State of the Nation
IN THIS ISSUE of the Adjunct Advocate, we’re looking at the subject of distance education and how it impacts adjunct faculty. The idea for the issue originated with writers Chris Cumo and Evelyn Beck. Staff writer Chris, together with regular columnist Evelyn, worked tirelessly to put together the editorial content you have before you. It was the first time in 10 years of publishing the Adjunct Advocate that guest editors were involved in the production of an issue. They brainstormed the content, as well as potential contributors to write the content. I am both pleased and proud of their dedication and hard work.
Let me also thank all of the writers who contributed to this issue of the magazine. The pieces take very different approaches in their examination of the subject of distance education. This demonstrates clearly that, where distance education is concerned, there is no one approach to a better understanding of the potential opportunities and the probable pitfalls. The instructional medium has changed significantly over the past five years, and will most certainly change more over the next five years. There are two certainties, however. Just as in face-to-face instructional settings, adjunct faculty will continue to be used in great numbers to staff virtual classrooms, and the Adjunct Advocate will continue to report on the newsworthy developments.
On a different note, the Web page redesign has met with approval from users. Since launching the new Web page, it has hosted between 15,000-20,000 more individual visitors each month. Users are looking at more pages on the site, and staying longer. After the JOB-LIST, the Forum (Message Boards) has been the most popular new feature. Each week, thousands of users read through the messages posted, and a smaller number of users post to the discussions. I am happy that we are able to provide part-time faculty with opportunities to connect with each other. If you haven’t already, take a moment and check out the new message boards.
Another new Web page feature is the “Pop Quiz.” Each week, a new quiz is posted to the site. Topics are discipline based (humanities, sciences, etc….) and the quizzes are designed to be challenging but not impossible. Beginning soon, those who take the Pop Quiz and score a B or above will have opportunities to enter themselves into weekly prize drawings. We will be giving away books, software, gift certificates and even free entrance to conferences, such as the CCCCs.
A second exciting change is the debut of on-line and electronically delivered magazine subscriptions. Subscribers now have three different types of subscriptions from which to choose: print, on-line and PDF formatted. As a result of these new subscription offerings, print subscribers who register on the site will now have access to complete contents of current issues as soon as the issue has been posted to the Web page. Those with DSL/cable Internet access, and who wish to have the magazine delivered in PDF format, will enjoy a completely hyperlinked and keyword searchable document. It’s a tree-less version of the print subscription, and is delivered to your e-mail box in easy-to-read PDF format. Check out the new subscription options on-line, and don’t forget you can renew on-line, as well!
As always, my thanks go out to all of our readers for their loyal support. In the first six months of our fiscal year, subscriptions from faculty were up a whopping 35 percent. But not only are you subscribing, you’re telling your colleagues about the Adjunct Advocate. You’re leaving your past issues in the faculty lounge, or in a colleague’s mailbox at work. You’re taking copies to the library, and asking that the college provide a library subscription. You’re sharing copies with department chairs and program directors. I appreciate your votes of confidence, and feel honored that the Adjunct Advocate is counted among the library of professional publications for so many thousands.
