Part Time Faculty in the Community College:

Fostering Student Success Through Policy Development

Holly AyersOzarka CollegeDivision Chair-Math, Science and Educationhayers@ozarka.edu

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT ADJUNCT FACULTY?•How many of you work in higher education?•...two year institutions?•How many of your institutions have “enough” full-time faculty?•How many of your institutions utilize part-time faculty?• ...to teach 50% or more of your course sections?•How many of you have been or are a part-time faculty member?

We know that it doesn’t always “pay” to be an adjunct instructor at a community college.

We know that many adjunct faculty positions often lack the appropriate benefits

STUDENT SUCCESS

Policy Development Research Conclusions

BEST PRACTICES IN SUPPORTING ADJUNCT FACULTY

Employment Professional Development Integration

ADJUNCT FACULTYWhy? Who? How?

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT ADJUNCT FACULTY?

•Integral in the mission of community colleges•Also the greatest challenge for community colleges•Research is controversial regarding their impact on student success•Ratio of part time to full time is increasing•Face of community colleges is changing•Shared institutional focus on student success

Why Part-Time

Faculty

Increasing

Enrollment

Inadequate Fiscal

Resources

Industry Knowledg

e

Professional

Experience

WHY PART-TIME FACULTY?

• Future of higher education• Fiscally sound resource• Applicable knowledge base• Connection to workforce• Response to enrollment increases• “Priceless resource”• “Indispensable”

WHO?PART-TIME COMMUNITY COLLEGE FACULTY

•Moonlighters?•Freeway Fliers?•Teachers in Training?•Special Program Faculty?•THE SILENT MAJORITY…….

WHO?PART-TIME COMMUNITY COLLEGE FACULTY

•Varying definitions of “part-time”•Pay: Financial relief for colleges?•Job security: Contract Length?•How does you institution view part-time

HOW? PART-TIME FACULTY AND STUDENT SUCCESS

•Strong Employment Policies and Procedures•Focused and Intentional Professional Development•Successful Orientation and Integration Policies and Procedures•Assessment and Communication

BEST PRACTICES:EMPLOYMENT

•Recruitment and Retention•Employment Classification•Comprehensive Employment Plans•Institutional Policies

BEST PRACTICES: PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT•Model Programs•Structured Orientation•Teaching Methods and Resources•Mentoring•Learning College Approach

BEST PRACTICES:INSTITUTIONAL INTEGRATION

•Social Interaction•General Introduction•Overview of Effective Teaching•Departmental Faculty Linkages•Inclusion in Decision Making Processes

PART-TIME FACULTY AND STUDENT SUCCESS: Policy Development•Remediation/Basic Skills Education•Technical Instruction•Institutional Support Networks•Resource Provision

PART-TIME FACULTY AND STUDENT SUCCESS:

A Policy Analysis for Employment, Professional Development, and Institution Integration of Part-Time Faculty in the Community College

•Higher Learning Commission North Central Association•Public 2 Year Higher Education Institutions

•Non-Unionized•Not Affiliated with 4-Year Higher Education Systems

•Existing Policies Available on Institution Website•Employment Procedures, Professional Development, and Institutional Integration of Part-Time Faculty•Model Policy Development

PART-TIME FACULTY AND STUDENT SUCCESS:Conclusions•Adjunct Faculty as a Resource•Improved Retention and Completion Efforts•Policy Development•Employment •Professional Development•Institutional Integration

QUESTIONS?

Holly AyersOzarka College

Division Chair-Math, Science and Education

218 College Drive, PO Box 10Melbourne, AR 72556Phone: 870-368-2040hayers@ozarka.edu

www.ozarka.edu