It's time to recognize and value the essential contributions of adjunct faculty.
To all fellow higher ed leaders:
As you are launching the academic year, here's a friendly reminder of one of the best ways to value and honour your adjunct faculty:
Process their contracts BEFORE you expect them to do any work.
- Before you ask them to send you a syllabus.
- Before you ask them to prepare their courses in your Learning Management System.
- Before you request that they reach out to incoming students to welcome them to their class.
- Before you ask them to participate in a faculty meeting.
Commit to them, BEFORE you ask them to complete any work.
Commit to them, because they are committed to you, your university, your students.
Yes, I know -- there are SO many contracts, and after all, some of the courses have low enrollment and may not run, as planned.
If you need to wait on a couple contracts, you can delay those, but for most class sections, there is no reason to delay.
Not when it means keeping most of your faculty in limbo.
Commit to your faculty.
Treat them how you would like to be treated (You probably really like knowing when and how much you'll be paid, am I right?)
Together, let's create a Happier Higher Ed.