From the News column in the March 2002 Perspectives
Adjunct/Part-Time Faculty Survey
The AHA-OAH Part Time Faculty Committee has prepared the following survey to assist it in doing several things: obtaining a better sense of who is teaching part-time and why, what the working conditions are, and how both organizations can help this particular constituency among their members. The information will be used to help the Committee plan future activities, the two organizations address the needs of members who are part time, and all of us to publicize the issues and our needs to high education administrators, state and national legislators, and the general public. If you are or have been part time faculty teaching history courses at a community college, college, or university, print, fill out, and mail the survey to:
Adjunct/Part-Time Faculty Survey
American Historical Association
400 A Street, SE
Washington, DC 20003
We ask that you only fill it out only once, but encourage you to copy and distribute it to others. You do not need to be a member of either organization to respond.
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Name____________________________________________________________________________ Street Address____________________________________________________________________ State___________________ Zip Code ________________ Work Phone _____________________ Home Phone ____________________ E-mail ________________________________ Please initial if you would like to receive e-mail communications from an adjunct historians list-serve.______ | |
| 1. I teach in the state(s) of ______________________________________________________________ | |
| 2. Which job description best summarizes your current status (select all that apply)? a. Graduate Student b. Adjunct at a community college c. Adjunct at a 4-year college or university d. Adjunct at both a 2-year and a 4-year institution e. Full-time, non tenure status | |
| 3. I work as an adjunct/part-time professor of history because (select all that apply): a. I cannot find a full-time position Yes No b. I have small children at home Yes No c. I am retired Yes No d. I have a full-time job in another profession Yes No e. I prefer to be employed part-time Yes No f. I am completing an advanced degree Yes No g. I am geographically tied to the area Yes No | |
| 4. Which academic description best describes your current status? a. Master’s Degree only b. PhD graduate student c. ABD (all but PhD dissertation) d. PhD | |
| 5. How many years have you been teaching as an adjunct in the history profession? a. 1 year b. 2–5 years c. 6–10 years d. Over 11 years | |
| 6. How many years has it been since you had full-time employment in the history profession after completion of the highest degree earned? a. Never had full-time employment b. 1 year c. 2–5 years d. 6–10 years e. Over 11 years | |
| 7. I would (select all that apply): a. Take a full-time position in history at a public high school Yes No b. Take a full-time position in history at a private high school Yes No c. Take a full-time position in history at a community college Yes No d. Take a full-time position in history at a four-year college or university Yes No | |
| 8. How many colleges employ you as an adjunct instructor each semester? a. None b. One c. Two d. Three e. Four or more | |
| 9. Circle the appropriate number of colleges where you teach that provide adjunct support in the following areas: a. An office 0 1 2 3 4 b. A computer 0 1 2 3 4 c. A telephone 0 1 2 3 4 d. Typing services 0 1 2 3 4 e. Photocopying 0 1 2 3 4 f. Travel funds 0 1 2 3 4 g. Sick leave 0 1 2 3 4 h. Health insurance 0 1 2 3 4 i. Retirement 0 1 2 3 4 j. Library services 0 1 2 3 4 k. Professional Development Funds 0 1 2 3 4 | |
| 10. How many years would you work as an adjunct seeking full-time employment before leaving the history profession? a. 1 year b. 2–5 years c. 6–10 years d. Over 11 years e. I will stay in the profession as an adjunct rather than change careers. | |
| 11. Which of the following agencies have assisted in our search for full-time employment (circle all that apply): a. The AHA b. The OAH c. University Placement Office d. University Mentor e. The Internet f. Other (please specify) _____________________________________________________________ | |
| 12. While employed as an adjunct professor of history I have (select all that apply): a. Been awarded a fellowship Yes No b. Been selected for a professional committee appointment Yes No c. Been awarded a grant Yes No d. Published a book Yes No e. Published a journal article Yes No f. Published a book review(s) in a journal Yes No g. Presented a paper at a professional conference Yes No h. Other __________________________________________________________________________ | |
| 13. How can the AHA/OAH best assist adjuncts (rate with 1 a low priority and 6 the highest priority)?: a. Reserving places on AHA/OAH committees 0 1 2 3 4 b. Alloting professional sessions to adjunct panels 0 1 2 3 4 c. Helping adjuncts get published 0 1 2 3 4 d. Helping adjuncts apply for grants/fellowships 0 1 2 3 4 e. Providing health insurance 0 1 2 3 4 f. Acting as an ombudsman 0 1 2 3 4 g. Other __________________________________________________________________________ | |
| 14. My household income consists of (select all that apply): a. Adjunct teaching only Yes No b. Spouse or Partner’s income Yes No c. Non-teaching full-time employment Yes No d. Non-teaching part-time employment Yes No | |
| 15. My annual income from teaching is: a. Under $15,000 b. $16,000–$20,000 c. $21,000–$25,000 d. Over $25,000 | |
| 16. As an adjunct professor I (select all that apply): a. Am a union member b. Can join a union c. Cannot join a union because adjuncts are ineligible d. Cannot join a union because I work in a "right-to-work" state | |
| 17. The number of students I teach per semester is: a. Under 50 b. 50–100 c. 101–150 d. Over 150 | |
18. The total number of courses I teach each semster is ________________________ | |
| 19. The number of non-teaching hours (office hours, grading, lecture preparation, travel) I work each week as an adjunct professor is: a. Under 10 b. 11–15 c. 16–20 d. 21–25 e. Over 25 | |
| 20. Each semester I am paid (select all that apply): a. By course (indicate the amount) b. By the credit hour (indicate the rate) | |
| 21. I am involved in web-based distance learning a. Yes b. No | |
| 22. How can the AHA/OAH best improve its service to adjuncts (rate with 1 as low priority and 6 as highest priority): a. Creating a two-way e-list by and for adjuncts 1 2 3 4 5 6 b. Having an ombudsman for adjuncts 1 2 3 4 5 6 c. Improved responsiveness to adjunct complaints 1 2 3 4 5 6 d. More adjunct participation in AHA/OAH offices 1 2 3 4 5 6 e. A mentoring system by tenured AHA/OAH faculty 1 2 3 4 5 6 f. Other ___________________________________________________________________________ | |
| 23. List the most significant obstacles or difficulties you face on both a day-to-day basis and long-term within the profession:
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| 24. In searching for a full-time, tenure-stream job, list the most significant obstacles or difficulties you face:
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| 25. How can your part-time conditions best be improved?
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| 26. Do you find the AHA/OAH convention job interviews helpful? a. Yes b. No | |
| 27. Do you see the AHA/OAH job announcements published each month? a. Yes b. No | |
| 28. How has the AHA/OAH helped you in job searches?
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Last Updated: September 19, 2007
