ADJUNCT PROFESSOR DEFINITION by Howard E. Rubin, Ph.D.

The term adjunct professor is frequently used but many are unsure as to the adjunct professor definition. An adjunct professor is a person who teaches on the college level but is not a full-time professor. Rather, an adjunct professor works for an institution of higher learning on a part-time basis. They can teach only one or they can teach multiple courses during a semester. However, future courses are not assured. Adjuncts usually do not receive benefits such as health, life, or disability insurance nor do they receive employer contributions for retirement.

With increasing frequency, college-level courses are being taught by adjunct faculty members rather than by full-time professors. This is because it is cheaper for the university to hire part-time faculty to teach than it is for full-time faculty. Full-time faculty do research, serve on committees, advise students, and, thus, they provide stability for the institution as well as teach. However, in an uncertain economic climate, full-time faculty lines remain unfilled or are being cancelled. Thus, many universities have had a reduction in the number of regular faculty. The responsibility to teach the courses being offered rests on the shoulders of their adjunct faculty members. Adjunct professors have no other duties except to teach. Thus, there are distinct advantages be an adjunct professor.

This creates an opportunity for those who wish to earn a "living" teaching at the college level. No longer do we have to go the regular faculty route. We do not have to go to the hassle of trying to obtain the few open regular faculty positions. Rather, we can work as a professional adjunct professor since it is fairly easy to obtain teaching contracts as an adjunct professor. Instead of teaching one course each semester, we can teach several courses for an institution. As adjuncts, we can become faculty members at several universities. If we do not wish to be in front of a classroom to much, we can also teach online at multiple colleges. If this is done correctly, an adjunct professor can actually make significantly more money in a year than can a full-time faculty member.

Get started earning a significant income as a part-time professor at:

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