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The purpose of this research was to identify appropriate pedagogical practices for Internet-based teaching and learning, determine the status of their use in the community college adjunct instructor's Internet-based classroom, and examine the impact of these practices on student academic achievement and satisfaction. Frequencies, measures of central tendency, percentages, and SPSS Cross Tabulation procedures described and analyzed data from student and instructor surveys to answer these questions. Internet-based best practice and recommended practice pedagogical methods and strategies were identified through extensive content analysis of the professional literature. Internet-based adjunct instructors at a Central Florida community college rated 43 selected recommended practices. Ratings were based on instructor perceptions of each practice's importance to student academic achievement in and satisfaction with their Internet-based learning experience. Students of community college adjunct instructors also rated these practices for their perceived impact on student academic achievement and satisfaction. Students identified from selected recommended practices the pedagogies that had been designed into the described Internet-based course in which they had been enrolled, providing better understanding of the current use of appropriate Internet-based practice in the instruction of adjunct community college instructors. To examine the impact of the use of those practices, average course scores were related to student-reported presence of practices in described courses and student-reported academic success and satisfaction in described courses was related to the presence of best and recommended practices designed into the course. Results from this study can provide guidance for community college Internet-based programs and for adjunct instructors in those programs as they strive to design and instruct quality courses with appropriate pedagogical focus. Results can also provide local data to the larger discussion of appropriate pedagogy throughout the Internet-based educational community.

This study was designed to examine the relationship between participation in specific professional development activities and the adjuncts' level of job satisfaction. Data was gathered from previous and current professional development activities at Valencia Community College in Orlando, Florida. Research in the area of professional development activities for adjunct faculty is emerging; however, there is a scarcity of research in the area of professional development activities as a means to increase job satisfaction. The data produced by this study were reviewed to determine, the level of job satisfaction of those adjuncts who attended professional development activities; the degree to which adjunct faculty members attended professional development activities; the reasons why adjuncts attended professional development activities; and how attendance at professional development activities has enhanced adjuncts' teaching performance. Findings showed that adjuncts who attended professional development activities at Valencia Community College were generally satisfied with their jobs. Adjuncts were also satisfied with the professional development activities they attended and many attended more than one activity.

This phenomenological study addressed the transitions of biology and chemistry adjunct faculty, with full or part-time positions outside of academia, as they navigate the transition between their workplaces and the academic environment and also transition toward becoming confident and competent educators. Using the final two stages of Schoening's (2013) Nurse Educator Transition (NET) Model as a framework, this qualitative study examines the transitions of nine biology and chemistry adjuncts at College Alpha, which is a community college located in a southern state. Study findings indicated both degrees of transition, the day-to-day and the overall transition into teaching, impact the overall adjunct experience. The College's involvement with the adjunct and the generational differences between the adjuncts and their students also play a role in the transitions. The literature review addressed the use of the NET Model as a means of examining transitions toward teaching, the roles of adjunct faculty on college campuses, the workplace transition, and the particular needs of Millennial students are also addressed. The study culminated with conclusions about the experiences of the participants, recommendations for future research, and calls for action by community colleges to improve the adjunct experience. A chapter is also included that reflects upon the dissertation writing experience and the challenges of qualitative research not addressed in graduate programs.

Students in preservice teacher preparation courses are instructed, assessed, and graded by either regular full-time faculty members or adjunct part-time instructors. The assessment practices utilized by individuals from these two different instructor levels may be inconsistent and differ significantly, thereby affecting the thorough preparation and training of preservice teacher credential students. There was a two-fold purpose for this study. The first was to determine what the assessment practices of regular faculty and adjunct instructors are in preservice teacher education courses. Specifically, the study did so by administering a survey to determine the course assessment practices; i.e. class attendance, class participation, quizzes, other written papers or assignments during a course, final exams (written in class, take home, oral, or none at all), utilized by the two different instructor levels. The second purpose for the study was to determine if there was a statistically significant difference between the assessment practices of regular instructors compared to adjunct faculty members. The subjects chosen for this study were the entire preservice teacher education full-time faculty or regular instructors, a total of 40 individuals, and 97 preservice course teaching adjunct or part-time instructors (selected at random) from a private university. Together this constituted a total sample population of 137 individuals that were included in the survey utilized for this study. The results of this study showed that there was a statistically significant difference in the utilization of 3 (or 15%) out of 20 assessment practices (Class Attendance, Portfolios, and Final Exam: Oral) between regular and adjunct instructors in preservice teacher education programs. Since the possible effects of differences in the utilization of assessment practices or teaching between full-time and part-time instructors has not been conducted at the higher education level, research in this area may make an important contribution to the future preparation of preservice teacher education students.

