Adjunct Essentials

Welcome–or welcome back–to Montclair State University! The Office for Faculty Excellence is excited to work with you and provide opportunities for teaching and professional development. We invite you to take advantage of our programs, workshops, consultation services, and discussion groups–many of which can be accessed remotely, in recognition that adjunct faculty’s time on campus is often limited.

Practical details

Adjunct faculty often work at several institutions or come from the professional world, and need to know basic things about Montclair, from where to park and get an ID card, to University policies and the academic calendar. To help you find what you need fast, OFE has compiled essential Practical Information. If you are new to Montclair, please visit our New Instructor Info page.

OFE’s Adjunct Support

Our staff features faculty developers who work or have worked as adjunct faculty and understand the adjunct experience.

“Just for Adjuncts” series: We are here to support adjunct faculty as you navigate the joys and challenges of teaching. During the fall and spring semesters, we offer a weekly drop-in session designed for adjuncts who wish to join an informal conversation about teaching, to ask a quick question, or have a more in-depth conversation.

We also regularly offer topical sessions. Check our schedule weekly and join us!

Teaching Basics course: OFE offers a moderated asynchronous, at-your-own-pace mini-course, Teaching Basics, that introduces instructors to the University and reviews supportive pedagogies, syllabus and assignment design, and lesson planning. Both new and returning instructors may find it useful. Please complete this short form if you’d like to participate in the course.

One-on-one consultations: Talking through a teaching issue, brainstorming assignments, or getting another pair of ears can be helpful. Our faculty developers are available to meet with you–consultations are confidential. Sign up here.

Assignment and syllabus review service. A faculty developer will review your assignment and/or syllabus, and offer confidential feedback. Sometimes another set of eyes can help make syllabi and assignments clearer and more effective. Find out more about our review service.

Adjunct FAQs

You will find much of the information you need in our Practical Information and Teaching FAQs sections. Here is some additional information of interest to adjunct faculty:

Do I need to have office or student hours?

The recently-ratified 2023-2027 Adjunct contract requires adjunct instructors to offer limited weekly office hours to students. Please see https://www.cnjscl.org/ for details.

What space is available for adjunct faculty to work or to meet with students?

First, check with your department to see if it has space allotted for adjunct faculty. If not, each college has adjunct space. We’ve compiled a partial list here, current as of July 2023*:

  • CART
    • Theatre and Dance: Life 1305 and 1305, accessible with ID
    • SCM: Morehead Hall Room 205; 8 desks, 2 PCs, and a scanner. Adjuncts will also be able to connect to the SCM network printers on the first floor. All adjuncts will be given swipe access (with their ID). 
    • CALI: Chapin 321, extension 3401. Access to a computer and phone; limited storage; access is granted via University ID.
  • CHSS
      • Schmitt 230 (12-14 seat workspace with computers, printing and copying, as well as mailboxes; one set of small lockers that can be used if the person wishes to bring a lock).
      • Dickson 281 (10- unit adjunct suite with 10 semi-private workspaces with doors. There are computers at least 8 of the stations, as well as a printer. There is no secure private storage)
      • Dickson 129 — a faculty resource room (both full-time faculty and adjuncts) with 3-4 workstations with computers, two copy machines, mailboxes and a printer. No private storage. 
  • CEEL and CCHL: University Hall, 3rd floor adjunct lounge (printer, phone, and storage): access via swipe
  • CSAM:
    •  Earth and Environmental Studies: CELS 232 (2 desktop PCs, 6 desk spaces with file cabinets and 1 phone; access via swipe with ID card
    • School of Computing: CCIS 239
  • SBUS
    • Accounting/Finance: SBUS 386
    • Economics and Hospitality: SBUS 522
    • Information Management/ Business Analytics: SBUS 408
    • Management: SBUS 438
    • Marketing: SBUS 588
  • NURS

If none of these spaces work or are available, consider reserving space in Sprague Library.

(*Please let us know of any changes.)

Where can I park?

Visit Parking Services to obtain an annual permit which is good from September 1- August 31. Select the “Full-Time Faculty/Staff Permit.” It is available to full-time faculty, full-time staff, and adjunct faculty. This permit allows parking in the following areas:

  • Faculty/Staff Restricted Lots (Orange) with no time restrictions.
  • Commuter Surface Lots (Yellow), excluding CarParc Diem, with no time restrictions.

See map [PDF] for location information.

 

Do I need to bring my laptop to campus?

If you’d like to connect to classroom A/V equipment, you will likely need to bring your own laptop, or borrow one from IT. Most classrooms do not have computers at the podium.

Do I need to bring chalk and/or whiteboard markers to class?

If you plan to use these, it’s a good idea to bring your own.

When will I get paid for teaching at Montclair?

See payroll schedules; click “Adjunct payroll calendar.”

What union represents adjunct faculty at Montclair?

AFT Local 6025. Visit their website for more information.

What is the current union contract?

The most recent contract can be found here. The Memorandum of Agreement for the 2023-2027 contract can be found on the Council of New Jersey State College Locals website.

What benefits are adjunct faculty members eligible to receive or buy into?

Check out these links, and contact HR with any questions.

What trainings am I required to complete, and will I be paid for them?

According to Human Resources, these are the required trainings for adjuncts:

You will receive notification through Workday for the following:

  • Annual College & University Disclosure
  • Uniform Ethics Code
  • Plain Language Ethics Guide
  • Supervisory Conflict of Interest
  • Outside Activity/Employment

 

You will receive email notification for the following:

  • FERPA training 
  • Building Supportive Communities: Clery Act and Title IX
  • Cybersecurity training (launched annually during the first semester in which they are actively teaching)

With respect to compensation, here is the key language from the current contract: 

All training that is mandated for College/University employees by federal or state law and training that relates to the work for which adjunct faculty are hired and that is mandated by the policies of the College/University shall be required for adjunct faculty as a condition of their employment within their regular compensation as set forth in Article XIV.A. Such specific training obligations shall be set forth in the adjunct faculty employment contract and shall not exceed four hours in any term. Should the College/University require training in excess of that amount, it will, following completion of said training, compensate adjunct faculty at a rate of $25 per hour. In the event an existing locally negotiated agreement provides adjunct faculty compensation for such training that is greater than $25 per hour or the parties mutually agree.

How can I feel more connected with the University as an adjunct?

Whom can I ask if I have questions about teaching or working here? Whether you’re new to Montclair State University or a veteran instructor here, it can be challenging to connect with other faculty members when you are on campus part time. Get to know fellow colleagues through OFE drop-in sessions and workshops dedicated to adjunct faculty, as well as ones meant for instructors of all ranks. Register for a confidential one-on-one consultation meeting with an OFE staff member to ask questions big and small you may have about teaching or working on campus.

Have we missed something important to you? Are there additional resources you’d like to see on this page? Please let us know

Last Modified: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 1:46 pm

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