Adjunct By Choice: From Adjunct to Full-Time? Maybe. Or Not.
By Randy Eldridge
If any of you have read any of my previous blogs, you’re familiar with Dr. Abbott. He’s my department chair and a great guy. In fact, he’s really one of the best people that I’ve worked for, both in and out of the education field. How he does his job, however, is sometimes a mystery to me.
Dr. Abbott has been at the primary school that I teach at for a few years now. He’s well liked by staff students alike. He’s an adjunct instructor’s ideal supervisor. He treats everyone as a professional and trusts us to do our job. He is respectful and polite, and most of all, he brings out the best in people. Unfortunately, he also happens to be reaching the “burnout“ phase in his current position.
How do I know this you ask? Easy. He called me into his office and told me that after summer quarter he was leaving. He told me this in confidence and asked me to not tell other instructors. The reason he was telling me this and no one else was because he was recommending me for the job. I was honored that he thought enough of my
Short URL: http://www.adjunctnation.com/?p=2393
oops,
the article stops at
“I got along very well with the school staff.
Other administrators know”
(know what? and then what?)
where is the rest of the article??
I also disagree with the first comments!!! I have had the pleasure of spending almost two years with Mr. Eldridge. I have learned so many amazing things from him that I will carry with me throughout my career. If even HALF the educators of the world had as much passion and ability to teach that he does, maybe our education system wouldn’t be such a disgrace! While many of you are concerned with your benefits and retirement (as we all are) let’s not take shots at a man for doing what he loves most, and being very good at it! Thanks for all you do Mr. Eldridge. Your students love you for it! As for the new program chair, “she” was also an instructor of mine and will most definitely be just as wonderful as the last!! Keep up the great work!!
Love the feedback. Rosaleee, I didn’t mean to imply that I actually ‘applied’ for the job. I simply looked into it further as more of a courtesy to my boss. Pamela, I agree with your comments. Being an adjunct means that I might have to deal with the possibility that a new department chair will come in and hire all new staff. I accept that as part of the job. As Mike said (probably better than me), I try to leverage my adjunct experience to hopefully avoid it being too much of an issue. Iview my ability to teach at several different schools an asset rather than a negative. As far as health care, I’m covered…essentially for life…through my military benefits. I understand that is a rarity among adjuncts, and I’m fortunate to have it. As far as job security, I agree with Mike. I don’t have time to list the number of people that I know who have lost their full time jobs. It may not be everyone’s dream job, but it works for me. My next blog discusses that more at length. Be well, Randy
I am not sure I agree with the other comments. Adjuncting is a very rewarding career and I completely understand why one would turn down such a position. I hear the need for benefits and retirement, but you can get those as well as an adjunct. It may not be through the traditional channels, but they are available and at reasonable costs. The reality is that many schools are cutting back on the benefits packages and that will continue. Without such, the playing field levels. Job security? No… that is a thing of the past. By leveraging your adjunct positions, you can gain far greater job security and assurances that you will always be employed. I tend to agree with Randy.
Thanks for the feedback, Mike. You probably articulated it better than me. I agree 100% with your point about job security…there is no such thing. Frankly, I had rather have several jobs to rely on than one single job. For me, I feel ‘safer’. Thanks again, Randy
Adjunct by choice; Many of us would like to have that choice. I for one would like to have the choice. I love teaching. I would like to have a full time instructors position. I know at this time you may not need or want to teach full time. What about the person that takes your supervisor’s place. Will he or she be so understanding and well liked by students and faculty. Will this individual feel the same way about you as your current supervisor. Will the new chair or program director have the same feelings and dedication to the students and higher education as your current professor. Many times we don’t choose the position but they are created and chosen for us. Before I made my final decision, I would discuss it with your bestfriend and life support, the Mrs. Whatever you choose good luck!
That’s all wonderful – unless/until you have someone else dependent upon you. As long as your current employers keep hiring you and are ABLE to keep hiring you. As long as you have your health.
There may come a time – *will* come a time – when you are going to need more economic stability than you have now. And when that day comes, your potential employers are going to be looking at your long history of adjuncting and say you don’t have the “right stuff” for a full time job because you stayed an adjunct way too long. AND they are going to KNOW you already turned down FT jobs more than once (these blogs are on the net in perpetuity.) Hiring committees are going to say: why bother interviewing this guy? He’s just going to turn us down. OR – he’s not going to fit because he has no interest in the other aspects of the job that we all have to shoulder ourselves. AND/OR there must be something very expensive looming in his future (such as expensive health care) & that’s why he is applying for FT now.
It’s wonderful to be dedicated to teaching & to be willing to give up economic security for it. Until it isn’t any more.
Good luck. You are going to need it.