Becoming a Community College Instructor

[Anonymous]

I've recently decided I want to go back to teaching, ideally as a community college instructor, probably for math. This will take some planning, as it's quite different from my current work in non-profit accounting (and will have to fit it in around the usual family and work constraints). Does anyone have any resources for this type of position? I've browsed current listings and have determined I will probably need to get a Master's, but I'd love to start networking so I can make sure the degree I go for will be relevant to the type of job I eventually want. (I do have a bachelor's degree in math and past teaching experience.) We live in Silver Spring, if that's useful.

I'm also open to being talked out of this, if anyone has btdt and would advise against. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Get yourself over to the forums on the Chronicle of Higher Education. CHances are you will get hired as an adjunct and if you are lucky you will get 1800 dollars a course. Don't count on being able to pay your bills as a community college instructor. For most people it ends up being a nifty little hobby, but it's not a career.

[Anonymous]

PP is generally right, although I think they are overestimating your ability to get hired as an adjunct with only a bachelor's degree. Most CCs are looking for master's plus even for adjuncting, although you could get lucky if you have an interesting specialization or have a track record of college teaching.

One thing I would advise is that you have to change your mindset if you think being an adjunct instructor at a CC is a "job" with any sort of stability. Think of it like being an IC instead.

Every semester, you need to hustle to get on someone's radar so that when there is a class available, they think of you. There is no guarantee your class will run and you can have your semester all planned out, only to hear your class is under enrolled and won't run. Some institutions wait to hire to avoid canceling and you won't hear you have a class until a few days before the semester begins. That said, if you land a class and do a great job and have stellar course evaluations, you can be invited back regularly and it almost looks like a steady job, without benefits, of course.

The secret to adjuncting is to have a high tolerance for uncertainty. If you know that you want to piece together enough appointments to almost have a job (again, with no benefits), you need to apply to several places and be prepared to work at several places to make a living wage (generally 3-4 courses per term). That can be tough.

This is all the bad news.

The good news is, if you don't need the benefits and you have that high tolerance for uncertainty, adjuncting is great fun. It allows you to innovate in your teaching, allows you experiences in a wide variety of settings, and keeps you fresh in your field.

Now, if you aren't talking about adjuncting and are looking for a permanent lecturer or AP position, then you absolutely need to get your master's, at least. For an AP or up, you'll need the terminal degree in your field.

Hope this helps. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

I adjuncted for many years with an MA all over the country. Now all those jobs are going to PhDs who can't get tenure. Universities are increasing their part time faculty and not hiring full time faculty like they did 20 years ago. This is all a money saving effort, as they can pay adjuncts 1800/semester so these PhDs make up the hours at a combination of universities and community colleges in order to survive. Of course, CCs will take a PhD over an MS any day so your competition is stiff, especially in this region where everyone has a masters degree. Believe me, I have been down this road. Join Vitae.com or chronicle of higher education to get stories from the trenches. Academia is going in the toilet.

http://adjunct.chronicle.com/category/blog/

[Anonymous]

You won't "probably" need a master's. You will definitely need a master's, at a minimum. And I'm going to be a killjoy here, but the amount you spend (or debt you take on) to get a master's degree is not going to be worth it to make a piddly adjunct's salary.

[Anonymous]

Yeah. Get a Masters. Check out the Takoma Park/Silver Spring campus of Montgomery College. Start attending events and networking with people to find out what they're looking for.

[Anonymous]

Bad idea .

[Anonymous]

I have to agree with the other posters. It will be hard to earn even enough money to live on as a community college instructor. Especially don't do it if you would have to go back to school first.

Do a little research about the use of adjunct professors these days. It's shocking and sad.