As Eric Erickson noted so eloquently in his article “Very Little Assembly Required,” the world of higher education has many advantages, but pay isn’t one of them. And yet, there are advantages to part-time teaching (I say part-time, because most faculty members start as part-timers). Once you’re in the door, the work has it’s advantages like amazing students, the act of teaching writing forces you to understand your process, and providing feedback makes you a much better writer, so if you’re ready to take the plunge despite the danger of dopiness (see Eric’s article), here are some pointers on the logistics of it all.
Note that an adjunct is a part-time instructor, but as a verb (and maybe I’m the only one using it that way), adjuncting is the act of part-time teaching, often for multiple colleges and universities, as a means of surviving financially with adjuncting as an anchor job (although the anchor is attached to fraying rope).
Be patient
The best piece of advice I give MFA students who want to teach in higher education is to be patient, apply everywhere, and keep a positive attitude. Higher education is in a weird place right now. Colleges are limited in their ability to hire new faculty because enrollment is down (pandemic related and demographic changes). This means that higher education institutions need more adjuncts at a time when fewer are willing to work in person at the risk of personal health when the pay is garbage. But if, like Eric, you’ve decided “f%&# it, I’ll just teach writing; I’m already poor,” here are more practical tips:
Start with smaller institutions. I started at a small (for profit) night school program and taught there for about 18 months before I was able to get a job adjuncting for the college where I eventually taught full-time. The fact that I had experience helped. On your CV and cover letter, make sure that you highlight coursework related to teaching and pedagogy. Tie your experience in your day job to the job of teaching such as maintaining engagement, crowd control (only slightly sarcastic there), and being a subject matter expert. You are all those things. If you've volunteered to teach (like visiting schools for your day job or for your writing), include that. The less obvious the connection to the teaching gig, the more you’ll have to “prove” your experience matches the needs of the college.
Where to find jobs
Colleges and universities advertise open positions in HigherEdJobs and other industry job boards, but the heaviest postings are in the fall after the start of the semester for positions starting the next fall (ie fall 2022 postings for fall 2023 openings). Yes, it takes that long to get hired full time. There are also “limited” positions that are essentially glorified adjuncts, but guaranteed classes and slightly higher pay. Some colleges call these visiting professors. It’s a way to get your foot in the door if you ever want to get FT work.
Adjunct faculty are handled in a different process. Typically, colleges post these openings locally (on their job boards or the state job boards) for faculty “pool” instructors, adjunct faculty, or instructors (part time). These postings typically happen at the approach to the new semester (so July/Aug and December/January). This, of course, depends on the college, but typically they wait to see what their need will be before they post for more applications. Make sure to follow the directions to the letter. My brick-and-mortal college had over 300 applicants for my job, and the first 150 were weeded out by our admins because they didn’t follow directions (ouch).
The Interview Process
Adjunct interviews are usually different than interviewing for a FT job. My first job, I was the only applicant, so my interview was the lead instructor making sure I had the qualifications. She then handed me a binder and wished me luck. My second adjunct interview, I met with the chair. We talked, she asked me questions, she scheduled me for my first course on the military base. That, by the way, is a great place to start. Colleges often don’t have enough faculty to teach on military bases or in high schools (concurrent enrollment), so those are usually covered by adjuncts. Months later, when I wasn't getting enough income from a single college, I interviewed at a similar community college about an hour away. We just had a conversation and she handed me the textbook, but don't assume they’ll all be that easy. Our last chair did full interviews with 3-4 faculty members in a group interview.
Final Thoughts
Think outside the box when it comes to starting your adjunct journey. Here are a few suggestions:
Start with tutoring at colleges and libraries. Check out Cari Dow’s “My Journey to Academic Success.”
Check with the local military base education office. They often have connections to the colleges that offer programs on base and their admins can get you hooked up (being nice to admins is the #1 requirement in the job search). That gets you in the loop before there’s a job posting.
Where you are, check the areas outside the city limits. Think places with military bases or small community colleges. You may have to drive a ways when you first start, but it builds your credibility.
Good luck!
Cindy Skaggs is a writer, professor, and collector of pens, notebooks, and sticky notes. She vacillates between the practical of finding paying gigs with the impractical dreams of a writer. She is a student of Irish Writing at Trinity College Dublin (2022-23) who refuses to grow up or give up. She is currently in exile and following her dreams.