Though part-time teaching can often feel precarious, one adjunct professor argues that it is possible to build a sustainable and rewarding career in the role. Erik Ofgang (Western Connecticut State University, Post University) argues that despite challenges such as limited job security and few full-time benefits, adjunct instructors can still thrive by following five key strategies: relying on professional networks to identify fair-paying institutions, refusing to take on unpaid labour, contacting department chairs directly instead of applying through open calls, supplementing teaching with other income sources, and embracing the flexibility of adjunct work. Ofgang says this approach allows instructors to “stay laser-focused on the best part of being a college professor—working with students.”
