This volume looks at faculty who are different from the traditional conception of the professor in academia by virtue of the conditions of their appointments, their demographics, or the tasks upon which they focus. In all cases, their differences put them "at the margins."

Four chapters explore contingent contractual arrangements for faculty employment, distinguishing them in four-year, two-year, and virtual university contexts. Four chapters then examine the issues of historically underrepresented faculty, women and people of color who are becoming a larger proportion of the total faculty population, but often at slower rates and in less advantageous categories than majority members. Then chapters in the final section look at faculty who choose or agree to focus on work that is not normally at the top of the institutional value scheme student learning and development and community service.

Positive initiatives already in progress can improve the situations and effectiveness of members of all of these groups. The contributors of this volume provide a valuable resource to foster further progress in this area.

This is the 143rd volume of the Jossey-Bass quarterly report series New Directions for Higher Education. Addressed to presidents, vice presidents, deans, and other higher education decision makers on all kinds of campuses, New Directions for Higher Education provides timely information and authoritative advice about major issues and administrative problems confronting every institution.