#AdjunctChat – Tues, July 9, 4:00pm EDT
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#AdjunctChat – Tues, July 9, 4:00pm EDT
The topic is: “What opportunities exist to partner with FT Faculty & Chairs for change, allies, and development?” This is the 5th #AdjunctChat.
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Today’s #AdjunctChat is about to begin. #adjunctchat -
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Here we are at 4:00pm EDT, and I want to welcome anybody who is here to #adjunctchat
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Perhaps it will be useful to see who is here and able to join live in the synchronous discussion? #adjunctchat
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#adjunctchat I’ll see how long my eyes will last. -
@Comprof1 Welcome to this week’s #adjunctchat
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@Comprof1 Hope your eyes last! #adjunctchat
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Anybody else in the background, reading along, who want to check in? #adjunctchat
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Hey. I’ll watch for a bit, I think. Maybe I’ll participate. #adjunctchat -
@IshaiBarnoy Great; welcome! #adjunctchat
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Today’s topic is “What opportunities exist to partner with FT Faculty & Chairs for change, allies, and development?” #adjunctchat
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I’m lurking. But am no adjunct, nor really know what it is so didn’t want to join in too actively for now #adjunctchat -
The full topic as voted in our poll is “What opportunities are there to partner with FT faculty and leaders/chairs…” #adjunctchat
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… to institute change, create allies, and enhance development?” #adjunctchat
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@TEBombe Welcome! An adjunct is anybody who teaches in higher education in a non-full time or non-tenure track capacity #adjunctchat
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Given our topic for this week, what initial thoughts or ideas does anybody want to share? #adjunctchat
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Ooh, that’s a tough one. Chairs seem to commiserate at no end, but to do considerably less, with a number of fair reasons. #adjunctchat
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@JeffreyKeefer Present. Related to full topic: How can we get FT to move past lip service in improving adjuncts’ conditions? #adjunctchat -
@ProfessorF74 Welcome to #adjunctchat
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@IshaiBarnoy Can you talk a little more about what you have in mind? #adjunctchat
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#adjunctchat I think this depends on how much opportunity you have to interact with others in your department. I work days so I get to.
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@Comprof1 Meaning you get to interact with FT faculty in your dept? #adjunctchat
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.@JeffreyKeefer Yep, reading along. Hi all. #adjunctchat -
@melovell Welcome to #adjunctchat
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@IshaiBarnoy Agreed Ishai. Of course there isn’t a magic wand to fix things, but I’ve heard little more than commiseration. #adjunctchat
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@IshaiBarnoy #adjunctchat Yes. They may want to let you do more than they are able to b/c you may be gone the following semester
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@JeffreyKeefer #adjunctchat Partly, I’m relating email and in-person communication with my dept chair, generalizing based on that.
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I wonder about opportunities exist to partner, and think this may have to do with sharing and awareness and a sense of #WIIFM? #adjunctchat
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@ProfessorF74 What sort of commiseration have you heard? #adjunctchat
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@IshaiBarnoy We do indeed only have our own experiences to go on! 😉 #adjunctchat
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@JeffreyKeefer Yes. When I worked nights I rarely saw anyone else in my dept. couldn’t interact. #adjunctchat
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The kind of commiseration I’ve heard: “I used to work as an adjunct, and in my day… So, I perfectly understand your pain.” #adjunctchat
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@Comprof1 Do you mean more service or “work”? #adjunctchat
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@IshaiBarnoy Do you feel this is said in a sympathetic way? #adjunctchat
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Interesting initial thoughts about this, suggesting we have some rich experiences to share and perhaps leverage #adjunctchat
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@JeffreyKeefer #adjunctchat Oh, certainly! Always in a sympathetic way! But also in a tired, “what can I do” sort of way.
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@JeffreyKeefer work, although I’ve been asked to do service. Problem w/ service is I don’t get paid for it. #adjunctchat
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I’m here. Writing, so shouldn’t join in, but will peek in when I can. I’m FT fac, a dept chair, & want to learn all I can. #adjunctchat -
@fabianbanga @JeffreyKeefer Aside from the heavy corporate sediments settling in, you mean? #adjunctchat
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As this chat seems to work more smoothly with some set questions + responses, let’s transition to them to help organization. #adjunctchat
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@IshaiBarnoy @JeffreyKeefer #adjunctchat One way I think chairs can partner is in choice of course or allowing adjunct to create new course
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I listed 3 questions earlier with Q1, etc., and then perhaps we can reply with A1 and such to help keep conversations together. #adjunctchat
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Q1 Do you partner with FT faculty or chairs / leaders for change, allies, or development? #adjunctchat
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@MaryChayko #adjunctchat One thing I haven’t seen from dept chair/fac is advocating for adj when tenured/ft position comes up.
