I have returned from the NASPA conference, and strangely, I have money in my bank account. I guess that’s what a steady diet of peanut butter and a shared hotel room will do for ya (wink).
In all seriousness, I had a wonderful time. I made a couple of contacts, met some wonderful scholars and participated in some great discussions. I came back with great ideas to bring back to my bosses, which they always appreciate. However, when I returned to work on our little online project, I found that the list of instructions I left my webmaster were not completed. Thus, the lack of glorious blog to announce the official launch.
It’s coming…I promise.
I also noticed a lack of response to the homework I assigned you all in my last entry. So let me ask again,
I’m looking to compile a list of resources that will be helpful to adjunct faculty in terms professional development opportunities- grant dollars, conference call for papers, publication opportunities, etc. It is my hope that we can begin to build a directory of options for all adjuncts to begin building their resumes. So once again, I employ you, share these resources. Let’s work together to help each other out. That’s what The New Adjunct is all about.
Another idea that I’ve been running through my head comes from a fabulous comment from a reader of my previous entry. I hope this reader doesn’t mind me sharing their comments. In response to my essay on the plight of the adjunct at a national conference, a reader wrote,
I have been an adjunct online teacher for over 12 years and have wanted to attend conferences yet have not been able to do so for many of the same reasons you stated. I believe a low cost self-created conference for the adjunct would be a great experience providing opportunites to share and compare, as well as a learning environment. These could be locally driven and sponsored by a small conference cost.
What an incredible idea! To you, my faithful reader, I have started inquiring about a way to make this a reality. Here’s my idea, let me know what you think:
A conference specific to adjunct faculty issues that would take place in the next 12-18 months. The conference would put out a call for original research and analyses, as well as developing some learning caucuses. It wouldn’t be much, but certainly worth considering. Oh, I should also mention that the conference would be relatively cost effective- a modest registration fee; thus leaving you with only the cost of travel, lodging and food.
Here’s your additional homework assignment: tell me your thoughts on this potentiality. Is it something you would seek out? Would an adjunct faculty conference be worthwhile to you, and is it something you would pass along to your adjunct faculty colleagues? Your opinions matter exponentially.
First Lady Michelle Obama once remarked, “Making your mark on the world is hard. If it were easy, everybody would do it. But it’s not. It takes patience, it takes commitment, and it comes with plenty of failure along the way. The real test is not whether you avoid this failure, because you won’t. it’s whether you let it harden or shame you into inaction, or whether you learn from it; whether you choose to persevere.” As our pursuit of impact and influence on minds, young and old continue, we must continue to help each other take steps to make our marks professionally. I promise you all, The New Adjunct will be here soon, and will do its part to make a mark also. Continue to follow us, and please, do whatever you can to make this great project all it can be.
March 29th, 2010 at 4:32 am
These are al great ideas, Paul! I’ve been told that U Mass adjuncts do something similar to this — they host a 2-day conference to showcase the talents and accomplishments of their NTTs (what they call adjuncts). A conference that would be specifically geared toward adjunct issues would be very appealing to me — I just came back from presenting my survey results about adjunct issues (along with relevant “big picture” info) to CEA in San Antonio, and it went over pretty well (see blog for details). A whole conference that covers the many complexities in more depth would be great: it’ll help forge a collective identity for us, among other good things. Count me in!
Raye Robertson
April 2nd, 2010 at 2:45 pm
Hello again,
I appreciate your remarks and the continued thinking toward such a conference.
Further thinking about this:
I believe most adjuncts have little time or opportunity for original research, but a working session in the conference dealing with conceptualizing research and the political processes the adjunct must face would be unusual and relevant.
I have wanted to do research with my online students but the school for whom I teach is reluctant for an “adjunct” to do this!!!
The word adjunct can mean different things so some differentiation of sessions would be helpful. The strictly online adjunct deals with a different context than one who teaches on site. I have done both and there are some differences that “newcomers” would like to know about.
I will be more than willing to help put such a conference together……
Best regards,
gary boyles