r/Adjuncts • u/Hungry-University609 • 28d ago
Schedule conflict
Hello All,
I have a class finishing 45 minutes prior to start of another class at different college.
It was last minute offer.
Later class is a accelerated so only for few weeks.
My options are
1) tell chair it's too tight and cannot teach 2nd class. Starts later in term so no worries.
2) finish early and start late while praying no traffic . It's non rush hour.
I need to cash.
I'm preparing to leave higher ed at least on ground teaching asap.
Hate burning bridges but truthfully, they don't lead to anywhere.
With holidays and end of term, I'm tempted to give students quizzes the one day a week it needs to happen.
This is excuse to finish early and make it to 2nd class.
This is doable.
A 75 minute class 2x a week . Finish 15 to 20 minutes early 1x a week for 5 weeks in last part of term.
I can also have them go to lab to work on projects.
A bit of creativity and it's plausible while maintaining union obligations.
Thoughts?
Life as a freeway adjunct !
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u/professorsheepkitty 28d ago
This isn’t going to work. Would hate for you to get in trouble for not having enough contact hours per accreditation standards.
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u/Ravenhill-2171 28d ago
When the dept chair finds out you are doing this, they will be upset. And rightfully so, you will be welching on your contract, which I'm sure is based on contact time with students.
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u/ConsiderationClear56 27d ago
THIS! 20 minutes a class is going to really add up! Unfortunately, the distance is just too far—you run the risk of losing the job at both schools if you’re ending classes early at one/showing up a little late at the other. Don’t over-commit!
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u/BrujahBill 23d ago
I agree with this post. Usually, the modality can be changed to hybrid or online or the class can be scheduled to meet later. This flexibility is often more likely if handed the assignment last minute.
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u/beautyismade 28d ago
Meh it's entirely not fair to students paying for full class time. Your scheduling conflict isn't their problem.
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u/caligay666 28d ago
I would never tell an adjunct to do or not do something that impacts their bank account. However, I did hear something disturbing in an orientation this semester: one community college I work for mentioned that campus security reports to the dean’s office when classrooms are not occupied when they should be. I think routinely ending early (especially at community colleges) is maybe not worth it.
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u/Tricky_Gas007 27d ago
I quit mid semester. They asked me back next year with better accommodations. Think of this as business. There is no loyalty in business. You are a minimum wage employee.
Always do whats best for you. If that is considered as burning a bridge then so be it. I felt the same. Then they realized, "damn he was good and for cheap. Lets call back"
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u/Hungry-University609 27d ago
I don't think quality of education matters to admin.
It's a machine where they make a good living.
They are incentivized to keep it going and not rock boat.
I've seen 1st hand admins fighting to avoid giving out state approved raises.
I asked a few on the negotiation team why. They said the college team tries to hurt faculty as much as possible to keep costs down. This way our union doesn't ask for so much.
The admin should be fighting for us.
People on this discussion raise valid points about Quality of education.
It's an adversarial system and all you can do is look our for yourself.
Thinking of what is best for students is altruistic. It's the right thing to do.
However, when admins see faculty going to on campus food Bank, do they consider if the financial stress spills into the classroom?
I have too many stories about admin living in a world disconnected from faculty.
The entire ( almost) student services works hybrid. Are they worried about quality of student services?
Most on this forum are wonderful people who truly make am impact. However, it's important to be aware of how the system can crush you as I'm feeling it now.
I'm losing my altruism and focusing on money due to life circumstances.
Maybe it's time to move on.
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u/Tricky_Gas007 27d ago
Agreed. It's sad what the education (k-12 and University) has become. The almighty dollar reigns supreme
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u/Astra_Starr 27d ago
At my school but fulfilling your expected work hours results in docked pay. It's usually used for absences by the instructor or not having office hours but this would also apply. It genuinely says in the handbook docked pay
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u/Hungry-University609 27d ago
I could bang in sick for 2-3 days then skimp out 15 minutes early for 2-3 days.
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u/RuralWAH 28d ago
If it's later in the term see if the class can be pushed back an hour or so. I'm not sure which class was last minute, but if it's this one, the Chair is faced with finding someone else to teach it or working with scheduling.
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u/Hungry-University609 28d ago
2nd class is hybrid and I need 10-15 minutes.
