Adjunct’n

(This article is meant for folks who don’t consider themselves “academics” but have a Master’s/Terminal degree and may want some extra cash)

Since March, I’ve been adjuncting part-time as an English instructor at a local community college just outside of Atlanta, GA. I’ve really enjoyed the experience and I am excited to continue on this journey.

A few thoughts so far.

1.I can’t even lie. Teaching college is cool. Yes, it’s part-time, but being able to play a positive role in someone’s collegiate education is cool and something I don’t take for granted.

2. Professor or Instructor? Technically, I’m an instructor. Professors are seen (generally speaking) as those who conduct research and can offer theoretical perspectives on the subject. However, it’s weird to be called “instructor” all the time, so I just stuck with the “professor” label. It really isn’t that serious, and if someone takes it that seriously, tell em’ to…yeah. I understand the difference, but c’mon, chill. The way I see it, if you teach at a college, you are a professor. It ain’t that deep.

3. Understand your degree. 98% of the time, having a Master’s makes you seem like big shit in your field, and is an incredible accomplishment. In academia, however, you are a broke boy. Now, if you have a terminal degree (like a PhD or, in my field, an MFA,) you’d have more opportunities to teach higher-level courses. However, my MA is not terminal, so there’s a decent chance I may only teach introductory English from here on in (hell nah I…