Adjunct Professor job description
An Adjunct Professor is a part-time professor employed on a contractual basis. They teach courses just as tenured faculty would, but are not considered part of the permanent staff at a university or college.
Use this Adjunct Professor job description to advertise your vacancies and find qualified candidates. Feel free to modify responsibilities and requirements based on your needs.
Adjunct Professor responsibilities include:
- Developing, delivering and reviewing course material and syllabi
- Creating a classroom environment where students feel comfortable participating and learning
- Setting up assessments based on departmental regulations and requirements
Job brief
We are looking for an Adjunct Professor to join our faculty on a part-time basis to teach students at our university.
An Adjunct Professor’s responsibilities include reviewing and improving the syllabus to meet students’ needs. They also take on additional duties based on the needs of the department and provide support to full-time faculty members.
Ultimately, you will work directly with students and faculty throughout the university to ensure the success of your department.
Responsibilities
- Prepare students for assessments and provide helpful performance feedback
- Provide extra support to students who require it and schedule consultation times
- Answer students’ questions and provide feedback on assignments or essay drafts
- Assist other faculty members with lesson plans and assessments
- Recommend additional readings or advice to students as required
Requirements and skills
- Proven work experience as an Adjunct Professor or similar role
- Superb interpersonal, observational and communication skills
- Patience, understanding and empathy
- Good analytical and organizational skills
- Published papers or research articles would be a plus
- A Master’s or Ph.D. degree in your academic field is preferred
Frequently asked questions
- What does an Adjunct Professor do?
- An Adjunct Professor teaches courses just like a tenured faculty member but without tenure protections. Typically they're hired part-time or on a per-project basis and are often instructional teachers in introductory undergraduate or prep courses.
- What are the duties and responsibilities of an Adjunct Professor?
- Adjunct Professors have many responsibilities based on the needs of their department and university. Still, they are typically responsible for reviewing and improving the syllabus, understanding students' needs in order to develop engaging lesson plans that address the individualized demands of their students.
- What makes a good Adjunct Professor?
- Adjunct Professors need to be experts in their academic field to help students learn in a highly competitive environment. They also need excellent communication skills since they work with a wide range of faculty members and students throughout the university.
- Who does an Adjunct Professor work with?
- Adjunct Professors are professors hired on a contractual basis, usually in part-time positions. This means they work with Executive Directors and other university leaders to renew their contracts each year.