Any advice for application

[jamsmu]

to be an adjunct professor at a small college? I know there are a few of you who are profs at community colleges. I have my resume, cover letter and a course proposal ready to go by FRIDAY. (goal setting is becoming important.) So I'm looking for last minute tips on how to get the job!!

TIA

[JElaineB]

I am an adjunct at a couple of community colleges. Are you applying for a course they already teach or is the course you are proposing something new? Have you made contact with them at all yet?

At the first college I started teaching at, I called in response to an ad in the paper, and was hired the next day when I went in to interview. I had taught at that college part-time 5-6 years before so that helped. For the second college I emailed them the day before their Christmas break and the dean emailed me back the same day that he had a class for me starting this January, so I was essentially hired by him just seeing my resume. Kind of nice really!

If you are applying for courses they already teach, now is a good time to be applying for summer or fall classes. I already have 2 classes lined up for summer but they haven't told me about fall yet, but they are working on it. Find out who is in charge of hiring (either department head or Dean of the college usually) and contact them by phone or email. If you are proposing a new course I'm not sure of the process for that. I would still contact the Dean or department head but depending on the college there may be some sort of internal process for them to approve a new course. It may be too late to get it even for the fall, but it can't hurt to try.

Let me know if there is anything else I can try to help with!

Jennifer
mom to Jacob 9/27/02

[jbowman]

I teach at a four-year university, but we hire adjuncts pretty often. I come from a liberal arts background, so what I suggest might not be applicable. Here is my advice:

*make sure that your cover letter doesn't simply restate your resume. I would use the cover letter as an opportunity to state how you would be a perfect fit for the job (perhaps based on the job posting).

*proof, proof, proof! We are conducting a job search right now and I can't tell you how many people don't check spelling, don't edit for clarity, etc. It is amazing!

*make sure that your course proposal is specific and throw in something about how you assess performance (tests, papers, etc.--hiring committees love that stuff! The more creative, the better).

*I would make sure that you list "teaching experience" (if you have teaching experience) as the first heading in your resume. Since community colleges emphasize teaching (over research), you want the hiring committee to see your qualifications the minute they see your resume.

*you want to separate yourself from the other applicants, so print your materials on thick/nice paper. My husband suggests the heaviest bright white paper you can find--24-26 lb. (not card stock).

*Use large (8 1/2 x 11 or 11 x 14) white envelopes so that your materials are flat, not folded up.

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you! HTH! Good luck!

[jamsmu]

Thank you so much, Jennifer and Jill! I am applying to teach the freshman orientation to education class and/or supervise student teacher/practicum students. In addition, I am sending a proposal for a course they don't offer (Technology in the Elementary Classroom). I am praying (and I don't usually pray) this will work because I don't want to be back in the classroom next year and I love the college/university atmosphere (I included the second part in my cover letter, saying the enthusiasm for learning is contagious.) I am going to send my cover letter, etc. to mom to proof tonight.

How specific should I be with evaluation on my course proposal? I already have that there will be two opinion essays, one BIG final project, a conclusion essay and small technology projects along the way that lead to the final project. Do I need to include rubrics and a percentage breakdown or is this enough?

Thanks SO MUCH again!!!

Julie

[jbowman]

If the proposal is relatively short (1-2 pages), I wouldn't go into a lot of depth--based on what you've stated, you have clearly thought out the assignments and that will show. I would include a percentage breakdown if you think it helps the quality of the overall proposal--but the numbers (rather than the projects/assignments) could stick out and you don't want that!

HTH!