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[zuzu_]

I am asking on behalf of a friend...

To anyone who has done the "adjunct circuit" in the Buffalo area recently, what tips can you offer? Who pays the best/worst? Any place to avoid? I know there are a bazillion colleges--any "hidden gems" among them?

FYI, this is for a working professional with no intents on a TT position.

[mandywoetzel]

According to my best friend:

Univ at Buffalo is the best place to adjunct, but they obviously prefer their own grad students/postdocs, so your opportunity might be limited. Although they are in the same SUNY group, the adjunct pay at College at Buffalo and Erie Community College is apparently far lower.

Canicious (sp?) is another one that pays well.

Daemen (sp?) is the worst-paying institution he knows in the area.

He actually lived in Amherst/Buffalo and drove to Niagara Univ to adjunct, where he was well compensated.

Hope this helps.

[zuzu_]

Great info, mandy. Thanks so much for taking the time to ask your friend. My friend is grateful.

[mended_drum]

My experience was the SUNY at Buffalo paid the best, but seemed a bit more disorganized.  I found Buffalo State College (also a SUNY school) friendlier and easier to navigate.  Its main campus is downtown with more shops and restaurants in walking distance; SUNY at Buffalo is far north surrounded by highways.  Canisius also has friendly staff and faculty, though it seems to be in financial crisis.  ECC pays relatively little.  Oh, and SUNY-Fredonia is in driving distance; I taught one course there and enjoyed it immensely, though I didn't get the sense that adjuncts are a regular part of their culture (this was some time ago).  I was filling in for a sick faculty member.

[infopri]

A friend of mine was a VAP or an adjunct (not sure which) at Fredonia for a year or two while his wife was on the TT at SUNY at Buffalo (the University, not the college).  He seemed to like it.  The academic unit his wife was in within SUNY Buffalo was a trainwreck, though, so they both left the area.

[see_wolf]

I know a few people who adjunct for Jamestown CC - they have a branch in Dunkirk/Fredonia.  Small satellite campus, but from what they say, they get a lot of academic support.  Pay is probably lower than the 4 year places though...