July, 2012
University of Maryland
Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Science
Adjunct Faculty Policy- Implementation Plan
Effective Fall 2012
Ref: UM Policy on the Employment of Adjunct Faculty, 11-1.07(A)
Definition of Adjunct Faculty for the purposes of this plan: Adjunct Faculty refers to paid instructional faculty who either (1) are paid by the undergraduate course, or (2) have FTE appointments below 50% and are ineligible for health benefits.
1. Recruitment and Selection
The same method of recruitment and standards of selection will be followed as those used for full-time instructional faculty. Recruitment will include widespread dissemination of position information including:
a. Emailing current professors, instructors, department personnel, graduate students, and prior instructional faculty members. Alumni may also be contacted.
b. The ad will be posted to the department’s web page.
c. Faculty members will be asked to contact colleagues regarding potential candidates. This may include contacts at local junior colleges and other academic institutions. Every effort will be made to generate women/minority candidates.
d. Electronic ads will be placed in appropriate locations such as the CRA news and highered.com.
Adjunct faculty will be selected based on their ability to teach the required course(s). Skills may be demonstrated via previous teaching of similar courses, graduate course work in the field, and career experience.
a. Level of degree obtained – M.S. degree required.
b. Personal interview with the search committee as well as others involved in the education program.
c. Several years of teaching experience, ideally in higher education.
d. Strong communication skills
e. Outstanding references
The final selection for the position will be made by the Department Chair. Academic credentials and previous work history will be verified by the department prior to extending an offer.
2. Appointment, Performance & Review
All adjunct faculty will be informed of their assigned course(s) at the time of appointment by the Associate Chair.
Adjunct faculty will follow department procedures for ordering text books. The bookstore’s web site will be used to specify texts. The undergraduate office orders desk copies of books for all course numbers below the 400 level. For course numbers at the 400 level and above, individual faculty must contact publishers to obtain desk copies of books.
The Associate Chair will be the supervisor for all adjunct faculty covered by this document. Grievances should first be reported and discussed with the Associate Chair. If the issue cannot be adequately resolved, the Department Chair will be contacted to discuss and resolve the matter.
3. Teaching Support and Development
The Undergraduate Director and the Associate Director of the Undergraduate Program are responsible for providing teaching support to adjunct faculty. Opportunities for professional development, such as attending conferences, will be provided to the extent possible.
4. Performance Evaluation
Adjunct faculty will be evaluated in the same manner as that set for regular faculty. This includes:
a. student teaching evaluations
b. peer evaluations conducted by the teaching committee – a committee member attends a class and then submits a report on how the adjunct faculty member did in comparison to teaching criteria established by the department. A meeting with a member of the teaching evaluation committee is also scheduled.
Grievances should first be reported to their supervisor. If the matter cannot be adequately resolved, the parties will contact the department chair. Should an adjunct faculty member be terminated by the department, they may request a meeting with the Associate Chair of CMNS for undergraduate affairs.
5. Eligibility of Adjunct I Faculty for Adjunct II Status
After teaching 36 credit hours within the five previous academic years of Fall and Spring courses (summer and winter term courses do not count), an Adjunct I may be considered for promotion to Adjunct II based on high-level performance evaluations. The department APT chair will appoint a review committee of three people (two professorial faculty and one lecturer) to review the Adjunct faculty member for promotion consideration. The full APT committee will meet to discuss the candidate’s dossier which will include input from the Associate Chair. A recommendation from the committee will be made to the Department Chair who will make the final decision regarding promotion.
6. Meeting with College Dean or Associate Dean
In the event that an Adjunct Faculty member is terminated, an optional meeting with the college Dean or Associate Dean will be scheduled by personnel in the Department Chair’s Office. Availability and designation of responsibility will determine if the Dean or Associate Dean will meet with the Adjunct Faculty member.