Does It Matter to Have an Adjunct Instructor in the Developmental Education Course? Evidence From a Community College System

• In Event: Innovative Approaches to Developmental Education

Abstract

Our Study examined the impact of having adjunct instructors in developmental education, in both concurrent and subsequent course performance. Using unique longitudinal student-unit record data from a large community college system in one state, this paper extends the current literature on teacher effectiveness by examining the impacts of taking one’s developmental English and developmental math course with an adjunct instructor on the student’s current course, as well as on their enrollment and performance in the English and math gatekeeper courses. We used course fixed effects and instrumental variables to solve the potential student self-selection among course sections. This study provides key information to college administrators and policy makers about the characteristics and impacts of adjuncts in developmental education.

Authors

• Di Xu, community college research center, columbia university

• Xiaotao Ran, Teachers College, Columbia University