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@Comprof1 @JeffreyKeefer #adjunctchat I’ve asked for precisely this! But I was denied based on state BOE policy. Felt like personal distrust
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@IshaiBarnoy This are anecdotal observations, cannot be an absolute #adjunctchat
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A1 I do not find many opportunities for partnering #adjunctchat
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@IshaiBarnoy @JeffreyKeefer #adjunctchat My dept has “special topics” course. This doesn’t require BOE approval.
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A1 I find requests for service, though do not think of that as partnering per se. #adjunctchat
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@Comprof1 @JeffreyKeefer #adjunctchat It’s famously known at my school that “special topics” courses never get enough students to run.
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@JeffreyKeefer Q1: Only informally paired, but some have read over a document I helped write about improving PT labor in dept. #adjunctchat
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@JeffreyKeefer #adjunctchat double edged sword. Gets your name out there, but then you are doing same work as TT Fac w/ % of pay.
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@fabianbanga #adjunctchat Not sure I follow you. Explain?
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Today’s #AdjunctChat topic is What opportunities exist to partner with FT Faculty & Chairs for change, allies, and development? #adjunctchat
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Our first Question – Q1 Do you partner with FT faculty or chairs / leaders for change, allies, or development? #adjunctchat
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@ProfessorF74 A1 How was that received? #adjunctchat
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@ProfessorF74 @JeffreyKeefer #adjunctchat Q1 Were there reprecussions in dept? When I made noise in dept lost courses.
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@IshaiBarnoy @Comprof1 @JeffreyKeefer They must B promoted vigorously…as when FT and PT fac guest lecture for one another? A1 #adjunctchat
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FT at my school are often just “passing through.” Those in my field, though more permanent, are personal & professional loners. #adjunctchat
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@Comprof1 @ProfessorF74 @JeffreyKeefer #adjunctchat Has anyone gotten research opportunities from ft fac? This was helpful for me.
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@Comprof1 @JeffreyKeefer Received well. I’m unionized & have some protection. We also found something in our bylaws as impetus. #adjunctchat
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#adjunctchat @JeffreyKeefer A1 We are finding opportunities to partner, does need someone to drive the programme and organise though -
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@kathybrodie Welcome to #adjunctchat
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@Comprof1 Agree…this should be the practice and really should happen…or chair should make clear that it won’t, and why. #adjunctchat
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@MaryChayko @Comprof1 @JeffreyKeefer Failure to run is built into the system. Most degrees don’t need “special topics” credits. #adjunctchat
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@IshaiBarnoy are you proposing that chairs have a kind of condescending attitude to PTs? I may misunderstood you #adjunctchat
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@JeffreyKeefer: I do think adjuncts should be compensated for time spent on outside of class projects. #adjunctchat -
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A1 I wonder if some chairs or departments see partnering as free workers? #adjunctchat
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@JozieLocks Welcome! #adjunctchat
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@JozieLocks A1 Do you find it common that adjuncts get paid for works or meetings outside specific contractual teaching? #adjunctchat
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@JeffreyKeefer #adjunctchat I don’t think it’s so calculated. Rather pressure from FT fac who will be there longer.
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@fabianbanga Difficult to say for sure. Chairs are very diplomatic. Very basically, I’d say yes, condescending. But very nice. #adjunctchat
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For those who just joined, our Q1 = Do you partner with FT faculty or chairs / leaders for change, allies, or development? #adjunctchat
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@IshaiBarnoy i’m a chair #adjunctchat
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@JeffreyKeefer #adjunctchat I was able to write a number of papers w/ FT who had chance to present because they had travel money.
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@IshaiBarnoy Sounds like an interesting program at your uni. #adjunctchat
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@MaryChayko @comprof Oh, the FT’s are ordinarily given those, at my school, pretty exclusively. #adjunctchat
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@IshaiBarnoy We have to think pragmatically; departments are organisms // what can I offer and wt those organism need from me? #adjunctchat
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@JeffreyKeefer #adjunctchat I also got some travel money when FT fac couldn’t attend.
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A1 I currently teach in two universities, and find the cultures similar with adjuncts #adjunctchat
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Related: Try checking your program/dept bylaws for language about internal promotion. It may help me at GW. Maybe. #adjunctchat
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@fabianbanga Of course! I don’t doubt my chair for a minute. He’s a great guy, all about his department. #adjunctchat
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@JeffreyKeefer #adjunctchat I find adj treated more as colleagues in unionized unis I’ve taught for. system recognizes limitations.
