A Model for Successful Mission Integration to Meet the Needs of Adjunct Faculty at a Four-Year Institution
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33423/jhetp.v24i7.7380Keywords:
higher education, adjunct faculty, integration, mentoringAbstract
Increasing reliance on adjunct faculty at post-secondary institutions makes successful mission integration important. This case study surveys seventy adjunct instructors at a four-year small private Catholic institution to determine how to improve adjunct faculty mission integration on campus to meet the unique needs of this faculty group. Gappa and Austin's "Essential Elements of Faculty Work" framework (2010) was used to determine a priori codes, identify faculty integration issues, as well as potential solutions. The researcher found issues regarding resource allocation, as well as voice and recognition. To address these issues, participants recommended more frequent and accessible campus meetings and a more comprehensive mentoring program. In addition, literature provides several models at community colleges that have already incorporated many suggestions, which four-year institutions could use to design their adjunct instructor programs to improve integration.
References
American Federation of Teachers. (2010). Promoting racial and ethnic diversity in the faculty: What higher education unions can do. AFT Higher Education. Retrieved from https://aft.org/sites/default/files/facultydiversity0310.pdf.
Beem, K. (2002). The adjunct experience. School Administrator, 10(59), 6–10.
Colby, G. (2022). Data snapshot: Tenure and contingency in US higher education. Retrieved from https://www.aaup.org/article/data-snapshot-tenure-and-contingency-us-higher-education?trk=public_post_comment-text.
Cooper, K.J. (2009). A disturbing trend. Diverse Issues in Higher Education, 26(9), 20–21.
Fairlie, R.W., Hoffmann, F., & Oreopoulos, P. (2011). A community college instructor like me: Race and ethnicity interactions in the classroom. Cambridge, MA: National Bureau of Economic Research.
Fogg, P. (2002). Some adjuncts at western Michigan U win right to tenure. The Chronicle of Higher Education, 49(12), A15.
Gappa, J.M., & Austin, A.E. (2010). Rethinking academic traditions for twenty-first-century faculty. AAUP Journal of Academic Freedom, 1, 1–20.
Glenn, D. (2008). Keep adjuncts away from intro courses, report says. The Chronicle of Higher Education, 54(30), 1.
Jaeger, A.J., & Eagan, M.K. (2020). Examining retention and continent faculty use in a state system of public education. Educational Policy, 20(10), 1–31.
Johnson, C., & Stevens, C. (2008). Creating links: An inclusive faculty development initiative. Adult Learning, 19 (1/2), 26–29.
Kezim, B., Pariseau, S.E., & Quinn, F. (2005). Is grade inflation related to faculty status? Journal of Education for Business, 80(6), 358–363.
Lorenzetti, J.P. (2003). Getting the best out of online adjunct faculty: A guide. Distance Education Report, 7(14), 6.
Louis, D. (2009). Adjuncts: solutions for a mistreated majority. The Chronicle of Higher Education, 55(39), 1.
Mangan, K. (2009). Adjunct inspiration. The Chronicle of Higher Education, 55(29), B1, B3–B4.
Merriam, S.B. (2009). Qualitative research: A guide to design and implementation. Jossey-Bass.
Milliken, T.F., & Jurgens, J.C. (2008). Assessing the needs of human services adjunct faculty: Uncovering strategies for retaining quality instructors. Human Service Education, 28(1), 29–43.
NCES. (n.d.) The high school transcript study. Retrieved from https://nces.ed.gov/pubs2004/2004455_b.pdf
Normore, A.H. (2019). Not making the grade: How increased reliance on adjunct faculty diminishes excellence, academic freedom, and the search for new knowledge. In C.C. Yeakey, & W.R. Allen (Eds.), Neighborhoods, communities, and urban marginality (pp. 247–274). Palgrave Macmillan.
Santovec, M.L. (2004). Building better online adjuncts. Distance Education Report, 8(9), 8.
Santovec, M.L. (2004). Getting the best out of adjunct faculty. Distance Education Report, 8(23), 5–7.
Smallwood, S. (2002). 2 unions fight to represent 4,000 adjuncts at NYU. The Chronicle of Higher Education, 48(39), A14.
Smith, V.C. (2007). A systems approach to strategic success with adjunct faculty. New Directions for Community Colleges, 140, 55–66.
Sonner, B.S. (2000). A is for “adjunct”: Examining grade inflation in higher education. Journal of Education for Business, 76(1), 5–8.
Tittle, L. (2009). R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Diverse Issues in Higher Education, 26(17), 17.
Wallin, D.L. (2007). Part-time faculty and professional development: Notes from the field. New Directions for Community Colleges, 140, 67–73.
Wes, A., Brown, P.L., Fynn, N., & Gadzekpo, P. (2020, Winter). The plight of adjuncts in higher education. Practitioner to Practitioner, pp. 3–10.
Wilson, R. (2006). Study sees link between part-time instructors and Graduation Rates. The Chronicle of Higher Education, 53(10), 1.
Wyles, B.A. (1998). Adjunct faculty in the community college: Realities and challenges. New Directions for Higher Education, 104, 89–93.
