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Adjunct Professor - Definition / How to become

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The Adjunct Professor's Handbook - AcademicJobs.com Podcast

This episode explores the role of adjunct professors in higher education. It defines adjunct professors as part-time faculty members hired on a contract basis, typically teaching undergraduate courses. The text details the responsibilities of adjunct professors, including lesson planning, assessment, and student interaction, both in person and online. Furthermore, it outlines the qualifications and benefits of becoming an adjunct professor, highlighting the potential for supplemental income, professional development, and practical teaching experience. Finally, the text offers advice on securing adjunct positions, emphasising networking and showcasing relevant skills and experience.


Key Themes:

1. Definition and Core Characteristics of an Adjunct Professor:

  • Part-Time, Contractual Role: Adjunct professors are defined as part-time instructors hired on a contractual, semester-by-semester basis, rather than as full-time, tenured or tenure-track faculty. They are hired to teach one or more specific courses each year. "An adjunct professor is a part-time professor for a college or university. They differ from full-time professors in that they are contracted to teach one or more classes each year."
  • Limited Responsibilities: Unlike full-time faculty, adjuncts typically do not have responsibilities such as conducting research, publishing papers, or attending staff meetings. "They do not have other duties or responsibilities that a full-time person might, such as publishing, conducting research, or attending meetings."
  • Focus on Teaching: Adjunct professors primarily focus on teaching and interacting with students. "Adjunct professors typically spend most of their time with students, and they must be flexible to fulfill several responsibilities."
  • Flexibility: They must be flexible to manage the various demands of teaching, including course prep and student support.

    • 2. Responsibilities of an Adjunct Professor:

    • Curriculum Development: Adjuncts are responsible for "reviewing and improving syllabi" and "developing engaging lesson plans".
    • Student Support: They are also responsible for "understanding students’ needs", ensuring the availability of relevant learning resources, and evaluating student performance. "An adjunct also has the responsibility to be able to evaluate student performance and address any issues promptly."
    • Assessment: They need to create challenging and enriching assessments. "In order to be successful as an adjunct professor, you should prepare assessments that enrich and challenge students."

      • 3. Teaching Modalities:

      • Online Options: Teaching can include both in-person and online formats. "Often universities and colleges offer courses that are not only in-person but also online."
      • Synchronous and Asynchronous Online Courses: Adjuncts may teach online courses that are either synchronous (live sessions at set times) or asynchronous (pre-recorded lectures and flexible participation). "A synchronous course would look like a face-to-face course... An asynchronous course would look very different. Students would access pre-recorded lectures and digital curriculum."
      • Flexibility in Teaching Style: Adjuncts have flexibility in determining the best teaching style for their class. "While being an adjunct you are granted the flexibility with what works for your class as long as you are following the approved syllabus for the course that you are teaching."
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