“Teaching as an Adjunct Professor: Is it Right for You?”
From a young age, I’ve always aspired to teach a college course as an adjunct professor, especially after completing my first Master’s degree in 2008. Despite consistently hearing about the challenges associated with the role and facing multiple job rejections, the potential of eventually obtaining my PhD and landing a tenured professorship always intrigued me. I wanted to first make sure, though, that teaching was truly for me.
I set off on this path rather traditionally – pursuing an English major because reading and writing were my greatest skills. Following graduation, a stint in the insurance industry seemed like the logical choice, complete with a 40-hour work week, healthcare benefits, and a 401k plan. Life, however, had other plans, leading me to switch paths after a couple of tragic personal events.
Realizing that life was too short, I wanted to ensure I was doing what I truly loved. So, I returned to school and earned myself an assistantship. After graduation, I managed to get some teaching hours without going through the usual rigmarole of formal job interviews, extensive paperwork, or expensive training. Fast-forward four years, I’m now teaching College English part-time at three different institutions, both in-person and online!
Sounds beautiful, right? But let me be clear: being an adjunct professor is not a job for everyone. With little to no job security, scant healthcare benefits, and no 401k, you’d better be fine with roughing it. While it can be rewarding, you certainly wouldn’t consider it ‘cushy’.
But, all is not grim. There are some notable positives to being an adjunct. Teaching adults, building strong relationships with serious students, and having a degree of academic freedom are just a few. Despite the occasional administrative hiccup, our department chairs generally have our backs.
From a personal standpoint, the flexibility of teaching part-time works well with my parental duties. I can schedule classes around my availability, and the summer break aligns nicely with my children’s school break.
Summing it up, if you’re someone who thrives on learning and teaching, can handle difficult people, and prefers the academic environment over a traditional nine-to-five, then teaching as an adjunct professor might be just the role for you!
I’m Dana, a mom of two beautiful girls, and apart from being an atypical professor, I love blogging about various life experiences – the highs, the lows, and everything in between – at aremypantstooloud.com.