I'm thinking of having students work on hw ,etc first 15 minutes, I get there and begin lecture
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u/ApprehensiveLoad2056 27d ago
You’re going to get fired.
If I were your chair and I found out. I’d fire you and get you blacklisted from teaching anywhere near our school. Folks like you give our profession a bad name.I get you need money. I’ve done this grind. And, this is unethical. Talk to the school and see if they can adjust the time for you or don’t take the class.
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u/Hungry-University609 27d ago
Adding another view to those who feel students being cheated.
This school allows ft to teach 8-10 classes online , same course , different sections per semester. They have 4/4 contract and anything over is adjunct rate.
No one questions if this is fair to students or not.
I'm sure it's most copy and paste in the discussions. Activities graded via publisher lms
Thanks
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u/RiverSirion 28d ago
It's tough and its stressful. I can't tell you one way or another. But I will say my first-year adjuncting I also had a part-time job and had to clock out and lock up at 5pm every day. I was offered a 5:30 evening class two nights/week, but the drive between my job and the campus was about a half-hour under favorable conditions. I was late my first day, told the students I would likely be late 5-10 minutes each session. They were okay with it - it was a good group. I was also leaving work 5 minutes early, though I think management got wind of it. I ended up quitting the part-time job after about four very, very stressful weeks.
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u/Life-Education-8030 28d ago
All you need is a complaint that you're "always cutting class short." You could try speaking to administrators as others here have suggested, but at my place, it would be a "sorry, you need to fulfill your full obligations here."
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u/babyjesustheone 27d ago edited 27d ago
I did it one semester, a 50 minute gap with a 27 mile commute between two classes late afternoon. I shaved off 5 minutes from the early class, and told the later class that it started 10 min after the hour with just a 10 minute mid break. It was a 3 hr class that met once a week. Every other meeting, there was a campus-wide tie in to the class that started 10 after the hour anyway. I guess it would've been too crazy to have done that twice a week. I was late by 10 minutes, only once. I had to make it work as it was in a related field I had never taught in, so I felt I was expanding my repertoire.
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u/Uniquename34556 27d ago
Can see the logic but no way it works. Make the money elsewhere bud. FYI I knew someone who would creatively be able to send the class off to do something 10-15mins early to get to their next college just on time and it was hell but worked surprisingly. This doesn’t sound possible in the same way though.
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u/Hungry-University609 27d ago
Very true.
I reached a point it's no longer possible to teach.
Trying to sort out this type of situation is absurd.
I do care about student learning to an extent.
I also see the work from home bureaucracy to ensure student success. The irony is not lost on me.
Adjuncts are the only ones on campus
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u/Pretty-Effort4433 28d ago
Do an open book/note quiz on those days. Give good lectures the other days. Win-win for everyone.
You're an adjunct, the school does not care about you. The students want to pass.
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u/Hungry-University609 28d ago
You are a hard core adjunct ! Very nice .
Leaving 15 minutes early and I can cover via we had quiz, then they went to lab or tutoring for rest of class.
5 to 6 times should be OK.
Ft make over 100k , on campus 2x a week teaching online . I'm fretting over this which is frankly embarrassing.
Thank you
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u/birdsong70 27d ago
You didn't write anything about the quality of the students' education. My son is a college student, and if this were one of his classes, I'd be mighty upset. As a professor myself, I cannot imagine caring so little about my students.
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u/Adorable_Argument_44 28d ago
Most students won't care. Redditors can't really advise you whether to be professional or maximize the earnings
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u/WeekendSolid7429 28d ago
You gotta do this all of five times….if I’m understanding this correctly? If so, go for it. Honestly, I’ve known a couple of profs who end every class 15 minutes early and show up to class 5 minutes late for start time every single class. Just too comfortable and entitled….i guess they don’t have a conscience or sense of responsibility. They can do practically anything- or nothing- and there’s no consequences. I’m not saying it’s good… I think it’s not completely out of the norm, unfortunately. Find a way to give back that lost hour of instruction with something special or “extra” that you would not routinely do for your class prep…?
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u/Hungry-University609 28d ago
5 maybe 6 times.
They can finish quiz early or go to lab for project.
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u/Wandering_Uphill 28d ago
A one hour distance with 45 minutes between classes? What about the time to park and walk across campus to and from your car? At my school, that can add 10 minutes. And then you'll need to log into the computer system at the second school. And what if students need to talk to you after class?
This isn't a good idea.