Spring Break
Drexel needs to train adjunct professors
Kaushal Toprani
Issue date: 11/9/07 Section: Ed-Op
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It is no secret that today, more universities are hiring more adjunct faculty than ever before.
The Press-Enterprise, a newspaper in southern California, recently reported on this trend, writing that colleges like to use adjunct professors because of a significant cost savings over hiring full-time faculty and the flexibility it allows in planning classes.
The Pennsylvania Department of Higher Education statistics show colleges have increased their use of part-time instructional staff by four percent from 1997 to 2005. According to the US News and World Report, Drexel's faculty is 77 percent full-time staff.
Universities will hire great researchers full-time, not necessarily great teachers.
Research brings grant money to a university. Publications in respected journals bring prestige to a university. President Papadakis said it himself, Drexel is run like a business and the bottom line is the only thing that matters.
Adjunct professors aren't a terrible thing. They bring real world experience to the class room. Some work in industry while they teach so they are up-to-date on the current issues in the field.
Just like professors, there are some adjuncts that make excellent teachers and there are some that make terrible teachers. Some of the best professors I've had at Drexel were adjuncts.
It really depends on the person. For me, whether a professor is full-time or adjunct doesn't determine how good of a teacher they are.
However, what is concerning is the lack of training and knowledge adjuncts are given about Drexel. On multiple instances I have had adjunct professors who just don't have a clue about Drexel.
In one case, over the summer I had one professor who didn't realize a majority of Drexel students take a full load of classes summer term. So, this professor would assign work and exams thinking us students were only taking one class at the time.
In addition, this professor didn't even know what co-op was until week four of their second term teaching at Drexel.
The Press-Enterprise, a newspaper in southern California, recently reported on this trend, writing that colleges like to use adjunct professors because of a significant cost savings over hiring full-time faculty and the flexibility it allows in planning classes.
The Pennsylvania Department of Higher Education statistics show colleges have increased their use of part-time instructional staff by four percent from 1997 to 2005. According to the US News and World Report, Drexel's faculty is 77 percent full-time staff.
Universities will hire great researchers full-time, not necessarily great teachers.
Research brings grant money to a university. Publications in respected journals bring prestige to a university. President Papadakis said it himself, Drexel is run like a business and the bottom line is the only thing that matters.
Adjunct professors aren't a terrible thing. They bring real world experience to the class room. Some work in industry while they teach so they are up-to-date on the current issues in the field.
Just like professors, there are some adjuncts that make excellent teachers and there are some that make terrible teachers. Some of the best professors I've had at Drexel were adjuncts.
It really depends on the person. For me, whether a professor is full-time or adjunct doesn't determine how good of a teacher they are.
However, what is concerning is the lack of training and knowledge adjuncts are given about Drexel. On multiple instances I have had adjunct professors who just don't have a clue about Drexel.
In one case, over the summer I had one professor who didn't realize a majority of Drexel students take a full load of classes summer term. So, this professor would assign work and exams thinking us students were only taking one class at the time.
In addition, this professor didn't even know what co-op was until week four of their second term teaching at Drexel.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Pete Grice, CoE 1970
posted 11/09/07 @ 8:16 AM EST
I wouldn't mind being an adjunct professor at Drexel. I am entering early stages of retirement and could certainly add my life experiences, and Drexel experiences to an adjunct position. (Continued…)
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