Workshop Topic Detail
Aligning Institutional Priorities and Creating Opportunities to Support Adjunct Faculty
Description
Adjunct and non-tenure-track faculty are key contributors to the front lines of student educational success and carry a significant influence in shaping teaching and learning environments for our students. Yet, in many institutions, these faculty groups are not always invited or included in the college’s initiatives, including collective decision-making and professional development. During this hands-on workshop for instructors, support staff, and administrators, participants explore the current trends in adjunct employment, examine the challenges and support for equitable engagement of adjunct instructors, and create a plan for supporting their adjunct faculty. This workshop includes several engagement and reflection opportunities so participants leave with a specific action plan they can apply within their institutional systems.
By the end of this workshop, participants know or be able to:
- Participants learn about existing practices, policies, gaps, and barriers to a sense of common purpose among adjunct instructors.
- Participants learn about engaging practices, resources, and actionable strategies for implementing adjunct professional development.
- Participants learn how to create a comprehensive plan for adjunct professional development at their institutions.
Plans for Audience Participation and Interaction:
Participants engage in a series of practices that support their adjunct faculty. Using several activities and group work techniques, (i.e., discussions, case-studies, pair/share, crowd sourcing), participants identify practical strategies for supporting adjunct instructors within their institutions of higher learning.
Facilitator(s)
Dr. Anna Conway served as the founding director of the Teaching and Learning Center at DMACC from 2015-2022. As the director of the Teaching and Learning Center, Dr. Conway worked cross-functionally with college administrators, faculty, and content experts to create and implement professional development programs for faculty, organize summer institutes, and launch the annual statewide teaching and learning conference. Dr. Conway has published several articles and presented on the topic of creating support systems for adjunct faculty. She is also one of the content developers for the Inclusive Stem Teaching Project. Dr. Conway’s current research interests include adjunct faculty professional development, student engagement and success in community colleges, inclusive teaching and equity-minded course design, and teaching and learning programming.