ERIC Number: ED579666
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2017
Pages: 128
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: 978-0-3553-5262-7
ISSN: EISSN-
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Adjunct Experiences with and Perceptions of Professional Development at a Texas Community College
Miles, R. Mark
ProQuest LLC, Ed.D. Dissertation, The University of Alabama
Universities and colleges have developed an over-reliance on adjunct faculty, and as a result, researchers have begun to study adjunct faculty satisfaction as it relates to their working conditions. Current research indicates that professional development is a source that can contribute to satisfaction at work (Hoyt, 2012). However, the research does not give us a sense of the adjunct experience with and perceptions of professional development. The purpose of this study was to examine the experiences and perceptions of adjuncts with professional development at a single Texas community college. I conducted a qualitative design with a phenomenological approach. I interviewed sixteen participants. Of this 16, twelve were adjunct faculty, and four were administrators at a Texas community college in the Houston area. Interviews proceeded in 2 rounds and were guided by the major research question: what are adjunct faculty experiences with faculty development at a single institution. During data collection and analysis, adjunct faculty stated they do not frequently participate in professional development; however, when they do participate, it lessens their feelings of being invisible on-campus and connects them to their colleagues. In addition, participants described meaningful professional development. I identified six key themes: scheduling, communication, level/target, content, focus, and participation. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]
Descriptors: Adjunct Faculty, Faculty Development, Teaching Experience, Community Colleges, Teacher Attitudes, Work Environment, Job Satisfaction, Qualitative Research, Phenomenology, Interviews, Incidence, Collegiality, Sense of Community, Scheduling, Interpersonal Communication, Teacher Participation, Course Content
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Publication Type: Dissertations/Theses - Doctoral Dissertations
Education Level: Two Year Colleges
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Texas
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A

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