Adjunct faculty are part-time instructors hired on a contractual basis to teach specific courses. They are a critical part of modern academic staffing models, allowing institutions to provide flexible, scalable instruction while managing costs.
This category includes terminology that defines their roles, responsibilities, compensation models, and integration into academic planning. Clear understanding of these terms helps administrators, department chairs, and HR teams optimize teaching loads and ensure policy compliance.
Part-time or contract instructors who teach one or more courses without holding full-time positions.
The number of credit hours or courses assigned to a faculty member in a term.
A formal agreement outlining the scope, pay, and responsibilities of adjunct faculty for a specific term.
A review process to assess teaching effectiveness, often used to determine contract renewal.
A classification system (e.g., Lecturer, Assistant Professor) that may or may not apply to adjuncts depending on the institution.
Onboarding activities designed to acquaint adjuncts with institutional policies, LMS tools, and support services.
As institutions strive for teaching quality and budget efficiency, adjunct roles are expanding. There's growing interest in standardizing adjunct policies, offering professional development, and including part-time faculty in governance.