next »

[anthroma]

If there are any other traveling adjuncts out there... I am curious to know what is the maximum number of classes you would accept a semester from ALL the institutions you work for.

I got an offer to teach classes at all four institutions I adjunct for next semester for a total of 14 classes (5 online).  I am toying with the idea of teaching all of the classes as it would just be equivalent to a full time, 42 hour work week ( and a chance to make extra money in case I don't get any offers this summer *smile*). Would you take all these classes?  If not how would you pick and choose?  I don't want to shoot my self in the foot, and mess up chances of going full time with one of these institutions by taking on to much...

Thanks for any advice you have!

[zharkov]

It depends what the classes are, but I think it is too many.

I taught 10 one semester.  4 regular load, plus 2 over load, but I think 3 or 4 were the same, 101 level, multiple choice, do it in my sleep.  One was a seminar, and students did the presentations, less work/prep for me after the first class.   IIRC, I had 2 more that were more or less online versions of the 101 class, different school.  Too much work, really, for what they paid.  The other two were grad classes at yet a different school, had done them each a gazillion times, so another cakewalk.

Still, it was too much.

[ablewasi]

If there are any other traveling adjuncts out there... I am curious to know what is the maximum number of classes you would accept a semester from ALL the institutions you work for.

I got an offer to teach classes at all four institutions I adjunct for next semester for a total of 14 classes (5 online).  I am toying with the idea of teaching all of the classes as it would just be equivalent to a full time, 42 hour work week ( and a chance to make extra money in case I don't get any offers this summer *smile*). Would you take all these classes?  If not how would you pick and choose?  I don't want to shoot my self in the foot, and mess up chances of going full time with one of these institutions by taking on to much...

Thanks for any advice you have!

Are your crazy!?!?


Are your crazy!?!?


!a





Are your crazy!?!?

[ablewasi]

I mean it. 



Are you crazy?!?!







!a

[womanofproperty]

To answer your question - No.

I'm not an adjunct currently but I did teach as one for many years.  What you are considering is not forward-looking.  Will you be better off in your search for a full time position after doing this? 

I don't think either of us is wrong, but my own experience is diametrically opposed to zharkov's.  Except for this statement:

Too much work, really, for what they paid.

I would teach courses at no more than two different institutions.  If more than two institutions are interested, teach courses at the institution with the highest stipend.  If two institutions offer the same stipend, choose the one that is physically closer.  If you need additional income (and you almost certainly will), get steady part time work that doesn't require a great deal of physical or mental effort (e.g. clerical not retail). 

I never taught more than 3 courses a semester; two per semester is better.  That's because it's essential to guard your free time.  Free time is precious.  It's the time you spend doing things other than teaching that advance your career (like research & publication).  A CV that shows you've taught 14 courses a semester will not look nearly as good as a CV with presentations & publications.

What I suggest is what worked for me.  It's not the only way to deal with the situation.  But it's important that, whatever you do, you have the ability to move forward. 

Finally, you also want to use some of your free time to take the concrete & specific actions that put a viable "plan B" in place.  That way, an alternative is available if/when you decide at some point to walk away from adjuncting.

Whatever you decide, do take care of yourself.

[larryc]

Never mind yourself, take care of your students. 14 is way too many courses to do a good job.

[_touchedbyanoodle_]

What LarryC said.

Just out of curiosity, how many courses constitute a full load for faculty at your institutions?

Four/five is typical for my field and location, and I just about died the semester I taught seven. I also did a lousy job by my students.

[anon99]

a total of 14 classes (5 online)... would just be equivalent to a full time, 42 hour work week.

While that would be 42 hours of contact time, you are forgetting the prep time.  If they are different courses and all new preps, you can expect to put in 6-10 hours prep per 50 minute lecture.  I don't think there is any way any one would survive doing this.

[sciencephd]

I got an offer to teach classes at all four institutions I adjunct for next semester for a total of 14 classes (5 online).  I am toying with the idea of teaching all of the classes as it would just be equivalent to a full time, 42 hour work week

I don't understand the math here.  How could 14 classes be a 42 hour work week.  You seem to be confused.

[scheherazade]

OP seems to be figuring each class as a 3 credit hour class, therefore 42 hours a week.  Apparently, OP does not plan on prepping, grading, or holding office hours.  We would all like to know where these classes are so that we can get jobs there.

[anthroma]

Ok, Ok... I hear you *smile* 

I my defense... Most of the courses are the same (the intro level course)... actually 9 of the 14 are the same course I have been teaching (no prep really necessary, I have all the tests that I will just change the numbering on, all the lecture notes, all the quizzes, etc). Also, the students are responsible for a large semester project which we dedicate on class period a week to group work (one less class I have to "teach").

The other four classes are at the University I really want to be at and am showing my loyalty to(the one that doesn't have full time opp available but is trying to get me a 5 year contract).  Two of those classes will be the same.

And finally a class at a large, research based university that will look great on my resume. They would like me to teach a course in my area of concentration (forensics), which is very exciting (while intro courses are great, I am ready to get into some real substance).

My plan was to grade during office hours and choose one night a week to "work all night" inputting grades, probably Friday nights and sleep in the weekend.

But based on your responses, I will definitely cut this load down to maybe 10.  I'm teaching 7 courses this semester, and so far so great!

Thanks again for your input... I truly value getting sound advice from people that have been there, done that *smile*

[larryc]

Also--never imagine that adjuncting is a way of getting your foot in the door for a TT hire. It rarely works out that way.

[zharkov]

BTW, teaching too many classes may look like a negative on your CV, not a plus.

I've worked at a school were we hired adjuncts to teach lower-level courses, and many of these adjuncts "rode the range" and taught at two or three different schools.  That really didn't help their reputation, and to some people (eg, dept chairs), was a bit of a negative.

 

[_touchedbyanoodle_]

Also, there are schools that actually forbid adjuncts to have contracts with other schools. My U does this, though I ignore it. Some chairs would never hire back a person who did this if they found out.

[didotwite]

Yes, I'm certain that if we received an application that revealed (and I see no reason to reveal this) that someone was teaching ten or more courses in a semester, my colleagues would assume that the teaching had to be very, very bad.

Even if that were not in fact the case.