Part-Time / Adjunct Faculty Employment Policies

Qualifications/Application Procedures

Part-time/adjunct faculty are hired based on academic preparation in the instructional discipline or a related area; potential ability in instruction; public service; and/or research; and/or professional experience, comparable to that of full-time faculty counterparts teaching in the same discipline.

Routine orientation, supervision and evaluation are implemented through the department chair's office of each respective adjunct/part-time adjunct faculty member. Part-time/adjunct faculty should consult with the department chair to establish a schedule of accessible office hours. Part-time/adjunct faculty are subject to departmental and university policies, as implemented by the department chair.

Part-time/adjunct faculty teaching credit courses leading to the baccalaureate degree must hold a least a master's degree and 18 completed graduate semester hours, in the teaching discipline, or hold the minimum of a master's degree with a major in the teaching discipline.

In exceptional cases, a part-time/adjunct faculty may present outstanding professional experience and demonstrated contributions to the teaching discipline in lieu of formal academic preparation. In such incidences, the department chairperson must justify each exception by completing a written statement describing and documenting such experience and contributions. Such documentation shall be filed at the department level with notification of such made to the dean prior to or at the beginning of each semester when part-time /adjunct faculty are employed. Assurance must be made by each department that part-time adjunct faculty meet the same requirements for professional, experiential and scholarly preparation as their full-time counterparts in the same disciplines.

As a part of the hiring process, the Office of the University Provost maintains records of all part-time/adjunct faculty including: official transcripts, a current curriculum vitae, and other necessary materials for demonstrating competence.

Application for adjunct positions is made directly to the department chairperson of the respective department.

The following requirements apply to part-time/adjunct faculty who apply for Graduate Adjunct membership. Adjunct status must be renewed every two (2) years. Adjunct members shall not direct doctoral dissertations or master's theses, but may serve as committee members/readers.

Requirements for Consideration

The applicant must:

  1. hold the terminal degree in the teaching field. If the terminal degree is not a doctorate, the applicant must provide external evidence that the degree is considered terminal or sufficient by the discipline.
  2. prove evidence of qualifications to teach the assigned graduate course(s).
  3. be recommended by the department chair and the undergraduate college dean.
  4. be recommended by the Graduate Council.
  5. be recommended by the dean of the College of Graduate Studies.

Recommendation of Candidates for Position

Faculty recruitment and hiring procedures must comply with Policy 801 Personnel Transactions.  These procedures are available through the academic department or through the Office of Institutional Equity & Compliance. The department chair, the department search committee, and the dean of the college concerned recruit staff for new positions and all vacancies. All oral and written recruitment devices must meet the approval of the Director of Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action and indicate the University's status as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. Generally, authorized positions will