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[legalwriting]

I am also a full-time non-tenure instructor with benefits. I work at a school that has a teaching emphasis rather than a research emphasis. I do some research on my own in writing scholarly articles and I am also writing a textbook but I don't have an expectation to publish. I have all of the benefits of tenure with job security, academic freedom, ability to research what I want, nice pay and benefits. I do some student advising but I enjoy that aspect.

[alleyoxenfree]

For me, the main advantages are, lots and lots of sections of the least motivated, hardest-drinking intro students who haven't yet decided to be in college; schedule changes and room changes we find out about only by accident; expectation of professional development without any money to do so; lack of responsiveness of chair, so that students wind up being given undeserved grades because we don't have a chair we can count on to even respond, much less back us if there's a problem.  This is a problem in our department for adjuncts, not for TT people. 

No one should take a non-TT job thinking their chair will back them in their TT search.  In fact, they have a disincentive to do so.  The more valuable you are to them as a low-wage worker, the less likely they are to support this search.  We have a real problem with the chair above writing letters of rec, doing the classroom observations, and answering the phone when SC's call.  This, after verbal and written promises of great support.  Three of us are here, looking for solutions out.  But at least their intro classes are being well taught so we can get those all-important evals!  That's a primary advantage of non-TT - sinking all your hard-earned cash into treats, clothing, hair, extra books and videos, and outside activities to help boost those scores!

[pedanterast]

The advantages of being non TT are many.  The problems ensue when one wishes to be TT, and thinks being non TT is the route thereto.  I've never labored under such illusions or delusions, whichever they may be.  So:

1)  no research or service expectations.  I do some service when I want to, and it's usually appreciated.
2)  no sucking up to whoever might end up on the TT committee.
3)  get to teach a wide variety of classes.  Yes, some are thrust upon me at the last minute (not so much any more), but I a) kind of like that and b) can use it as an excuse if I should happen to suck.
4)  been all over the world doing this.
5)  no need to decorate my office and such, but can still get any book I want for free.

Those are just what come to mind right away.  But

1)  this is my third or fourth career so my life doesn't depend on it, and
2)  I am in a high-demand field.

[spinnaker]

Advantage of adjunct position:

Anti-faculty college presidents are the same as pro-faculty ones.

[prof_smartypants]

Advantage of adjunct position:

Anti-faculty college presidents are the same as pro-faculty ones.

Non-TT and adjunct are not the same.

[king_ghidorah]

When things go wrong in the departments closest to me (I work tangentially with several), I think it's funny.  It's unseemly of me, I know, but a little schadenfreude can be very warming when one does not have to deal with whatever boondoggle is at hand because of a bad hiring decision (when they could just as easily have hired me).  Ha!

[pixelvainia]

When things go wrong in the departments closest to me (I work tangentially with several), I think it's funny.  It's unseemly of me, I know, but a little schadenfreude can be very warming when one does not have to deal with whatever boondoggle is at hand because of a bad hiring decision (when they could just as easily have hired me).  Ha!

+1

Also, I don't care if they fire me. I am using the adjunct job the way the college specifies it is to be used - as extra employment and income. The pay is modest, but nobody hassles you if you cancel a class here and there.