As the number of adjunct faculty teaching online courses remotely for their institutions continues to increase, so do the unique challenges they face, including issues of distance and isolation as well as problems pertaining to motivation, time, and compensation. Not only are these higher education faculty geographically isolated from each other and their colleagues at flagship campuses, but they also lack adequate institutional support and resources necessary to perform their roles. As institutions continue to rely heavily on this group of under-supported and undertrained instructors who teach the majority of online courses offered across the country, institutions need models and strategies to tap the expertise and perspectives of this group not only to improve teaching and learning in online programs but also to retain this critical talent pool. More consideration is needed to create institutional affinity and organizational commitment, build community, and create opportunities for remote adjunct faculty to be included as an integral component to their academic departments.
The Handbook of Research on Inclusive Development for Remote Adjunct Faculty in Higher Education is a comprehensive reference work that presents research, theoretical frameworks, instructor perspectives, and program models that highlight effective strategies, innovative approaches, and unique considerations for creating professional development opportunities for remote adjunct faculty teaching online. This book provides concrete practices that foster inclusivity among contingent faculty teaching online as well as tangible practices that have been successfully implemented from faculty developers and academic leaders at institutions who have a large population of, and heavy reliance on, remote adjunct instructors. While addressing topics that include faculty engagement, mentoring programs, and instructor resources, this book intends to support remote instructors in the post-pandemic world. It is also beneficial for faculty development professionals; academic administrative leaders; higher education stakeholders; and higher education faculty, researchers, and students.
Author Biography:
Grounded in the belief that education has the power to transform our lives and our society, Amber Dailey-Hebert is an internationally recognized leader in promoting innovation in higher education. Her work directly impacts adult learners as a Full Professor at Park University, and has extended to academic leadership roles as a Department Chair, Program Coordinator, Associate Dean, and as the Founding & Executive Director for the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, which serves over 1600 full and part-time faculty around the world. In addition, Dr. Dailey-Hebert is a prolific researcher and collaborator, publishing multiple textbooks, peer reviewed journal articles, serving as editor of peer reviewed journals, and winning awards for her scholarship and pioneering efforts in problem-based learning and service learning in the online, hybrid & face-to-face environments.
B. Jean Mandernach, Ph.D., is Research Professor and Director of the Center for Innovation in Research and Teaching at Grand Canyon University. Her research focuses on enhancing student learning through assessment and innovative online instructional strategies. In addition, she has interests in examining the perception of online degrees, the quality of online course offerings and the development of effective faculty evaluation models. Jean received her B.S. in comprehensive psychology from the University of Nebraska at Kearney, an M.S. in experimental psychology from Western Illinois University and Ph.D. in social psychology from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln.
Emily Donnelli-Sallee, Ph.D ., is Associate Provost for Faculty and Academic Affairs and Professor of English at Park University. In her administrative role, Donnelli-Sallee drives initiatives aimed at supporting and recognizing faculty accomplishments in teaching, scholarship, and service. These initiatives include recruitment and retention, orientation and mentoring, professional development, faculty awards, and faculty-related policies and procedures for full-time and adjunct faculty. Donnelli-Sallee's research focuses on faculty engagement, educational development, and the scholarship of teaching and learning. She holds a Ph.D. in rhetoric and composition and M.A. in language and literature from the University of Kansas.
