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[gengidashiell]

So on a previous topic I was talking about my desire to teach at a community college, and I think I am on target with that, once I finish my master's in December.

My next questions are related to the concept that community colleges, if I get a FT position, are going to pay me LESS than I am making right now working for city government.

 What's a "manageable" compliment of adjunct work in a semester.  If I teach a full load (which I assume is, 5 classes a semester?) what would be feasible to do in adjunct work? 2 more classes a semester?  Or is that suicide?

I know it "depends on the person" and their tolerances, but I'm wondering if anyone has any experience balancing full time teaching and an adjunct load.

[voxprincipalis]

Are you saying that you intend to get a FT teaching position at one CC, and then adjunct at another institution on the side?

If this is the case, you will need to read your contract very specifically; this kind of arrangement is often explicitly forbidden and/or highly regulated. I am no longer teaching at a CC, but my contract at my current U includes very specific language about the type and quantity of other work I'm permitted to do outside of the classroom, since my university is anxious that I not take on so much outside work that it would lower my level of job performance there.

Also, many schools (CCs and otherwise) have caps on the number of courses adjuncts are allowed to teach. I started out as an adjunct and wasn't permitted to do more than two classes.

At many CC's, a full load is 4/4, but some do require 5/5. If you have not yet taught that amount of classes per semester, I think you may be surprised at how little time and energy you have to do anything else.

VP

[dept_geek]

VP speaks the truth. If you have not ever done a 5/5 (esp if you also have 3, 4, or 5 preps) you will not want to take on anything extra.

I teach FT at a CC and PT at a local U. I had to get the Chair, Dean, & Provost to sign off on it. And they make absolutely certain I meet (or exceed!) my service requirements at the CC.  Generally, I teach grad courses to avoid any hint of impropriety. This is *not* recommended until you have tenure. Teach summers if you need the money.

[gengidashiell]

Are you saying that you intend to get a FT teaching position at one CC, and then adjunct at another institution on the side?

Yes, but the other institution would probably be a 4-year school. 

I understand asking before doing to not be perceived as "moonlighting", but I thought it was pretty much a common occurence.  At the CC where I adjunct as a grad fellow, almost all of the FTs do adjunct on the side.

SD

[zuzu_]

I teach at a CC that has a 5/5 load.

I will normally teach 6/6/3, voluntarily. I find this quite manageable. I am in English, so grading papers can get a  bit overwhelming. But my preps are minimal (sometimes only two) and my class sizes tend to be pretty small, especially with the high attrition. I rarely work more than 45 hours/week. I don't do research, but I still find a little time to do some of my own independent projects. And, with this overload, I will get paid over $60K per year (and that is on the first-year-MA-only pay scale) in an extremely low cost of living location.

You would likely be better served to check if the CC at which you work full time offers overload opportunites. FT instructors who pick up an extra course are often paid higher than an adjunct instructor. At my CC, it is outrageous. I get paid $4K to teach a course for which they would pay an adjunct about $1500.

[jonesey]

I teach a 4/4 load at a private school, and adjunct two classes at a local CC; it's not impossible, but paper grading does get a bit much. 

Teaching the additional classes gets me (just) over the $40K/year mark, so it's nice to have. 

There's no limit on how many classes one can adjunct at the CC I teach at.  Several adjuncts teach a 5/5 load (I know one who taught 7 classes one semester with the CC's blessing).  I "only" take the two classes because the fit with my FT schedule which, obviously, has to take precedent.  Some quarters, I teach a fifth class at my FT job, if the need arises.  I get paid a whopping $1300 for this fifth class (again, quarter system, 11 week course, not 16). 

I do not get summers off...adding up all breaks between quarters, I get about a month off over the course of an entire year.  The break between Winter and Spring quarters this year was one weekend (end on a Friday, pick up new students on a Monday). 

In a traditional school, I agree with the other posters; teach summer school.  CC's are always looking for people to take those. 

Also, to echo what others have said, you will need permission from your FT gig to adjunct somewhere else.  I had to have the President's approval (!!). 

[zharkov]

The amount one can reasonably teach also depends on the classes and preps.

If I have a PhD in Etruscan Poetry (and/or Pottery), and I'm already doing a couple of day sections of EP, then it is pretty easy to add another evening session, given the class isn't horribly writing intensive.

[elsie]

You're assuming that the different institutions don't have different requirements for the courses. What may look like one prep for a composition course may not be, if they require you to use different textbooks and assignments.

[gengidashiell]

Oh and let me say that I've been teaching intro courses to non-majors for a bit, and I actually do like it.