ENGAGING, INVOLVING, AND RETAINING ADJUNCT INSTRUCTORS IN UNDERGRADUATE GEOSCIENCE PROGRAMS

Adjunct faculty are mainstays in many undergraduate geoscience programs, particularly at community and technical colleges. Part-time faculty frequently teach the majority of the foundation or core courses, and thus may serve as the first or only “faces of geology” that students encounter. Whether a student chooses a geoscience path may depend on the quality of the instruction she or he receives from an adjunct faculty member. How can a college best serve their students who wish to explore the earth sciences? How can a geoscience program actively recruit, engage, involve, and retain quality adjunct faculty? What strategies and systems can a department develop to support “freeway fliers” who teach at multiple institutions? The author, a long-time adjunct, affiliate, and visiting faculty member at multiple colleges, will share her experiences and suggestions for best practices.