whydoiadjunct
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« on: January 23, 2008, 06:58:44 PM » |
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I'm a relatively new adjunct, and I'm curious-- what are the early signs that I will not be invited back to teach next semester (fall 08)?
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dr_dre
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« Reply #1 on: January 23, 2008, 07:56:11 PM » |
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I'm not sure I understand your question. It really depends on the department. I never know if I will be invited back, even though I do a good job, draw strong evaluations, and seem to be liked by the TT faculty and chair. If they don't need me... they just don't need me, and I don't find out until the schedule is drawn up.
Or we could turn this into a Jeff Foxworthy II type thread. "Your mailbox is converted to a recycling bin. You find your coffee mug in the trash."
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whydoiadjunct
New member
Posts: 7
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« Reply #2 on: January 23, 2008, 08:05:28 PM » |
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That's funny. They actually did move my mailbox.
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dr_dre
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« Reply #3 on: January 23, 2008, 08:08:04 PM » |
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Sorry to hear that. Come on, who am I kidding? I don't even have a coffee mug.
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minidonut
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« Reply #4 on: January 23, 2008, 08:16:11 PM » |
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I don't think there are any written-in-stone signs. In my case, I got on famously with everyone there, got excellent evals, and am actually friends with faculty. I was promised two classes there in the spring and then, due to lack of enrollment, both were cancelled. (Fortunately, I picked up some others after I found out, at another school.)
On the other hand, you could have a department full of cold fish, who look past you in the hallway, and still get asked back. In short, unless they say things like, "it was good to have you here, too bad it won't ever happen again," you really dont' know.
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zharkov
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« Reply #5 on: January 23, 2008, 08:57:40 PM » |
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If the dean or continuing ed director or department chair or the person who hired you needs to "correct" you or "speak" to you more than a couple of times, that is a bad sign.
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__________ Zharkov's Razor: Adapting Zharkov a bit to this situation, ignorance and confusion can explain a lot.
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whydoiadjunct
New member
Posts: 7
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« Reply #6 on: January 23, 2008, 09:12:11 PM » |
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I barely hear from or see the chair. I find that a bit strange, but I guess he trust his adjunct to do their jobs.
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patchouli
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« Reply #7 on: January 23, 2008, 09:13:15 PM » |
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. . . or if you start hearing small comments about there possibly not being enough work for all of the department adjuncts but there is still an open advertisement for an adjunct pool . . .
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Only passions, great passions, can elevate the soul to great things. --Diderot
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miss_m
I can't believe I'm a
Member
Posts: 132
"Sit your ass down and write."--larryc
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« Reply #8 on: January 29, 2008, 06:17:20 PM » |
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I don't know if there are actual signs, but most of the programs I hav taught in cancel unenrolled classes based on seniority and good evals. Many schools seem to have more sections of intro and gen ed classes in the fall, so it is less likely in most places to be "nonrewed" for fall if those are the classes you teach. If you are really worried about it, you could talk to the chair/admin about a timeline for fall contracts. Since you are new, you have a good excuse for doing this without seeming insecure or like you are worried that they really shouldn't hire you back. Of course, just because they offer you classes doesn't mean you will actually be employed there. Ah, adjunct life.
Good luck!
MM
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"In academia, there's always someone who is brighter, more charismatic, more connected, more insightful, and more well-paid than you."
--Untenured
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