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[docoflove1974]

In my brief experience (on my 3rd year now, but at 3 different JCs), the assignments depend on the strength of the dean/department head.  The ones I've worked with have been very strong in administering 3 and only 3 courses to each adjunct, and those with the most experience do get their first pick.  However, at 2 of the institutions, our evaluations also come into play--so if 2 adjuncts are of the same 'rank', the one with the better evals (which combine both classroom observation and student info) gets the first choice.  It works pretty well, as much as it can.

In my area, I'm not so much fighting for courses (although I'm always guaranteed one, I'm usually in search of others), but lacking in other employment.  That is, until I get FT-TT employment...which hopefully will be in the fall, if the cards fall right!

[rdmcg]

Anyone else teach with a pack of adjunct sharks vying for one more class in order to make ends meet or get ahead?

Not really sharks, or barracudas for that matter, but some milder sea creature.  Jellyfish, maybe.  These are the many graduate students who are about to graduate and suddenly are interested in the career goals of NTTs: "what are your plans for next year?"  "are you going to reapply for your job?" etc. 

It's sad, because the department would just as soon hire fresh grads as it would people who have been adjuncting for years.  I try to tell the grad students that adjuncting for a little while is ok in our department but that they should aim for something else too.  I've done it for four years and this will be my last year because I'm thoroughly disenchanted with the whole system.

[rowan1]

I am not sure if you would call my collegaue a shark or a baracuda - I'll just call her a snake.

She has tried to manipulate her way into getting the time slot I normally teach - I actually had to pull rank after she succeeded one year and it completly hosed my childcare arrangements.
She has refused to work with the text book that was chosen by the dept. dead for a class we both teach the first level of and I teach the second level of.
While I am pretty close to the head of the program and the other staff in the department she is tight with folks in the administration and is using that influence to cause problems in the department.
I have been there longer, have a terminal degree to her MA, teach more classes and more levels of classes, am constantly hired to direct by the program, and have developed classes and worked with student clubs.  Yet because of her connections in the admin I might as well not exist and when the dept head finally retires, if I am still around, I am pretty sure I will be at a disadvantage with the admin.  The problem is I have no idea how to change the scenario right now.

I guess I will claim a certain amount of naivete compared to her outright manipulation tactics.  It is annoying.  At least the dept head and the rest of the staff have my back.

[mountain_ivy]

dr.dre-- Our union would get involved with this degree of overload because of the implications for the contract.  Have you talked to your union head?

[dr_dre]

dr.dre-- Our union would get involved with this degree of overload because of the implications for the contract.  Have you talked to your union head?

No, I would not want to make waves here. That adjunct has been teaching there for many, many years, and has special deals worked out with the department and the dean's office. If I don't land a job somewhere next year I will move on to another career, so I don't really have a strong stake in the issue.