional law (12 years), was invited to join the law school permanently multiple times.

This is a plus for any candidate (regardless of who you support). Straight talk please.

Hank Husssein (Sent Friday, March 28, 2008 11:45 AM)

Obama built his platform on what experience , he real has none. 7 years in the Illinois Legislation and 2002, was the only year he actually had any bills passed and that was because Emril Jones became Senate majority and gave high priority bills to him, in order to build him up for his Senate run. His time in the US senate was limited. Besides sitting in Rev. Wright's church and taking donations from Rezko what has he really done. Every one helps Obama to get were he is today, the media is the best supporter.

jp,michigan (Sent Friday, March 28, 2008 11:46 AM)

Do any of the reporters on the Clinton conference calls ever put the phone on mute and start laughing amongst themselves?

Just Wondering (Sent Friday, March 28, 2008 11:46 AM)

Addressed To: "See the blank in Obama"

Maybe Obama is runnig for President so that bipartisan legislation might actually get passed instead being vetoed (a major CHANGE). I believe Obama has stated once or twice he intends to CHANGE the way Washington works.

Note the VETO Happy Bush admin's record breaking use of the "NO" stamp!

Tim, Peoria, IL (Sent Friday, March 28, 2008 11:48 AM)

The Clintons would have gotton more propaganda mileage out of the fact that another of U Chicagos professors is one William Ayers. Obama friend and former terrorist.

Lee Holmes (Sent Friday, March 28, 2008 11:49 AM)

If you earmark millions to the University of Chicago, I guess you earned a title!

jp,michigan (Sent Friday, March 28, 2008 11:49 AM)

Good job to UC. My status according to my institution is not "Professor" but my students don't call me "Full-Time, Non-Tenure Track, Visting Assistant Professor XXXX" Good grief Hillary!

James (Sent Friday, March 28, 2008 11:49 AM)

BTW:

I'm an academic, and I should clarify something.

The Univ. of Chicago is pointing out a few things.

1. Obama was not an adjunct lecturer, namely someone you hire like you would hire short term contract work. Unfortunately, adjunct lecturers are looked down upon by full-time faculty.

2. U. Chicago clearly wanted him permanently on the faculty (getting multiple tenure-track offers from one of the top law schools is quite astounding).

3. They state clearly that they have outstanding faculty who have full time jobs doing public service, etc. Senior Lecturer is their compromise position to be able to retain oustanding scholars.

I think this is clearly a plus for his candidacy. Clear headed people supporting other candidates should acknowledge this and move on.

I didn't realize, but am even more impressed, that he was invited to join the faculty multiple times. From the academic world's standpoint, that is a significant sign of his intellectual mettle on a very important issue to all of us (i.e. constitutional law).

Hank Husssein (Sent Friday, March 28, 2008 11:51 AM)

It's about time this gets out! Come on, who attacks someone's LEVEL of professorship? Oh yeah, someone who doesn't have any other grounds for opposition...
Embellishment my ass. And if you must call it that, there's even a HUGE difference between "embellishment" and outright fabrication--look out for that sniper fire!--which in turn, is nothing like "misspeaking." Geez.

Bonnie S. (Sent Friday, March 28, 2008 11:53 AM)

So the point of this whole thing is that the Clintons lie about the lies they tell? Next. . .

not voting for Clinton in PA (Sent Friday, March 28, 2008 11:55 AM)

Thank you, thank you, University of Chicago. I have seen the haters site this fact over and over again as evidence of Obama's lack of truthfulness, and it is BS.

I was an "adjunct professor" at a state law school, in a position very much like Obama's -- I taught the course in the evening while working full time. Bear in mind that law school's like these types of instructors, because law school is something like a trade school, and being a practicioner as well as a teacher is a good thing. Those who have compared law school teaching arrangements to traditional college programs -- where if you're not tenure track you are a third-class citizen -- do not know what they are talking about.

I am very glad University of Chicago cleared this up.

Sophie Brown (Sent Friday, March 28, 2008 11:55 AM)

Think about it isnt this awesome, the Genius of Obama:

Obama graduated from America's No ONE (yes number one) law school : Harvared law School with honors.

And is a Professor (and invited many times to be a full time tenure track professor) by America's number FOUR law school: University of Chicago. He taugh Constitutional Law there for 12 years!.

What more do you want in the resume for the job of the president of USA

JSmith (Sent Friday, March 28, 2008 11:56 AM)

This is a fairly typical case of linguistic ambiguity, and nothing more. "Professor" can be a generic term. It can also be a specific title. Think about it, at least conceptually, as the difference between a small-p "professor" and a capital-P "Professor." As the University of Chicago Law School has made clear, Obama was a "professor" though perhaps not a "Professor." His title as a professor was Senior Lecturer. End of story.

Perry Dane (Sent Friday, March 28, 2008 12:02 PM)

Thanks Hillary for pointing this out. The U of C has given a concise statement that he was considered a senior lecturer and professor--Also, he WAS offered a tenured track position. Case closed. No big.

NOW...HILLARY, WHERE ARE THOSE TAX RETURNS & PRESIDENTIAL PAPERS???

Robyn, Illinois (Sent Friday, March 28, 2008 12:02 PM)

For Rick in NC - I hope you know that you just insulted and denigrated just about every one who has ever taught any class of any kind-- from Pre-K to Post Graduate.

Teaching is not working in the "real world"? What could be more real than that -- teaching our children.

Seems to me that someone who has this type of experience -- can bring a lot of understanding on how to deal with a lot of different issues. Seems like a big plus!!

Obama '08

Obama Supporter, NY (Sent Friday, March 28, 2008 12:06 PM)

Correct and to the point. I am an "adjunct professor" and at this point would not want to be a full-time, non or tenured track professor/faculty becasue I have a career outside of teaching. That's my main job. However, I enjoy teaching at my convenience. Where's the spin, Hillary?! There is nothing to this...Once again, Obama is correct.

Kim--PA (Sent Friday, March 28, 2008 12:06 PM)

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