Adjunct Instructing Offer Advice

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by JoshD, May 15, 2020.

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  1. JoshD

    JoshD Well-Known Member

    Hello DIers!

    I have been contacted by a Finance professor from my MBA program asking if I would be interested in teaching the online 7-week Personal Finance course for undergrads Fall 2020. My current line of work is in the banking industry as I serve as an Assistant Vice President. I know that adjuncts do not get paid well but what is others experience as an adjunct for online courses?

    Thanks!
     
  2. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    At a lot of schools you'd make more per hour as a barista at Starbucks. But since you didn't say what they offered, it's tough to opine meaningfully.
     
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  3. Vonnegut

    Vonnegut Well-Known Member

    Ask if the course has already been built or if you will be building it from scratch. That is the biggest factor on whether an adjunct opening is potentially bottomless pit of time. You'll likely still want to polish it, but it will be immensely easier to onboard with a pre-built course than to learn teaching and instructional design, while actively trying to do both and stay one week ahead of the students. With the right school and students, it can be an immensely rewarding experience, arguably a great resume (or subject matter competency verification) addition, and great networking opportunity. If it's pre-built and you have some time, it's worth seriously considering. If you have to build it from scratch, really think about your time. If you're working full-time, going to grad school, have a family with three little ones as in your profile picture... might not be the time to add it to your plate, if they're asking you to build it from scratch. Only you and your family can answer that though.
     
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  4. JoshD

    JoshD Well-Known Member

    Spoke with the finance professor who had been teaching the course this evening. There is no instructional design involved. He already has the course built in Blackboard and would pass it off to me. He said I would be free to make any changes I saw fit since I would be the instructor but there is very little leg work that has to be done to get the course ready.

    Tomorrow I will speak with the department chair to discuss the big question: pay!

    All in all though, since I do have the desire to do college level instructing as a "part-time" gig, this will be great to get my foot in the door.
     
  5. TEKMAN

    TEKMAN Semper Fi!

    A friend of mine adjuncts for the University of Maryland - Global Campus at Andrew Air Force Base. He teaches two 8-week courses in Network Security and Cisco Networking; they pay him $4,000.00 per course. I think it is very good to make an additional $4,000.00 per month as a side income. He goes to the campus twice per week.
     
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  6. Vonnegut

    Vonnegut Well-Known Member

    UMGC is very well regarded for how they treat their adjuncts. That is a very good side hustle!
     
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  7. JoshD

    JoshD Well-Known Member

    That is awesome! I'm not expecting $4,000 for the course. Lol I would not be surprised if it was around $2,000.
     

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