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[spinnaker]

This senior faculty member has no business "inviting" the new adjunct to the meeting. It is the chair's place. Maybe he's just a knucklehead who likes to be the center of attention. The chair doesn't expect you there. You've got plenty to keep busy with. They won't discontinue you for this. You can't do anything about deadbeat administrators, but you can ignore this guy.

[untenured]

I wouldn't attend either.  In addition to what others have said, attendance risks devaluing your labor.  Faculty will become used to the fact that you teach a single class and attend these meetings.  You might be asked to do committee assignments, which are outside your job scope.  You risk signaling that your time is so valueless that you will attend dull meetings for free.  Better to focus on research instead.

[sockswithducksonthem]

You're the only adjunct in the department, and you'd like to work in that department someday? I suggest that you go to faculty meetings, listen in, and say nothing. If you think you might accidentally speak (as I surely would), you should not go.

Upon review: Damn, I didn't realize I was logged in as a sockpuppet. I was going to ask job advice earlier, but thought against it. Hmm, maybe I'll just stick with this new guy, though! A chance to reinvent myself. Heh.

[untenured]

That's the precise reason why you do *not* attend faculty meetings as an adjunct.  Odd as it sounds, IMHO it lessens your value as a future full-time colleague.

Adjuncts are cheap.  Full-time hires are not.  If you are willing to attend these meetings as an adjunct, by implication you are willing to participate in the tasks necessary that arise from these meetings.  Why would the school ever hire you and pay you more to do something you are already willing to do for free?

You devalue your labor.  Don't do it.  Focus on your research and teaching instead.

[scienceprof]

Given that you've been invited by one senior faculty member, and explicitly told by your chair that you are welcome (but not required) I would go but keep my mouth firmly shut.  Just sit in the room and listen.  Once you've gone to one (tomorrow) you can decide whether it's worth it to go again.

I agree with Crowie.

[untenured]

Given that you've been invited by one senior faculty member, and explicitly told by your chair that you are welcome (but not required) I would go but keep my mouth firmly shut.  Just sit in the room and listen.  Once you've gone to one (tomorrow) you can decide whether it's worth it to go again.

I agree with Crowie.

I did not consider this detail.  This makes the decision a little harder.  The chair's invitation was probably just perfunctory.  I'd consider the context of the senior faculty's request though.  Was this a casual remark by an out of touch professor who would like your company but hasn't thought through your time limitations and the consequences?  Or, was it a genuine request because you are well suited for the specific purpose of the meeting?

[spinnaker]

Given that you've been invited by one senior faculty member, and explicitly told by your chair that you are welcome (but not required) I would go but keep my mouth firmly shut.  Just sit in the room and listen.  Once you've gone to one (tomorrow) you can decide whether it's worth it to go again.

I agree with Crowie.

I did not consider this detail.  This makes the decision a little harder.  The chair's invitation was probably just perfunctory.  I'd consider the context of the senior faculty's request though.  Was this a casual remark by an out of touch professor who would like your company but hasn't thought through your time limitations and the consequences?  Or, was it a genuine request because you are well suited for the specific purpose of the meeting?

This is the right question when people know you, though gaucho25 is new at this job.

I believe there's a thread on the CHE forum where the situation of applying for a full time position on the college in which you adjunct is discussed. Maybe not recommended. I wish I could find that thread. It might be useful to gaucho25.

[new_bus_prof]

The department doesn't have any other part-timers. I would attend the first one, so at least the department chair can introduce you.

[oldadjunct]

I'm a PhD candidate expecting to go on the job market in the next year or two. I recently got an adjunct position at the last minute in a department I would love to teach in someday.  Should I regularly attend faculty meetings or is this not a good use of time compared to working on my research and teaching. The department usually does not have adjuncts and therefore adjuncts are not expected to come to meetings but are welcome to do so.

No, because you are not faculty, and it will only become disillusioning to you when you, likely/certainly do not move to TT and begin posting here in a couple of years from now about how you "went to faculty meetings and did this that and the other thing" but were inexplicably passed over for that plum TT job.

I have worked at a couple of places that sincerely invited adjuncts to attend various meetings, sometimes adding that arrangements had been made to to make hourly payments for attendance, that is very nice and thoughtful, but it is also an a announcement of our/my non-faculty status as an acknowledged hourly worker.

If they are not paying you for your time, they don't really want you there, flattering as the invitation may be.

[history_anon]

Don't go to the meetings--I don't think anyone would judge you harshly for it, but you would get no credit for it, either.
But do make use of your new position in the department to network with the full-time faculty.  Most people like being asked for advice--it flatters their sense of self-importance.  Find ways of introducing yourself to the full-time faculty in your subfield, talk with them about your work and whatever approaches/influences you have in common.  Talk with them about the program and how they see it evolving over the coming years (if you see an opening, hint at how much you have to contribute, but don't make it too blatant).  Tell them that you're going on the market soon (and you should--don't count on adjuncting leading to a full-time position at that particular school), and ask someone who seems particularly sympathetic and well-placed to observe your teaching and write a recommendation.  At the very least, you'll win some friends in high places who may be able to help you along the way.