This qualitative research study sought to help community colleges aid math faculty in making a transformation in their teaching practices. The research questions were: (a) What did it take for faculty to change their teaching style from traditional lecture-based instruction to one that incorporates low-stakes collaborative practice, just-in-time…

The purpose of this qualitative research study was to explore part-time college instructors' perceptions of Multiple Intelligence Theory. The study centered on the phenomenon existing within the perception of 12 part-time instructors from a variety of departments, all from the same community college in New England. Data was extracted pertaining to…

Understanding the relative impacts of part-time adjuncts in community colleges is highly policy-relevant, partly because community colleges rely on part-time faculty heavily and partly because community colleges assume a critical role in addressing the national equity agenda by disproportionately serving underrepresented groups. This study uses…

Issues of instruction and assessment at community colleges are influenced by the high percentage of classes taught by adjunct faculty. In 2014 for the Virginia Community College System, part-time instructors comprised 70.3% of instructional faculty. This dissertation describes the instruction and assessment technique choices of adjunct instructors…

This study investigates how the impact of part-time faculty status and full-time faculty status influences pedagogical practices and the incorporation of student services in developmental courses. Data from the 2014 Community College Faculty Survey of Student Engagement [CCFSSE] by the Center for Community College Student Engagement [CCCSE] was…

The purpose of this quantitative descriptive study was to evaluate community college faculty use of technology modalities (face-to-face interaction, on-line interaction, e-learning, and social networking technologies) as measured by the CCFSSE 2015 cohort survey. Archival data collected by the Community College Faculty Survey of Student Engagement…

Research has shown that forming a professional identity is central in the process of becoming an effective teacher (Alsup, 2006; Danielewicz, 2001). Yet, little is known about the faculty identity development of part-time faculty, who represent nearly 70% of all faculty at community colleges (AFT Higher Education, 2009). Addressing this critical…

As online enrollments escalate, so does concern about student attrition rates. There is an abundance of literature addressing student success in online courses, particularly using constructivist learning theories to create engaging learning experiences. Also emerging from the literature is the "Seven principles of good instructional…

Teaching and learning have been a focus of professional development for community college faculty, yet little is known about the impact of professional development on the instructional practices of part-time community college faculty. The purpose of this qualitative study was to describe the impact of sustained professional development on the…

There has been considerable debate in community colleges over the last forty years regarding the impact of increased use of part-time faculty (PTF) on student learning. It has been argued that part-time faculty fail to provide the same level of teaching quality as full-time faculty (FTF). The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of…

Institutions of higher education have been gradually employing more part-time faculty over the past several decades. Walsh estimates that part-time faculty employment across all types of institutions increased 79 percent from 1981 to 1999. The growth of part-time faculty at community colleges is equally astounding. It is now estimated that 67…

The 2006 report from Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings's Commission on the Future of Higher Education, "Test of Leadership: Charting the Future of U. S. Higher Education", made recommendations that most parttime faculty cannot follow. The report "urge[s] postsecondary institutions to make a commitment to embrace new pedagogies, curricula,…

During the 1970's the increase in the proportion of faculty teaching part-time has been dramatic. The percentage of part-time faculty has risen from 40% in 1971 to 56% in 1977. The rationale for hiring part-time rather than full-time faculty is based on the premises that substantial sums of money can be saved and curriculum scheduling and…

This handbook is designed to help part-time and adjunct faculty who need professional enhancement but do not have the time for formal coursework. The focus is on the modern student, who differs in many ways from the traditional college student. The book provides more advanced strategies that those presented in the earlier "Handbook for…

Compares part-time and full-time faculty in the areas of teaching experience; selection of course materials; use of instructional media, out-of-class activities, and support services; grading practices; and involvement in professional activities, indicating that the part-time teacher works under much less favorable conditions. (MB)