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While we can continue replying to Q1 (by using A1), it may be time to move onto the 2nd of the 3 we gathered for today #adjunctchat
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@fabianbanga But maybe that means I’ve somehow been left out of my own department before my chair could help. #adjunctchat
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Our second question to chat about and discuss — Q2 Do you have any tales of successful partnerships? #adjunctchat
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@ProfessorF74 #adjunctchat Q1 not at my Uni. There is program for internal promotion for PT staff but not faculty. Hoping that will change
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@JeffreyKeefer #adjunctchat Q2 my current univ allows adjuncts to apply for training grants. I received $1000 grant which goes thru dept.
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In response to Q2: One semester, I took over an FT’s class in a themed program. I took it and very subtly made it mine. #adjunctchat
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@Comprof1 Wow, what a great benefit! #adjunctchat
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@fabianbanga Twitter chats are sprawling and sometimes confusing even when English is your first language! 🙂 #adjunctchat
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@IshaiBarnoy Trying not to be negative, but I met some horrible chairs #adjunctchat
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@Comprof1 A2 How does the uni promote this adjunct financial support for travel? #adjunctchat
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@IshaiBarnoy A2: Do you mean you started to become the primary instructor for it? #adjunctchat
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@JeffreyKeefer @Comprof1 Even if schemes open to adjunct faculty, you have to be employed there long enough to take advantage. #adjunctchat
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@JeffreyKeefer #adjunctchat Yeah. Then the semester ended, of course, and I was back to “normal.”
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@MaryChayko @fabianbanga These can be a challenge to follow. I like the messiness of chats, though many like the Q1 – A1, etc. #adjunctchat
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@fabianbanga @IshaiBarnoy #adjunctchat My dept chair is helping me to transition into other dept b/c ta’s will be taking over courses
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@melovell @JeffreyKeefer #adjunctchat Not sure what you mean. It was all done “outside the system.” FT in question was also high up in HR.
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#adjunctchat Q2 I worked with 2 different fac on research. My idea but they had access to funding. I got credit (but they got funding)
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@Comprof1 @fabianbanga #adjunctchat Yikes. Wait, am I reading you right? Are you happy about this? Still … yikes.
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We are discussing adjunct partnering with chairs and dept leadership #adjunctchat
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Q2 Do you have any tales of successful partnerships? #adjunctchat
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@fabianbanga @IshaiBarnoy #adjunctchat International Comm, marketing, writing, online ed, comm, mgmt. Interdisciplinary.
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@JeffreyKeefer @fabianbanga I like messy chats too…they’re like a busy noisy room with five cool conversations flying around! #adjunctchat
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@Comprof1 @JeffreyKeefer Q2 I’m partnering with English prof on an honors-level Shakespeare program. I teach the FY writing. #adjunctchat
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@IshaiBarnoy @fabianbanga #adjunctchat wonder if humanities is more diff b/c core course taught by contract employees.
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@IshaiBarnoy I think solitude is part of the tenure experience #adjunctchat
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A2: I see partnering as different from service, and wonder if service = free work while partnering is often not considered? #adjunctchat
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RT @fabianbanga: @IshaiBarnoy I think solitude is part of the tenure experience #adjunctchat #adjunctchat
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@JeffreyKeefer #adjunctchat As visiting prof I helped write dept long term goals document. Felt I had some input. Not same as adjunct
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@Comprof1 A2 Interesting that somebody not formally there long term would be asked to write them! #adjunctchat
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@fabianbanga #adjunctchat That’s a whole other discussion. But to put it briefly: As an adjunct my solitude is not as secure or comfortable.
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Perhaps now may be time to add one final Question, Q3, into the mix as our chat is indeed flying along #adjunctchat
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Q3 What goals or vision can we work towards to improve these partnerships? #adjunctchat
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@JeffreyKeefer #adjunctchat I had been adjunct for 8 yrs & tenured track fac were new or older fac retiring.
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@fabianbanga @IshaiBarnoy Well said Fabian. Maybe we also think about what we (& only we) can offer in terms of OUR interests? #adjunctchat
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@fabianbanga #adjunctchat Which is one reason I fear I’ll never be granted tenure: Less effective solitude leads to fewer results.
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@JeffreyKeefer #adjunctchat Q3 I think we need to advocate internal promotion from adjuncts/visiting profs (vp).
