next »

[elsie]

Someone teaching any college level course, 1000 level or higher, really should hold at least a master's degree. That school will have a really tough time justifying that instructor when accreditation rolls around.

Yup. In my field, one must have at least 18 hours of graduate study in the subject to be allowed to teach even the first intro course. I taught my first course when I was in my last quarter of a masters program. I was, however, 22.

That's actually a requirement of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the regional accreditor of colleges in the southeastern US. TAs without 18 hours generally have a faculty member supervisor who is instructor of record for their sections.

[nardo]

No, the internet, like art, is ham.  Nardo, I thought you knew this.

Ham may or may not have false consciousness.  If it has any consciousness at all, I would say don't eat it, Marxist or not.

Ham is false consciousness.  Read Genesis.

[prytania3]

At the state university where I've been an adjunct for 5 years, they recently hired a just-graduated student (bachelors) to teach an intro course. It seems insulting to all of us adjuncts with experience and degrees (I have a doctorate and have taught the same course), and below standards for a state institution. He was my student--he got a B.

Am I being unreasonable to feel this way? Or is it a perfectly normal hiring practice?

That's how I started out about a zillion years ago (and at a 4-year school--not a cc), but I'd never thought of it like this. I was 22 with a bachelor's, working on my graduate degree.

[quetzalcoatl]

I'm 23, teaching my first masters-level course this semester and have no postgrad qualifications. I started taking classes while still an undergrad, with students who were mostly the same age as me. It was strange at first, but I’d like to think my evals and references since speak for themselves.

It also helps that I’m in a hands on discipline where enthusiasm and experience in the field are more important qualities for a teacher to have than a PhD (although all of the tenured staff in my school have one).

I have no doubt some of my colleagues still wonder wtf I’m doing when I run into them in the staff lounge, but that’s their ignorance and misguided envy at play, and is no reflection on my competence.

Researchers may be judged on their publications and qualifications, but surely a good teacher should be evaluated on their ability to communicate concepts clearly and enthuse and evaulate their students accordingly. Age shouldn’t come into it. 

[aandsdean]

The hours of graduate study issue isn't field-specific--at least in SACS, and presumably in the other regions, instructors have to have 18 hours of graduate credit in field to teach an undergrad course.  There's an exception for supervised TA's/grad instructors.

I personally would send an anonymous complaint to the accreditor if I were really perturbed.

I'm at an NCA school now but am ashamed to admit I don't know the NCA's rules--mainly this is b/c we don't use people with fewer than 18 hours pretty much no matter what, except in a "visiting artist" situation.

[_touchedbyanoodle_]

I had no idea one could teach credit courses without an MA. I taught for a CC that routinely hired BAs to teach, but they were restricted to non-credit courses. They were also paid the same as an adjunct teaching credit courses with a PhD, but I digress.

[nardo]

I figure it is only a matter of time before MerryMaids starts to offer adjuncting services.  :(

[betterslac]

I'm 23, teaching my first masters-level course this semester and have no postgrad qualifications. I started taking classes while still an undergrad, with students who were mostly the same age as me. It was strange at first, but I’d like to think my evals and references since speak for themselves.

It also helps that I’m in a hands on discipline where enthusiasm and experience in the field are more important qualities for a teacher to have than a PhD (although all of the tenured staff in my school have one).

I have no doubt some of my colleagues still wonder wtf I’m doing when I run into them in the staff lounge, but that’s their ignorance and misguided envy at play, and is no reflection on my competence.

Researchers may be judged on their publications and qualifications, but surely a good teacher should be evaluated on their ability to communicate concepts clearly and enthuse and evaulate their students accordingly. Age shouldn’t come into it. 

WTF?  If I read you correctly, you are teaching a masters level course with only a bachelors degree?  And even if you are in a discipline "where enthusiasm and experience in the field are more important," how can you have much experience if you are 23?

If this is right and this is in the US, the concern shouldn't be envy, it shoud be the righteous wrath of your institution's accrediting agency.

[case_insensitive]

At the state university where I've been an adjunct for 5 years, they recently hired a just-graduated student (bachelors) to teach an intro course. It seems insulting to all of us adjuncts with experience and degrees (I have a doctorate and have taught the same course), and below standards for a state institution. He was my student--he got a B.

Am I being unreasonable to feel this way? Or is it a perfectly normal hiring practice?

That's how I started out about a zillion years ago (and at a 4-year school--not a cc), but I'd never thought of it like this. I was 22 with a bachelor's, working on my graduate degree.

Presumably you hadn't just graduated with your BS the previous term? I taught at 22 but I was on the last term of a masters, and thus theoretically qualified (by graduate hours anyhow) to each the intro course.

[johnr]

At the state university where I've been an adjunct for 5 years, they recently hired a just-graduated student (bachelors) to teach an intro course. It seems insulting to all of us adjuncts with experience and degrees (I have a doctorate and have taught the same course), and below standards for a state institution. He was my student--he got a B.

Am I being unreasonable to feel this way? Or is it a perfectly normal hiring practice?

It was likely not a "University" decision to hire this person, but much more local (i.e. the department level).  In our department all adjuncts, lecturers, etc..., must be approved by the personnel committee before they can teach.  It may be the same where you teach.  If so, then perhaps you should have a friendly chat with the chair of that committee first to determine how this person was hired.  It does seem rather odd.  In our department, adjuncts must either have at least a masters, or a long record of experience in the field. 

[secretweapon]

I'm 23, teaching my first masters-level course this semester and have no postgrad qualifications. I started taking classes while still an undergrad, with students who were mostly the same age as me. It was strange at first, but I’d like to think my evals and references since speak for themselves.

It also helps that I’m in a hands on discipline where enthusiasm and experience in the field are more important qualities for a teacher to have than a PhD (although all of the tenured staff in my school have one).

I have no doubt some of my colleagues still wonder wtf I’m doing when I run into them in the staff lounge, but that’s their ignorance and misguided envy at play, and is no reflection on my competence.

Researchers may be judged on their publications and qualifications, but surely a good teacher should be evaluated on their ability to communicate concepts clearly and enthuse and evaulate their students accordingly. Age shouldn’t come into it. 

WTF?  If I read you correctly, you are teaching a masters level course with only a bachelors degree?  And even if you are in a discipline "where enthusiasm and experience in the field are more important," how can you have much experience if you are 23?

If this is right and this is in the US, the concern shouldn't be envy, it shoud be the righteous wrath of your institution's accrediting agency.

Agreed.  You may be a fine teacher (I have no doubt you are), but it amazes me that you would be able to teach a course at on level to which you have not been educated.

I agree that age is not the main factor - I'm 26 on on the TT job market - but graduate work is about more than researching and publishing.  It's also about acquiring and mastering a body of knowledge.  The only way in which I think you would be capable of this is if you were in a practice-based field where you were able to accumulate serious experience from a very young age (perhaps some aspect of the performing arts?). 

[shamu]

I figure it is only a matter of time before MerryMaids starts to offer adjuncting services.  :(

Not likely. Who wants to take a paycut and the job insecurity?

[sad_goat]

Damned shame the B-team doesn't have any power to object.

I would have the creepy little fellow killed.

Or, the SC.

Just sayin'

[tolerantly]

Possibly you should find out how well he teaches before getting knickers in twist.  He might be good.

[hollywoodbound]

Does anyone know which on-line schools hire adjunct instructors with a bachlors degree and expereince in the classroom?  (masters not required)