Colleges and universities are more often using adjunct professors because they save the institution money, but improving their working conditions is actually not very expensive, Inside Higher Ed reported.

The paper, published by the Delphi Project's Adrianna Kezar and Daniel Maxey, argues the main obstacle facing adjunct reform is the cost. As if the schools are not already saving enough by hiring them over a tenured professor, the paper said several reforms would cost little or nothing to the university.

"[Although] leaders in higher education do face budgetary constraints and uncertainty over future funding sources, it is a myth that resources are the sole reason that prevents us from ensuring that all our faculty members are adequately supported so they can provide the highest quality of instruction to their students," read the paper, titled "Dispelling the Myths: Locating the Resources Needed to Support Non-Tenure-Track Faculty."

Kezar, Delphi Project director and higher education professor at the University of Southern California, and Maxey, a research assistant, used a system of rating various reforms based on their cost. For example "$" meant little to no cost and "$$" meant significant cost.

The low-cost reforms mainly called for colleges and universities to give their adjunct professors more privileges and access such as job security, inviting them to faculty meetings and simply more data collection on helping adjunct professors.

The paper is based on previous studies and existing data from different schools' budgets.

"This new resource on how to understand the actual costs to support [adjuncts] should be paradigm-shifting for campus leaders," Kezar said. "So many changes cost little or marginal amounts of money. But they do require priority-setting and making this a goal for departments or institutions."

Maxey said he believes the less expensive reforms will be the small push some schools need to start making more advanced changes. He said even the smallest changes will pay dividends in adjunct working environments.

"Non-tenure-track faculty are committed educators and should be provided proper support and fair compensation," he said. "We see all of the recommendations as important, but by offering this range of choices, campuses can target a few to start with that are within reach. In our experience working with campuses, those that start out with just a few low-cost changes often quickly realize that these changes to better-support the faculty are worth any added expense."

The wellbeing of adjunct professors recently came to light when one from Duquesne University died reportedly making less than $25,000 per year. The issue was that she had been working their on at-will basis for 25 years and suffered from various ailments because she was not provided health benefits.

That issue and others also may be in for relief with the President's healthcare system. Under Obamacare, part-time workers, like adjuncts, would be entitled to health benefits when they work an average of 30 hours per week. About one quarter of schools have adopted this plan, but others are more hesitant.