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This qualitative study describes members of the Liberal Arts/English adjunct faculty at one mid-Atlantic urban community college (MAUCC), their perceptions of the organizational climate of their program, and their satisfaction and motivation patterns. The study was designed as a case study focusing on one MAUCC department. Adjunct faculty members constitute a growing percentage of the teaching force in higher education institutions--particularly in community colleges (Eagan, 2007; National Center for Educational Statistics, 2011). With rising economic pressure, community colleges increasingly rely on adjunct faculty for teaching their students, particularly in introductory and remedial courses (Eagan, 2007; National Center for Educational Statistics, 2011). However, research suggests that, relative to students taught by full-time faculty, students in introductory courses that are taught by adjunct faculty members are less likely to be successful and to persist to degree completion (Harrington & Schibik, 2001; Eagan, 2009; Jaeger, 2009). Some research suggests that adjunct faculty's work conditions interfere with the quality of their instruction (Eagan, 2007; Lei, 2008). Other research concludes that adjunct faculty members' motivation for teaching and/or method of teaching is incompatible with the investment required for supporting community college students in developmental courses (Adamowicz, 2007; Glenn, 2008). However, little is known about the way contemporary community college adjunct faculty members perceive their role in the organization and their responsibility for promoting students' learning, development, and academic success. The completed research answers the questions: (1) How do adjunct faculty members teaching developmental courses in a community college describe their satisfaction within their current organizational roles? (2) How do adjunct faculty members teaching developmental courses in a community college perceive their responsibility toward student learning and academic success? (3) How do adjunct faculty members describe their motivation within their current role? and (4) How do these adjunct faculty members' perceptions of satisfaction, instructional effectiveness, and motivation relate to their personal background? The research is designed as a case study and focuses on adjunct faculty members teaching introductory and developmental English at one community college. / Educational Administration

Though professional development interventions are widespread in higher education, administrators often do not formally assess their effectiveness, particularly in relation to teacher self-efficacy. The purposes of this study were to determine if any statistically significant difference existed between the self-efficacy scores of adjunct faculty participants in a community college’s professional development program and nonparticipants and to identify the variables with a statistically significant relationship with self-efficacy. A modified version of the Teachers’ Sense of Efficacy Scale (TSES) was administered to 21 adjunct faculty participants in Lone Star College’s Adjunct Certification Program (ACP) and 312 adjunct faculty not currently participating in the program. A demographic questionnaire development by the researcher was also administered. Independent variables of the demographic questionnaire included gender, ethnicity, age, K-12 teaching experience, highest degree earned, subject taught, years of college teaching experience, and number of courses taught each semester. Paired t-test results indicated statistically significant differences in Efficacy in Instructional Strategies for adjunct participants in the ACP program. No significant differences were found for Efficacy in Student Engagement and Efficacy in Classroom Management. Multiple regression analyses indicated that gender has a statistically significant relationship to Efficacy Instructional Strategies. A statistically significant relationship was found for race for Efficacy in Classroom Management. Finally, analysis also indicated a positive relationship between race and gender for Efficacy in Student Engagement. No other statistically significant relationships were found across the other demographic variables. Findings of this study revealed that the ACP increased teacher self-efficacy across two of the three dimensions of the TSES indicating that the professional development intervention had a positive effect on the efficacy of its participants. The present study contributes to the research on teacher self-efficacy, adjunct faculty and professional development interventions.