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@Comprof1 A3: I always wondered about the notion of adjunct promotion, as promotion without commitment seems odd to me. #adjunctchat
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@JeffreyKeefer #adjunctchat Q3 our program for pt staff is they get first consideration for certain % of positions. Why not profs
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I’m generally not so hopeful about Q3. Partly, I’m just certain that the only proper vision involves institutional changes. #adjunctchat
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@JeffreyKeefer Q3 Agree with Virginia on internal promotion–in pragmatic, concrete, actionable ways. Read/revise bylaws. #adjunctchat
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A3: I wonder if a goal or vision for uni partnerships can benefit from stronger adjunct connections with work in a discipline? #adjunctchat
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@IshaiBarnoy yes, apathy is a problem that exceeds the adj-tenure issue. I saw many rude attitude from PTs > classified staff #adjunctchat
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@ProfessorF74 @JeffreyKeefer #adjunctchat I’ve taught 10 diff courses in dept so can’t say I don’t have spec they need.
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@JeffreyKeefer @Comprof1 Promotion options could just be in place IF needed or desired. Should be certain teaching etc. reqs. #adjunctchat
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A3: If adjuncts work in research or practice discipline areas and promote that, can that lead to partnerships? #adjunctchat
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@IshaiBarnoy Yes. Institution must value adjuncts or chair’s hands are tied…chairs can help them see why they should, though. #adjunctchat
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@Comprof1 @ProfessorF74 Need now, though without FT or tenure, those needs can just as readily change? #adjunctchat
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@ProfessorF74 @JeffreyKeefer #adjunctchat Yes but in our dept 4 long term fac (>5yrs) applied & not considered. Said we didn’t have special
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Bigger issue related to Q3: How can/should we involve parents in outreach? Ss lose out when being taught by so many PTs. #adjunctchat
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@JeffreyKeefer I know the zen thing would be to do good research & expect change to come. But A3 feels like cart before horse. #adjunctchat
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@MaryChayko Interesting issue of adjuncts and institutional commitments / direction. Perhaps and area for a future chat? #adjunctchat
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@MaryChayko @IshaiBarnoy #adjunctchat Many fac are advocates for adj at my current univ. Important to get them to advocate.
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@ProfessorF74 Indeed. The word “terms” and “interest” can neutralize this issue of power and control // @IshaiBarnoy #adjunctchat
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As our time is slipping away, does anybody have any tools or resources in this area that others may find useful to share? #adjunctchat
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@Comprof1 @MaryChayko @IshaiBarnoy #adjunctchat Other problem is core course/freshman experience courses w/o dept. Need to advocate FT.
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Does anybody have any final thoughts or take-aways you want to share as a result of today’s #adjunctchat
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This is like chess / you as an adjunct have to think, what do I have that my chair needs? #adjunctchat
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Yes, one thing: Support my school’s local adjunct advocacy campaign. @AdjunctAdvocacy #adjunctchat
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One take-away from me is that the world of adjuncts is more varied than I often think, and discussing this is very eye-opening #adjunctchat
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@JeffreyKeefer #adjunctchat Important to network across dept. FT faculty have power to change (to certain degree) conditions for adjuncts.
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@JeffreyKeefer Keep trying to make connections with FTs, but temper expectations. Think about what we each can offer dept. #adjunctchat
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This has been a very rewarding and active (especially for July!) #adjunctchat
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I am trying a new tool for the archive and will share that once I get it downloaded (I hope) #adjunctchat
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@ProfessorF74 @fabianbanga @IshaiBarnoy surely the (intended) measurable outcome of your offer is key to forming partnership? #adjunctchat -
Well, didn’t get any writing done…but secretly knew that wasn’t gonna happen. A pleasure, #adjunctchat!
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The next #AdjunctChat will be July 23 at 4:00pm EDT. #adjunctchat
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A poll will be shared later this week to vote for suggested topics to discuss. #adjunctchat
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If anybody has any ideas for future topics, please post them #adjunctchat
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#adjunctchat all the best to everyone.
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#adjunctchat Got to go rest my eyes now. Interesting chat. Thanks all.
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I will incorporate them into the poll and leave the voting to the majority. That worked very well for today. #adjunctchat
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Thank you all, the best for your teaching and learning and partnering and service #adjunctchat
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For anybody who comes to this after our synchronous session ends, please continue the conversation. The tag is always open. #adjunctchat
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Thank you all! #adjunctchat
RT @JeffreyKeefer: I archived the #AdjunctChat Transcript from Tuesday, July 9, 2013 http://t.co/jsuwAIkL52