It is becoming increasingly difficult to become employed as a professor because the numbers of faculty lines are decreasing.
It is even more difficult to obtain tenure if you do secure full-time faculty status.
Thus, increasing numbers of courses are being taught by adjuncts.
They are professors who are highly qualified in their field but do not work on a full-time basis.
As a result, adjunct professors must learn how to cope with a part-time status.
Adjunct professors are treated as second-class citizens.
They earn less money per class than regular faculty.
Few institutions offer any benefits to their part-timers.
This means that adjunct faculty must secure and pay for their health insurance.
Adjunct professors are the last to receive teaching assignments and are the first ones to have classes canceled.
There is no guarantee that courses will be offered to them in upcoming semesters.
Also, full-time faculty frequently "look down" on adjuncts.
Although there are significant problems being an adjunct professor, there are also benefits.
Part-time professors are hired to teach and do not have any other responsibilities.
Adjunct professors do not have to serve as student advisors, serve on committees, or attend countless meetings during the semester.
Office hours, if any, are minimal.
Thus, time is not being diluted by non-productive activities.
Adjunct professors have the opportunity to earn more money than can be earned by most full-time faculty.
This is accomplished by teaching multiple courses.
Regular faculty do not normally teach more than 4 or 5 courses a semester because of their other responsibilities.
Since adjuncts do not have these responsibilities, they can easily teach several more courses.
In addition to teaching in a traditional classroom you can also teach courses online.
You can teach your online courses while waiting for students to appear during your office hours.
This increases your efficiency as well as your income.
Since you set your schedule, you are able to work as hard as you wish and when you wish.
This is a luxury not afforded to full-time faculty.
As an adjunct professor, you are the master of your income even though you are not a regular employee.
This is called being "gainfully unemployed".
It is even more difficult to obtain tenure if you do secure full-time faculty status.
Thus, increasing numbers of courses are being taught by adjuncts.
They are professors who are highly qualified in their field but do not work on a full-time basis.
As a result, adjunct professors must learn how to cope with a part-time status.
Adjunct professors are treated as second-class citizens.
They earn less money per class than regular faculty.
Few institutions offer any benefits to their part-timers.
This means that adjunct faculty must secure and pay for their health insurance.
Adjunct professors are the last to receive teaching assignments and are the first ones to have classes canceled.
There is no guarantee that courses will be offered to them in upcoming semesters.
Also, full-time faculty frequently "look down" on adjuncts.
Although there are significant problems being an adjunct professor, there are also benefits.
Part-time professors are hired to teach and do not have any other responsibilities.
Adjunct professors do not have to serve as student advisors, serve on committees, or attend countless meetings during the semester.
Office hours, if any, are minimal.
Thus, time is not being diluted by non-productive activities.
Adjunct professors have the opportunity to earn more money than can be earned by most full-time faculty.
This is accomplished by teaching multiple courses.
Regular faculty do not normally teach more than 4 or 5 courses a semester because of their other responsibilities.
Since adjuncts do not have these responsibilities, they can easily teach several more courses.
In addition to teaching in a traditional classroom you can also teach courses online.
You can teach your online courses while waiting for students to appear during your office hours.
This increases your efficiency as well as your income.
Since you set your schedule, you are able to work as hard as you wish and when you wish.
This is a luxury not afforded to full-time faculty.
As an adjunct professor, you are the master of your income even though you are not a regular employee.
This is called being "gainfully unemployed".