Community College Faculty Conceptualizations of Academic Community and Part-Time Work Environment: A Case Study

• In Event: Roundtable Session 78
  In Roundtable Session: Issues in Community College Faculty Life

Abstract

Studies suggest that community college students who interact with adjuncts fare poorly compared to students with more full-time faculty interaction. Some researchers argue that these negative impacts on student learning may be due to poor working conditions for adjuncts. However, community colleges have been slow to change their policies and practices towards adjuncts. Some scholars propose that one way to help improve the working conditions of adjuncts is through academic community, but there is little research on that means to community college faculty This case study found 5 faculty conceptualizations of academic community from the perspectives of faculty, and found that those conceptualizations may influence work environment through defining membership, providing rationale, and establishing citizenship behaviors .

Author

• Cecile Huynh Sam, The University of Pennsylvania