2016 Annual Conference

College of DuPage (Glen Ellyn, IL) has initiated the Adjunct Institute in order to provide a comprehensive professional development program for adjunct faculty to help them develop into master teachers. The presenters will discuss the content of the course, as well as the outcomes for the instructors and their students.

The target audience for this presentation is administrators and educators who are looking to improve student outcomes through the professional development of their adjunct faculty. Our research has connected adjunct faculty development and increases in student completion, retention, and persistence. Unlike K-12 instruction, community colleges and universities rely on educators with graduate degrees who, for the most part, have no formal teacher training. Providing pedagogical and best practice tools for this growing group leads to better educational outcomes and better prepared adjunct instructors. There will be a question and answer session and some discussion at the end of the presentation.

College of DuPage has recently implemented the Community College Adjunct Faculty Institute. The purpose of the program is to provide professional development for adjunct faculty to help develop them into more than subject matter experts, but also master teachers. This program has had a positive impact on both the adjunct faculty participants and their students, due to improved instruction and assessment techniques for traditional and online courses.
The presenters will be discussing the program development, curriculum, and outcomes with the attendees. They will give an overview of the curriculum and how it has affected the faculty taking the course, as well as the students of those faculty members. Presenters will discuss some of the successes and challenges faced with the development of the program and will share some of the assignments given in the Adjunct Institute. There will be time for questions at the end of the presentation.