Best Practices: A preliminary checklist
When completed, the list begun below will show how academic departments at UMBC treat their adjunct faculty. All items are to be understood as criteria and are recommended where applicable. Some items might be N/A for individual departments. Departments now doing these good things are shown in bold-faced font. [updated list]
Pay, stipend, raises:
- Regular pay increases/adjustments for adjunct faculty: CSEE, IFSM (?), SAHAP
- Department advocacy for adjunct stipend improvement, raises: INDS, PHIL, SAHAP
- Funding for conference presentations: Econ, INDS, SAHAP
Workload:
- Ability, feasibility of choosing classes: CSEE, INDS, PHIL, SAHAP
- Input into class scheduling process: ECON, English, IFSM, Math, PHIL, SAHAP
- Department sensitivity to time expended on new course prep: PHIL, SAHAP
- Advance notice/planning re course scheduling: English, Math, PHIL, SAHAP
- Supplemental compensation for selected department service: PHIL, SAHAP
Job longevity, security, promotion:
- Opportunities to teach Summer/Winter: ECON, English, INDS, Math, PHIL, SAHAP
- Hiring into full-time positions: American Studies, PHIL, SAHAP
- Year-long planning: English, Math, SAHAP
Scholarship/research:
- Adjunct faculty can be principal investigators: CSEE, SAHAP
- Adjunct faculty can qualify for research grants: CSEE, SAHAP
- Opportunities for research: CSEE, SAHAP
- Professional development opportunities: DANC, SAHAP
- Ability to request own TA when applicable: IFSM, SAHAP
Collegiality:
- Mentoring, orientation for adjunct faculty: PHIL, SAHAP
- Included in department meetings: DANC, English, SAHAP
- Opportunities to serve on committees: PHIL, SAHAP
- Included in the social life of the department: English, SAHAP
- Support by department office support staff: English, IFSM, PHIL, SAHAP
- Minimize expectations for unpaid service: English, PHIL, SAHAP
Facilities:
- Have own office or sufficient privacy if sharing office: English, PHIL, SAHAP
- Access to computer/s, mobile devices, equipment as needed: English, PHIL, SAHAP
- Telephone access: English, PHIL, SAHAP
Benefits:
Provides enough credit hours to qualify for health insurance if requested: SAHAP
Sick leave/maternity leave: ECON, SAHAP
INPUT ? If you have additional items to suggest, or departments to mention, please comment below or get in touch with any member of AFAC.
We will continue updating this informal survey.
