Re: Physiology lab. [HAPP-L]

[Linda Kollett <lkollett@xxxxxxxxx>]

Title: Re: Physiology lab. [HAPP-L]

I wasn't going to reply to this, as I am sure the original writer did not intend to insult adjunct faculty, but Leslie and I teach at the same school and I agree with her that faculty who cause "trouble" do not fall neatly in one camp or the other.  The main issue I have with using adjunct faculty is that, at least at our school, they are very underpaid for the work that they do.  Increasing the percent of adjunct faculty in our departments has become an attractive cost-saving strategy, and it raises some fairness issues, among other things.
Regarding the problem of helping new faculty - full time or adjunct, our new Division Dean has established a mentoring program which I hope will continue and improve.  Speaking as a first-time mentor, it was not always easy for me to anticipate the problems our new adjuncts would face.  In particular, issues about using technology in the classroom caused problems.  It is amazing in retrospect to see what I assumed - or forgot to mention! The suggestion about the inventory is excellent, and something I hadn't though of. I hope to become a more effective mentor as the program continues, but I was really pleased with the first attempt and do think it helps new faculty integrate into the department more quickly and easily.

In closing - this serves as a gentle reminder that a wide variety of folks are on this list and we need to be careful about our comments - I still remember some negative statements about the quality of courses at 2-year colleges that hit a nerve with me!

Linda S. Kollett, Ph.D.
Department of Biology
Massasoit Community College
1 Massasoit Boulevard
Brockton  MA 02302
508.588.9100 x 1622 

> From: Leslichten@xxxxxxx
> Reply-To: HAPP-L@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Date: Wed, 22 Jan 2003 11:28:12 EST
> To: HAPP-L@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: Re: Physiology lab. [HAPP-L] 

> Sorry that you feel "We have tried adjuncts, but most are more trouble than they are worth" have you tried explaining what is expected and where to find materials (or even that the materials exist)! Did you hire adjuncts with a proper background or just a warm body? Having taught both full and part time for more years than I care to count I know that whenever more than one person teaches in a lab, a good deal of coordination must occur. Unfortunately no one is born knowing where the other 2,3,4...n people that also teach in the lab tend to put stuff. It takes a few years of teaching with others to know how to share a lab successfully. Many new adjuncts make up in enthusiasm what they may lack in procedures. After a few semesters of not being able to find things or hearing about them after they've covered that material tends to really dampen the enthusiasm. I have found over the years (none currently at least) that some of the full! timers
>  I've taught with were also more trouble than they were worth! 
>
> Leslie Lichtenstein 
> Massasoit Community College 
> One Massasoit Blvd. 
> Brockton, MA 03203 
> llichtenstein@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx