Colleges, organized into 71 districts and serving more than
1.4 million students, represent the largest system of higher
education in the world. Adjunct instructors educate more
than 40% of the systemís students. An additional 5,000
new adjunct faculty are likely to be added in the next five
years. This dependence on adjunct faculty members
makes it essential that they are prepared to create a positive
learning environment and use effective teaching strategies
from the start of their first class.
Colleges (or districts) have formed a collaborative partnership
to improve the quality of first time faculty teaching and
involve new adjunct faculty quickly and more fully in their
campus communities by providing a detailed online course
in teaching, state education code issues, and college
policies. The course will be available the moment a new
faculty member is hired and will provide assistance and
support as first lessons are planned. This effort
will translate into improved first impressions, enhanced
teaching, higher retention rates, and greater student success.
The course and
follow-up face-to-face workshops will employ the
interactive, learner-centered techniques faculty need to
use. It will also demonstrate the effective use of technology,
thereby helping to reduce the "digital divide" among faculty
members who understand the value of technology and those
who do not. Issues will be addressed in the order faculty
typically confront them.
for use by several districts, all
California Community Colleges can easily adapt the model
as they face the same problems and state education code.
Outside California, the web-based components can be used
as models, saving other districts time and avoiding the
need to "reinvent the wheel."