In the debate about the (de-)professionalising effects of current higher education reforms in Germany, the non-university institutions ("Fachhochschulen") have mostly remained silent. Unlike university professors, "Fachhochschul" professors do not seem to regard managerial and market-oriented reforms as a threat to their professionalism. While the reasons may not be hard to find, the question arises as to how "Fachhochschul" professors--who are tenured academics with years of work experience outside academia--construct their professional ideal. Based on a survey, this article develops a model of "Fachhochschul" professors' normative professionalism, analyses what prevents them from achieving it, and finds that professors perceive their substantial teaching obligation as the principal threat to their professionalism. (Contains 6 tables and 2 figures.)