An adjunct professor is a part-time instructor, whereas an associate professor is a full-time instructor. Adjunct professors are not typically given tenure, whereas associate professors typically are. The roles of adjunct and associate professors can be very different in terms of workload, pay, and benefits. Therefore, it is important to understand the difference between these two positions before applying for a job as an adjunct professor.
What is Adjunct Professor?
Adjunct professors are temporary faculty members who are hired to teach one or more courses for a semester. Unlike tenure-track professors, adjuncts are not on the path to earning tenure at the university. Adjuncts typically hold other jobs in addition to teaching and do not have the same job security or benefits as tenure-track professors. However, adjuncts can be a valuable asset to a university because they bring real-world experience to the classroom.
Adjuncts also often have more flexible schedules than tenure-track faculty, which can make them more available to students outside of class. In recent years, the use of adjunct professors has become increasingly common as universities attempt to save money. Adjuncts are typically paid less than tenure-track faculty and do not receive benefits such as health insurance and retirement savings. As a result, many adjunct professors are struggling to make ends meet.
What is Associate Professor?
Associate Professor is a title given to someone who is a teaching faculty member at a college or university. This person typically has a PhD, though in some cases, a terminal degree in their field may be sufficient. Associate Professors typically teach lower-level courses and may also serve as department heads. They typically do not have as much research experience as full professors. Associate professors typically have more teaching experience than assistant professors. The average salary for an Associate Professor is $68,970 per year.
The title of Associate Professor is given to someone who is a teaching faculty member at a college or university. This person typically has a PhD, though in some cases, a terminal degree in their field may be sufficient. Associate Professors typically teach lower-level courses and may also serve as department heads. They typically do not have as much research experience as full professors but often have more teaching experience than assistant professors. The average salary for an Associate Professor is $68,970 per year.
Difference between Adjunct and Associate Professor
Adjunct and Associate Professor are both academic ranks within a university. Adjunct professors are typically hired on a contract basis to teach a specific course, while associate professors have more of a leadership role within the department. Associate professors typically have more experience than adjunct professors and are expected to conduct research and mentor students. Adjunct professors may also be involved in research, but their primary responsibility is teaching. Both adjunct and associate professors typically hold terminal degrees in their field of study.
Conclusion
Although there is some overlap in the duties of adjunct and associate professors, there are also some distinct differences. Adjunct professors are typically hired on a semester-by-semester basis to teach specific courses, while associate professors have tenure and hold an ongoing appointment at the university. Associate professors generally have more responsibilities than adjuncts, such as conducting research and serving on committees. In addition, adjuncts may not have the same benefits as associate professors, such as job security or health insurance.
