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[molli_sols]

I periodically adjunct online.  My contract has always been for the class term plus a week before and after.  The last time, I got my contract less than 2 weeks before the start of the term and was very frustrated because many components had changed (including a huge pay reduction) but I felt I couldn't back out that close to the start of the term. The contract did have a 6 week notification clause but of course, it arrived far less than 6 weeks ahead of the term.

My next term is scheduled to start in 2 weeks.  I have not received a contract.  I am debating not taking it.  I tried to call the department chair to discuss it two weeks ago.  His number is unlisted, including on all contacts with the faculty who work in his program so I ended up having to call the admissions office and having them transfer me.  Of course I had to leave a message.  Although he replied, the number he gave me was for the central switchboard, who doesn't have his number.  I've called his administrative assistant and left messages that I'm trying to get in touch with him to no avail. 

So, if I am not under a contract now, I don't have any obligation to take the next contract, even if it has a six month notification clause, right?

I hate to dump this on my fellow instructors and the students themselves but honestly, I think the management of the program is slipping big time and I don't need the pitiful sum of money anymore.  I am a little unsure how my online teaching is viewed by my TT uni but I don't think quitting will hurt my tenure file.

[mozman]

You have no contract - no contract means no obligation.  If you don't need the job, drop 'em like a hot potato. 

[hegemony]

If you don't ever need a job there again and don't mind burning bridges, I'd send a calm letter outlining your difficulties to the dean or whoever is ultimately in charge.  The head of department is doing a terrible job of retaining faculty.  And heads of department who are unreachable and who never return messages -- what good is that?  If I were a dean, I'd want to know if someone in my section was bolluxing up the job like this.

[svenc]

Echoing the last two posts: If you're willing to leave the job, you should also be willing to risk offending someone by making a stink.  You can ask the department chair to leave a direct line phone number or email address, and you can write to the Dean and mention your concern about the delay in issuing contracts.

If I understand your post correctly, you are in a tenure-track position at one university, and teaching online at a separate institution, right?  If so, I can't imagine that your current job is impressed by your online teaching, and they very well may be annoyed at your moonlighting.  I know it would be viewed negatively at my university.

(If you are teaching online for another division at your current institution, I could understand why you might want to tread more carefully about raising a stink.)

[larryc]

You have no contract - no contract means no obligation.  If you don't need the job, drop 'em like a hot potato. 

Absolutely, and maybe they need the wake up call to behave like adults.

However--do you need anything from this gig, like a letter of recommendation? Is the chair a big name in your field? As righteous as is your position, the department is likely to see what happens next as all your fault. You are burning a bridge here (which can be a good thing), think it through.

[der_gadfly]

Although not in an online institution, I know of many (especially in the for-profit arena) that do not produce 'contracts' until the very last minute.

One CC I heard of in close proximity to me made a hiring decision in early August (for a term replacement) and the contract finally arrived a week after classes had started - something about "we have a huge systems here, and things just get bogged down".

In other words, it is quite suck-y, but what you describe is becoming more prevalent: buyers market and all that....

[goldenapple]

Given the way some institutions operate, you may not even be burning your bridges by withdrawing at the last minute. You are not likely to be the only person who has done this, and they are probably used to lots of last-minute scrambling. To you it may seem unprofessional, but to them, it may seem routine.

[adjunctprincipessa]

At my current institution, we receive letters five weeks into the 14 week semester confirming our appointment.  This semester, I found out I was teaching in the spring when I saw my name on the class schedule.  I'm actually quite happy about the lack of notice, since if I get a better job offer, I can leave without feeling guilty since I was never offered or agreed to teach the courses that I am scheduled to teach.

For the OP, I would agree with the earlier posters to tread very lightly if the online course is a part of your TT university, or if the chair could make life very difficult for you.  If this is the case, you might still be able to quit on short notice (since this really isn't too unusual for adjuncts) by making a polite excuse, and seeing if they push to keep you (in which case you should weigh their potential to screw up your TT job in terms of whether or not you should stay for the next semester)

Good luck!

[clean]

Everyone seems to be missing the "huge pay reduction" that came with the last contract.  I think that you went above and beyond when you continued to do the job for a huge pay cut.  I probably would not have. 

IF they do get around to sending you a contract, send it back with the amount that you are willing to work for. Send it to the dean with a note describing that you have repeatedly tried to discuss this issue with the chair, but have been unable to reach them.  Let them know that you are not doing charity and can not subsidize their problems.

 If anyone later asks about the place, tell them that you worked there 'periodically' and that they had budget problems and you could not afford to continue to work for that meager sum.  Dont worry too much about needing a letter of recomendation.  IF you are teaching full time somewhere, your moonlighting wont play much of an issue.

Again, I doubt that I would have worked for reduced pay.  IF they need you bad enough, they will find the money.  Very few adjunct faculty are 'loss leaders'.  Tuition usually coveres the salary with more to spare.  Given that you are teaching an online class, you dont even cost them for the lights, and no one needs to 'clean the room'... there is less overhead.

Good luck.  Dont worry about it.

[clean]

Another thing... about the title of the post... You are not leaving with no notice.  Your contract has ended.  It is over, done, fine, fully executed.  Turning down another offer to work for sub-slave wages is not 'leaving'.  You clearly would have given sufficient notice that you rejected their offer, but you can not reject an offer that you were never given!  Further, you have tried again and again to discuss it with the propper administrative authority and they dont even have a phone number!

[new_bus_prof]

Send the current department chair a polite email...

Thank you for allowing me to adjunct for school in the past. After several attempts to reach you by phone to discuss this personally, I regret to inform you I will not be able to adjunct this upcoming semester. Since I have not received a contract for the upcoming semester, I believe this to be a mutually beneficial course of action.

[molli_sols]

Thanks for the replies.  it is very helpful to hear that what I am inclined to do out of my own self interest (decline the new contract) is not totally impossible.  When I first started teaching at this school it payed better than any of my previous adjunct jobs and the emphasis on quality was very motivating for me as an instructor.  But now, the lack of organization, communication, and the loss of pay have shot my motivation to hell.  I also know another instructor there who got jerked around on some administrative screw-ups so I feel sour because of that too.  I will be relived to let it go.  I wish I had come to my senses right after the last term ended but of course hindsight is always 20/20.

[mad_doctor]

Yeah, I'd send the chair a polite note informing hu that you can no longer do this.  No explanation is required.  You may also find out if hu's actually reading your emails.

[molli_sols]

The chair didn't read my email for more than 36 hours but then did send a polite reply.  I'm off the hook, yeah!

Thanks for the great advice everyone.  It really helped me get off my duff and do the right thing even though I had terrible anxiety about it.