Examining the Use of Adjunct Faculty

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Examining the Use of Adjunct Faculty

• Jackie Moczygemba, MBA, RHIA, CCS
• 2008 TxHIMA Annual Convention
• The Woodlands, TX

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How Do We Define Adjunct Faculty?

• Temporary faculty to include lecturers and
  part-time faculty at any rank
• Hired for only a one-semester or one-year
  appointment
• On a per course or other basis
• Sometimes described as contingent faculty

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Where Do You Find Adjunct Faculty?

• Professional meetings/conventions
• HIM/HIT service activities
• Serving on committees, boards
• Clinical sites
• Internship site supervisors may express interest
• Networking
• May be face to face or virtual (e-mailing)
• Retired faculty come back!

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Do HIA/HIT Programs Rely on Adjunct Faculty?

• According to the AHIMA Winter 2008 Academic
  Advisor Newsletter
• Baccalaureate health information administration
  programs use adjunct faculty 50 percent of the
  time
• Associate health information technology programs
  rely on adjuncts 52 percent of the time.

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Advantages of Using Adjunct Faculty

• Sound business reason
• Costs less to staff with adjunct rather than
  full-time
• Adjunct is sometimes the more qualified
  instructor
• Example credentialed coding supervisor
• Adjunct faculty are usually practitioners in the
  community
• They can design lectures and assignments that are
  relevant to current HIM practices
• Adjunct faculty get to know the students
• May be more willing to accept student interns in
  their FT place of employment

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Disadvantages of Using Adjunct Faculty

• Adjunct Faculty Perspective
• The disconnect feeling
• How to teach
• Not familiar with resources available
• Not enough time for course prep, advising,
  grading
• Program Perspective
• Difficult to hold meetings at time when all can
  attend
• Program must still maintain core faculty
• FT faculty needed for university, college and
  program activites
• Adjunct appointments are short term - no strings
  attached

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How Do We Retain Adjunct Faculty?

• Work with deans on budget
• Possibly compensate one credit hour more for
  duties outside of lecture/lab time
• Advising, course development, grading
• Ensure adequate resources
• Training sessions, office space for advising
• Plan/schedule ahead for a time adjunct can teach
• Engage faculty more
• Plan social activity
• Serve on advisory committee
• Attend meetings/CE seminars together
• Hold faculty meeting at adjuncts place of
  employment

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Summary

• Adjunct faculty are a valuable asset
• As educators we need to nurture the idea of
  teaching
• AHIMA Code of Ethics 6
• Recruit and mentor students, peers and
  colleagues to develop and strengthen professional
  workforce.
• Audience what are some of the issues other
  programs have experienced with adjunct faculty?

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References

• Winter 2008 AHIMA Academic Advisor Newsletter
• Faculty Handbook for Texas State University San
  Marcos