We gathered responses from 625 part-time adjunct faculty members in the Chicago area about their working conditions and pay, through a survey conducted from April to July. Here are some of their answers.
What is the highest degree you have attained? | |
---|---|
Master’s | 56% |
Ph.D. | 24% |
Bachelor’s | 6% |
Other terminal degree (e.g., M.B.A., J.D.) | 14% |
At how many institutions did you teach as a part-time adjunct during the 2008-9 academic year, including last summer? | |
1 | 67% |
2 | 24% |
3 | 6% |
4 | 2% |
5 or more | 1% |
Which type of class did you teach most often? | |
Introductory classes | 33% |
Courses in the major | 27% |
Advanced courses | 21% |
Remedial courses | 5% |
A mix of all in equal parts | 11% |
Did not answer | 3% |
Estimate your total income from your part-time adjunct teaching: | |
More than $20,000 | 18% |
$15,100 to $20,000 | 13% |
$10,100 to $15,000 | 16% |
$6,100 to $10,000 | 21% |
$3,100 to $6,000 | 16% |
$3,000 or less | 14% |
Did not answer | 2% |
What is the primary reason you work as a part-time adjunct? | |
Prefer part-time work | 32% |
Cannot find full-time teaching job | 30% |
Already have full-time job | 21% |
Need part-time work to fit with demands of family life | 12% |
Did not answer | 5% |
Did the institution(s) where you taught provide you: | Almost always | Sometimes | Never | Don’t know |
---|---|---|---|---|
Offices | 41% | 26% | 32% | 2% |
Money for travel to conferences | 6% | 13% | 66% | 16% |
Professional development and training | 30% | 38% | 25% | 7% |
Support services like secretarial help | 31% | 34% | 31% | 4% |
As a part-time adjunct, did you: | Almost always | Sometimes | Never | |
Help develop courses in your department | 14% | 31% | 55% | |
Serve on faculty committees | 6% | 17% | 77% | |
Attend faculty departmental meetings | 15% | 33% | 52% |
On average, how many hours per week, per class, were you expected to spend advising students outside of class? | |
---|---|
None | 29% |
Up to 2 hours | 37% |
Between 2 and 4 hours | 16% |
More than 4 hours | 6% |
Don’t know | 11% |
Do you pursue your own research and writing? | |
Almost always | 34% |
Sometimes | 38% |
Never | 28% |
Considering all aspects of working as a part-time adjunct, are you: | |
Very satisfied | 17% |
Satisfied | 51% |
Unsatisfied | 26% |
Very unsatisfied | 5% |
Note: All questions referred to the period covered by the summer of 2008 and the 2008-9 academic year. Adjuncts were invited to take the survey only if they had worked as part-time adjuncts between June 2008 and the date they received the survey invitation this spring. Percentages are rounded and so may not add to 100 percent. | |
Source: Chronicle reporting |
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