How to Become an Adjunct Professor
An adjunct professor is an instructor who teaches part-time, typically at more than one institution. Adjunct professors are often hired because they are specialists in their field and can provide students with a unique perspective on a topic that is not available from other professors. They often have advanced degrees, but may or may not have full-time employment.
Adjunct professors may teach online, in addition to in traditional classrooms. There are many advantages to being an adjunct professor, including flexibility and the ability to choose your schedule. However, there are also some disadvantages that you should consider before pursuing this career path.
The following steps will help you get started on your path to becoming an adjunct professor:
1.) Find a college or university that has an opening for an adjunct professor position;
2.) Apply for the position;
3.) Get hired as an adjunct professor!
How To Become Adjunct Professor
Most commonly, adjunct professors must have completed a master’s degree to teach in higher education. Community colleges or technical schools may only require a bachelor’s degree, along with relevant experience in certain disciplines. Previous teaching experience in a university or college setting is often preferred.
The demand for adjunct professors has grown, and so has the competition. Some areas of study have more applicants than open positions. As a result, many institutions may prefer applicants who have completed or who are currently enrolled in a doctoral program in the field of the teaching assignment.
Adjuncts are often hired to teach a specific course that other faculty may not have expertise in or courses that are in high demand. Individuals filling these positions may find recurring opportunities to teach these classes.
Average salaries for adjunct faculty
Salary ranges for higher education adjunct professors vary widely, depending on the state, type of college, the discipline professors teach, and the professors’ education level, teaching experience, and field expertise. It can also be based on the degree held by the applicant.
According to ZipRecruiter,com, average annual pay for adjunct professors by state varies from $51,077 to $72,907. Compensation can sometimes be calculated on a per-course or hourly basis, ranging from $26 to $95 an hour.
Salaries also vary by institution type: Typically adjunct faculty earn higher pay in traditional four-year institutions, compared to those who work in community colleges.
Here is a snapshot of average annual salaries for adjunct faculty:
- Glassdoor.com: $35,839
- PayScale.com: $35,269
- ZipRecruiter.com: $58,422
Job outlook for adjunct professors
The employment of adjunct professors depends on several factors. While enrollment rates in colleges and universities are expected to increase, hiring of both full-time and adjunct faculty is dependent on school and departmental budgets and student demand for specific courses.
Job outlook for post-secondary teachers is expected to grow 11 percent through 2028, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) BLS. The BLS also reports that the majority of employment growth is likely to be in part-time positions, including part-time post-secondary teaching.
Certain subjects are in higher demand than others. According to the job outlook data from the BLS, post-secondary professor employment projections will increase in these subjects by 2028 by the following percentages:
- Business: 16%
- Biological science: 12%
- Psychology: 12%
- Health Specialities: 23%
- Nursing Instructors: 20%
Many online institutions of higher learning hire part-time adjunct professors. Teaching for an accredited online university allows for flexibility in hiring and in teaching since educators can be hired from remote locations.
Challenges and opportunities for adjunct instructors
Many of the disadvantages of working as an adjunct faculty member have been highly publicized. In most circumstances, however, there are advantages to consider as well.
Advantages
- Adjunct status can serve as a basis for pursuing a full-time position.
- Adjunct instructors enjoy flexibility in their time commitments that allows the pursuit of personal or other professional opportunities while still fulfilling their teaching requirements.
- Adjunct instructors can focus on teaching and curriculum, rather than committee or department work.
- The environment is collegial and intellectually fulfilling.
- Adjunct professors can positively impact the students they teach.
Disadvantages
- Salary, often on a per course or hourly basis, is usually less than that of a full-time professor.
- Positions are contractual and are usually renewed on a per-course basis.
- Adjunct faculty may commit the same amount of non-classroom hours as full-time professors.
- Adjuncts do not usually receive health insurance, retirement plans, or other employee benefits.
- Adjunct faculty may not have a physically designated office space at the university.
Professional development
For many adjunct faculty, the next step in their career path is to be appointed to an assistant or associate professor position with the goal of gaining full-time employment. Participating in professional development may give adjuncts an advantage in seeking full- or part-time positions.
Continuing education
Most adjuncts are subject matter experts in a particular discipline, but they may not have a lot of teaching experience or faculty development opportunities. A small number of institutions provide access to professional development funds.
A challenge for new adjuncts may be classroom management and teaching a wide age range of adults. Adjuncts who are able to teach graduate courses may receive higher pay than teaching at the undergraduate level, but institutions may require a terminal degree for graduate level teaching.
Professional associations
Historically, the professional landscape for adjunct instructors has not looked promising. Because adjunct jobs rely heavily on several external factors, the stability for those as contingent faculty is slim to none.
With college enrollment rates in flux and more schools reallocating their resources to accommodate contingent faculty, adjuncts are finding more benefits. Several professional organizations work solely to support the careers of adjunct professors:
- New Faculty Majority
- Adjunct Action Network
- National Association of Scholars
- American Association of Adjunct Education
- Adjunct Nation
Interested in an adjunct position?
For detailed information on applying for an adjunct teaching position, please visit facultyjobs.versidi.com.
