Approximately 40 adjunct faculty from all three academic divisions completed the survey. Most adjunct faculty became members of Woodbridge’s adjunct faculty by either self-initiated job searches or through recommendations from another NOVA employee. The majority of respondents has full- or part-time employment apart from teaching and teach from one to three classes a semester.
With few exceptions, adjuncts believe that their specific divisions are supportive and communicate adequately with adjunct faculty. The Adjunct Faculty Convocations at the beginning of semesters were specifically noted as being helpful and informative.
And best of all, everyone who answered the survey expressed a passion for teaching and a sincere interest in the Community College student body. Some more specific results are below:
- Most adjuncts spend one to five hours on campus each week in addition to their scheduled classroom time
- Most feel that benefits, such as health, retirement, higher pay, professional development and/or more meaningful titles, would encourage them to stay in their position longer
- Most would like paydays to be more often than three times a semester
- The majority of adjuncts would like to have an office or designated space in which to hold office hours. Respondents said they would spend more time on campus if there were space set aside for them
- Most feel there is a lack of “community” among adjuncts and would like to see more social and professional engagement specific to them and inclusive of others
- Many would like to have a mentor or advisor to consult
