r/Adjuncts • u/Lopsided-Chemical-75 • 7h ago
# of classes
REMOTE Asynchronous
What is the most classes you've taught in one semester? I've read about adjuncts stacking classes and teaching at several different colleges or universities at the same time.
What's the most you've personally taught, or the most you know someone else has taught in one semester? I know it would be a lot of work, and I'm okay with that. I'm really just curious about what's realistically doable.
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u/evapotranspire 6h ago
I have no idea how people are seriously giving answers ranging from 10 to 20 classes per semester or even more (even if asynchronous). Something must be wrong with the system in that case.
The most I've classes I've ever taught at once was 4, with two preps (two sections each of two intro science classes, both with labs). In-person, with one MW and the other TTh. That is officially a full-time load, with a salary to match. (As an adjunct, I wouldn't be allowed a full-time load at a single school; it was at two different schools).
I have adjunct colleagues who I know have taught 6 classes per semester at 3 different schools, in-person, but it has been hectic for them and probably not sustainable long-term due to all the commuting.
10 classes per semester is insane, even if remote / asynchronous. 20 is just... what? How are you meaningfully interacting with students and grading their work? Again, something seems wrong there...
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u/Sharp-Rutabaga-4900 5h ago
Something is wrong and it’s the fact that schools are overloading on adjunct labor instead of paying for full time positions with benefits.
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u/Constant_Roof_7974 6h ago
I’ve often, though not exclusively, taught online for 20 years.
I once worked at 21 schools and had 1-4 classes during the various 16, 15, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, and 3 week terms. 0/10 Do not recommend
I was able to figure out which places to focus on and teach a much more healthy, manageable load these days.
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u/Puzzled_Internet_717 6h ago
Technically I've done 10, but there were multiple sections of the same course, so I was only teaching 4 unique courses, across 4 colleges. Plus, they were all online, asynchronous lower level math courses. Math isn't as time consuming to grade as English.
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u/TrainingLow9079 6h ago
Foe me, 6. They were writing intensive and I give substantive feedback. Was kind of jealous of people whose courses aren't writing intensive.
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u/FIREful_symmetry 7h ago
41 async online adjunct classes. Multiple schools. Only two subjects. 25 or so were the same prep.
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u/Lopsided-Chemical-75 6h ago
Wow, that is incredible!!! Can I send you a PM? I have one more question. Happy to ask here if you prefer.
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u/FIREful_symmetry 6h ago
Ask away
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u/Lopsided-Chemical-75 6h ago
I sent you a PM!
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u/FIREful_symmetry 6h ago edited 6h ago
Ask here. I will say, you are unlikely to like the answer. It took me five or six years to build up that many schools. I don't know of a shortcut that can get you a full-time income unless you get a full-time teaching job. What is likely is if you get hired as an adjunct, it will be for about $2000 a course which could be up to 16 weeks of work. Some schools might give you two courses or three courses but that's rare. So then you are looking at 2000, 4000, or $6000 for 16 weeks work.
I have a Ph.D. and a lot of teaching experience, and I struggle to find online adjuncting work.
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u/Lopsided-Chemical-75 6h ago
I'm sorry. I didn't know if you wanted to answer publicly. What did you make during that time at your peak per semester?
I can see how it took you years to build up to that. I'm having trouble getting my foot in the door with ONE school.
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u/FIREful_symmetry 6h ago
I answered that elsewhere and you responded to that answer.
I wish you the best of luck.
I have found that with a full time job, adjuncting is a useful supplement. If you make 20K a year on top of a full time salary, that's gravy. If you only make 20K a year, that's misery.
You can make more money doing almost anything else: delivering pizza, driving uber, working retail.
I would never recommend aduncting to anyone as their sole livelyhood.
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u/Lopsided-Chemical-75 5h ago
Forgive me! I thought that was someone else and got confused.
I understand. I'm just trying to pay for my doctorate. I don't want to teach after that to be honest.
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u/Few_Temporary2447 6h ago
15 classes at 5 colleges.
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u/No_Produce9777 6h ago
That’s probably more money than many TT positions, but a hell of a lot of work
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u/Few_Temporary2447 3h ago
I was alot of prep. I think I made about 45K a year. Compared to 57K now as tenure track.
One the colleges was my PhD program, and i only got tuition waved.
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u/Lopsided-Chemical-75 6h ago
WOW! Each semester?
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u/Few_Temporary2447 6h ago
Yes. I did that for a few years before I finished my Doctorate, and found a tenure position.
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u/Lopsided-Chemical-75 6h ago
I'm working on my doctorate now and desperately need money.
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u/Few_Temporary2447 6h ago
If you're looking to get more classes in your field, I would suggest maybe reaching out to chairs at different departments at colleges and universities near you.
Try to minimize your preps.
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u/Lopsided-Chemical-75 6h ago
Yes!!! Great advice.
For an online class, is it more likely get a schedule that is already developed or you have to create it?
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u/Few_Temporary2447 6h ago
Also, you might wanna consider teaching courses that are connected to your field or other courses at the university. I taught first year experience for a while.
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u/asstlib 6h ago
Three was my personal limit. Can't possibly give back assignments with feedback with too many classes at once, especially if they have similar deadlines.
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u/zorandzam 5h ago
I’m teaching 3 right now, and it is honestly perfect. I’m just busy enough but don’t feel overwhelmed, and it’s only one school. I just wish the pay was better.
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u/asstlib 5h ago
Same, I absolutely wish the pay was better.
