71 Geoscience Education IV: Geoscience for All—Addressing Challenges in Open Door Institutions and/or Small Geoscience Programs
Monday, 10 October 2011
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Room 208AB
REALITY CHECK: PERSPECTIVE OF A COMMUNITY COLLEGE ADJUNCT FACULTY MEMBER IN GEOLOGY
Paper number: 71-1
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 8:00 AM – 8:15 AM
Authors
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Laura A. Lukes Presenting AuthorOffice of Polar Programs - Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow, Arlington, VA
Abstract
Increasingly, universities and colleges are relying on teaching assistants and adjunct faculty to teach their introductory geoscience courses. For example, adjunct faculty account for 74.9% of the faculty employed at Maricopa Community Colleges in Arizona1. Adjunct faculty face challenges unique to their nontenurable position. Challenges such as hiring process/qualifications, access to teaching materials, scheduling, department inclusion, student contact hours, faculty collaboration, and professional development will be addressed. Lessons learned, best practices, policy recommendations, and strategies for surviving these challenges in both in-person and online venues will also be presented.
1Maricopa community colleges demographics. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.maricopa.edu/about/?demographics