Keynote speaker Prof. Linda Christiansen provides legal context for adjunct instructors.
By Steven Krolak
(NEW ALBANY, Ind.)—Some 70 adjunct faculty from around the region gathered at IU Southeast on Saturday, April 16 for the first-ever Adjunct Faculty Scholars Conference.
The unique event attracted non-tenure track instructors from IU Southeast, Bellarmine University, Sullivan University, University of Louisville and Ivy Tech Community College for a day of professional development, featuring presentations and discussions on aspects of university life that are critical to faculty success both inside and outside the classroom.
The word “adjunct” means “additional” or “auxiliary,” yet far from being ancillary support, these faculty members are the backbone of American universities and colleges. Nationwide, adjunct faculty make up over 40 percent of instructional teaching positions, according to data compiled by the American Association of University Professors. Yet while performing all the teaching functions of tenured faculty, they are usually not included in governance, service requirements and other aspects of university life that help institutions effectively address the full range of its students’ needs.
The conference, organized by IU Southeast’s Institute for Learning and Teaching Excellence (ILTE), aimed to give adjuncts the same sort of professional development opportunity as those routinely enjoyed by tenured faculty.
“This conference provides information and skills that are immediately applicable to working with students and helping to improve teaching,” said Dr. Robin Morgan, professor of psychology and ILTE director. “Student success is everyone’s goal, and faculty development workshops and conferences are designed to achieve that goal.”
In her keynote address to launch the conference, Linda Christiansen, J.D., professor of business at IU Southeast. Christiansen detailed her own journey from adjunct to full-time faculty, and set the tone for a gathering that was collegial, supportive, focused on the real-life issues that adjuncts confront, and dedicated to maximizing their constructive impact on student success.
“Our adjuncts are every bit as important to our teaching mission as any other instructor, so it is in the best interests of all parties that they be included in professional development opportunities,” Christiansen said.
Her talk centered on navigating legal issues in and around the classroom.
“From a legal perspective, an instructor is an instructor—the job is exactly the same in the classroom and during student interactions, regardless of the instructor’s title or other job responsibilities,” Christiansen said.
Michael Day, center, leads a breakout session on strategies and resources for working with challenging students.
The keynote was followed by breakout sessions on topics ranging from Title IX compliance and the integration of lecture and discussion in the classroom to tips for online/hybrid education and managing difficult conversations around grades, attendance and other sources of conflict. IU Southeast staff and faculty, including Ray Klein, director of Human Resources and adjunct instructor in the School of Business, Michael Day, director of the counseling center and adjunct instructor in psychology, Darlene Posey-Young, director of staff equity and diversity and Title IX deputy, and Jeremy Wells, assistant professor of English, were among the expert presenters from the campus community.
Ray Klein, right, leads a breakout session on managing difficult conversations.
The day concluded with a panel discussion featuring prominent IU Southeast faculty who began as adjuncts and transitioned into full-time positions. The panelists shared their experiences on navigating the change while also emphasizing the advantages of fully embracing the campus experience, even as a part-time or non-tenured instructor. The panelists were Jennie Lathem, lecturer in geosciences, Suparna Mukhopadyay, visiting lecturer in biology, David Sullivan-Losey, lecturer in the School of Education, and Tammy Voight, professor of practice in strategic communication.
Morgan emphasized that the conference will be an annual event, held each spring. Feedback from the inaugural conference will assist the ILTE team in creating next year’s agenda. Initial feedback coalesced into a request for more of everything. The challenge of this successful launch will be offering more sessions while keeping the scope realistic.
“Adjunct faculty are busy people. In addition to their teaching, many have full-time jobs, so their schedules make it difficult for them to attend faculty development workshops held on campus,” Morgan said. “The Adjunct Faculty Scholars Conference allows adjuncts to devote a single day to faculty development, a more convenient approach for many.”
Christiansen noted that the university owes its ability to address the varied needs of students is greatly aided by its substantial adjunct population.
“They offer knowledge, experience, and dedication that add greatly to the quality of instruction at IU Southeast, while also providing the university and students indispensable flexibility in scheduling,” she said.
The Institute for Learning and Teaching Excellence (ILTE) is a resource designed to assist faculty with advancing and enhancing their teaching and learning. The ILTE provides opportunities for professional development, helps faculty take advantage of technology for student learning, assists faculty in developing learning objectives, activities and assignments, among other services to enhance the effectiveness of the teaching and learning experience.