A study of intellectual capital: Adjunct faculty in Minnesota colleges

The purpose of this study was to identify the current employment conditions of adjunct faculty on Minnesota College campuses. While the use of adjunct faculty has always been part of higher education, that use has significantly increased in the last 20 years. The increase in employment has not been accompanied by adequate policies for administering adjunct faculty. A study to determine the current employment conditions of adjunct faculty in Minnesota Colleges was needed to identify improvements for quality of instruction delivered by adjunct faculty, and provide better management practices that could add to the capital stock of Minnesota Colleges.; Data was collected from interviews with adjunct faculty and administrators of adjunct faculty on nine Minnesota College campuses. A total of 64 participants responded to four main questions in the study. The three policy groups studied were: personnel policies, performance policies, and involvement policies for adjunct faculty. The research design was qualitative and used grounded theory as a way of studying adjunct faculty issues.; The study recommended the same treatment be given to adjunct faculty as received by full-time faculty from their colleges. The recommendations included: (a) Adjunct faculty be hired on the same salary schedule and benefit packet as those offered full-time faculty; (b) the actual salary and benefits for adjunct faculty be computed on a prorated basis depending on the needs of the college and the assignment given the adjunct faculty; (c) job responsibilities and duties also be the same for adjunct faculty as those for full-time faculty, again on a prorated basis; (d) give adjunct faculties an office and support services during classroom teaching time, the same as full-time faculty receive; (e) treat all faculties with the respect and support deserving of a professional educator.; Members of college communities do not recognize adjunct faculty as integral to the future of their colleges. Through broad-based experiences, adjunct faculties add comprehensiveness and flexibility to colleges. Information gathered in this study could help the institution's leaders and/or policymakers in the formation of fair and equitable employment policies and practices that consider both the needs of the institution and adjunct faculty.