Thanks to a potent combination of the widespread use of computers in
education and the exponential growth of the Internet, online
instruction has emerged as both a totally new method of teaching, as
well as a virtual supplement to the traditional classroom.
Part-time instructors are in demand - and not just at colleges and
universities offering online and distance education programs. The use
of part-time lecturers and adjuncts are on the rise at traditional,
brick-and-mortar institutions as well. This is a hot issue on college
campuses today because many believe that in an effort to reduce
institutional expenses, the employment of part-time instructors instead of full-time,
tenured professors will ultimately erode a school's academic quality
and, in turn, its reputation and prestige.
Controversy surrounding the heavy use of practitioner faculty
(part-time instructors who work full-time in the field in
which they teach) also arises within the battle between traditional
private and public colleges and universities vs. for-profit schools.
However, schools like University of Phoenix and DeVry University are
steadfastly unapologetic about this practice.
Why?
The way I see it, their stance is this: they are hiring
teachers
solely
to teach, not to sit on committees or conduct research. Part-time
instructors are expected to have full-time employment
elsewhere so that they can use their real-world experience in their
classrooms. In this sense, these part-time adjuncts are better suited
to support the
typical for-profit school's mission: to serve the adult student by
offering
vocational/professional training.
[It comes down to asking: Who do you
want to teach you a course in finance? A theoretical trade economist
who has published in several
well-respected academic journals or an actuary working for a Fortune
500 company? If you vote for the financial executive, then you might
prefer a for-profit school over a traditional public university or
private college.]
Looking for a teaching job online? Want to be an online faculty member?
If you are interested in becoming an online adjunct, but don't know
where to begin your search, come back tomorrow and read Part II of "So
You Wanna Teach Online: About Becoming an Online Instructor."