Being an adjunct professor is proving to me that a great classroom experience can often result from a lot of preparation. In some ways, it’s similar to other experiences during my career. A commitment to do it right can be time-consuming and exhausting, but fill me with a sense of accomplishment.
Even though the classes I teach at William Paterson University start at 8:00 a.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays, most of the students arrive ready to engage in discussions and activities. I typically feel energized after teaching a class.
The diversity of the student body makes for some very interesting interaction. The variety of perspectives from students with different backgrounds, life experiences, values, academic majors and career goals enriches the learning experience at WPU.
Most of my former corporate colleagues would be surprised at the amount of time required to properly plan for a class and review the work of students. For a three-credit course that meets twice weekly, I typically spend 7-8 hours each week on preparations. My father was a schoolteacher and also spent a lot of time working outside the classroom, something I almost forgot after working over 30 years at various companies.
WPU pays adjuncts higher than Monmouth University and Brookdale Community College, where I also teach, but it expects more from them. The course I teach at WPU has identical objectives and student learning outcomes required across its sections. There are guidelines for teaching methods, student activities, student evaluations and readings, but ultimately it’s up to the adjunct professor to define and implement these for a class.
The other schools provide less flexibility than WPU, but make more materials and other help available to adjuncts. All the schools, however, encourage adjuncts to teach to their strength and share their work experience in the classroom. My sense is that many students appreciate hearing about the real-world relevance of information in their textbook.
In any case, it’s unlikely that educated, motivated professionals are attracted by the pay rate offered to adjuncts. At times, it feels only a step or two above community service, which can also be time-consuming but fulfilling.
The above write-up was published in the December 5, 2013 edition of the William Paterson University student newspaper, Pioneer Times.