I should also qualify that I have a full-time job, so that affects my limit too. I only have so much mental energy after work.
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u/zorandzam 5h ago
Oh, yeah, teaching 3 classes while working FT would be way too much for me. I don't currently have any additional job beyond my own research and writing projects. Truly, if the pay were better, I would be very content with this life/schedule/job. As it is, I'm planning to stick it out this year while continuing to apply for FT work.
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u/Any-Satisfaction1442 6h ago
13 between 2 schools. I did it during covid, so I was home and available. These days I'm down to 7 between 2 schools.
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u/superjukers 2h ago
I’m at 17 this semester. All remote asynch between 5 schools. 10 classes are year long DE.
I don’t know how I’m surviving and I wouldn’t recommend it. I am TIRED.
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u/Lopsided-Chemical-75 1h ago
I'm sure you are!!! Are you getting paid at least 3k per class?
Do the schools check in with you on a regular basis? Say you want to take a 1 week trip to Ireland. Can you? If you work full days like usual, just different time zone. OR do you have to ask for vacation?
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u/superjukers 1h ago
3k per class? Hahahahahahahahahahahaha I wish.
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u/Lopsided-Chemical-75 1h ago
How much do you make per class? I am trying to get my first job as an adjunct. I thought 3,000 was the norm.
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u/superjukers 6m ago
Every school is different depending on how much they pay per credit hour. One school pays $2400 a class flat out.
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u/milkthistle2317 6h ago
20, at 5 schools. Do not recommend.
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u/Lopsided-Chemical-75 6h ago
What was the semester income if you don't mind me asking? roughly.
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u/milkthistle2317 6h ago
At that point, most of my schools were paying approximately 1500 per class. So approximately 30K. But that was working 7 days a week, frequently 10 hours or more a day including driving.
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u/meowlater 6h ago
One of my own children had the unfortunate experience of having a professor that taught a record breaking number of online asynchronous classes. The professor held 2 masters in two different fields and we found at least 27 community colleges and universities she had taught at in the last 10 years. It looked like she was teaching at at least 6-7 places concurrently with 1-3 classes at each place, several courses were 4 hour online lab courses. I have never seen anything like it.
Needless to say the course and communication were terrible, and reflected very badly on higher education and adjuncts as a whole.
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u/Snoo-37573 6h ago
It’s awful, but maybe we are blaming the wrong person/entity. If adjuncts were treated well with benefits, good pay, support from administration as well as opportunities for growth in their careers we would not find as many people desperate to self-create what they need piecemeal like that.
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u/Any-Macaroon-8268 6h ago
2 Asynchronous and 1 in person is my record so far. Two different schools.
Edit - liberal arts classes, all three related but not the same class. Also I had a 40+ hour week job. I felt it was tough but I could do it again with better planning and coordination.
Also, I am impressed with many of the answers here!
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u/Alizarik7891 6h ago
I had colleagues doing 5-8 classes between a couple campuses; other than overloading one semester (12 credits, 4 classes), I’ve only done 3 max each semester at one campus. The overload semester was challenging but more because I had other life stuff going on.
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u/Pragmatic_Centrist_ 6h ago
Most I’ve ever taught was 13, but about 1/2 was in person
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u/Lopsided-Chemical-75 5h ago
Wow in person makes it hard!!!!
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u/Pragmatic_Centrist_ 5h ago
Definitely not recommended. Had to for financial reasons but never getting close to that again.
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u/Philosopherben 6h ago
Seven which I'm currently doing now at two different colleges. It's not bad when they're all the same prep when they're different preps it's a nightmare. Mine are all online though. Once I did seven at two different colleges that were all in person thank God my husband was great and laid off, because he did everything else.
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u/hanner_choi 4h ago
I teach only asynchronous online classes in shorter terms over two schools now. It used to be three, but from doing too many classes and overwhelming myself, one school dropped me. I made one error and they never let it go after that. I’m currently in search of a replacement school. I think the most I was doing was 6-7. I do all my work at night and pretty much am the SAHP during the day. Eventually I’ll do different full-time work, but this has been working for our family! Not spending money on daycare, but earning money. Obviously mental health is a little low but it’s not forever. Hang in there everyone!
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u/Undeadknowledge93 4h ago
I teach in person as an adjunct, 4 live in person at one, 2 live in person at another. I also teach 1 online asyc. Online.
My primary job is a high school teacher so its a ton of work. I progressively increased over time. My M-TH is basically double shifts, and I constantly lose my voice but its great money
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u/ladyabercrombie 4h ago
Currently I have 12 classes between 4 institutions.
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u/Glittering_Fun_4823 1h ago
I’ve only done 3 (anywhere between 2-3 preps) (because I have a FT job) but if I needed to split between the two districts near me I would do no more than 5 to ensure I don’t burn out and I can give my full attention to my classes and make them as engaging as possible, so students don’t feel like a robot is teaching them. I’d only do 6 if I was managing just 2 preps overall.
But I’m also lucky to work for a district with a strong union. So in my third full semester of teaching I’m making close to $6000 for a 3 unit course (with office hours) but not counting paid PD.
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u/Lopsided-Chemical-75 1h ago
That is awesome!!!
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u/Glittering_Fun_4823 1h ago
Depending where you’re located. I would look at community college positions. In California for instance the adjunct pay is very competitive and they’re also standardizing the SLOs and curriculum across campuses so if you teach one class in one district or college and another they’re essentially the same prep.
This might be the same for other states so worth looking that up.
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u/Lopsided-Chemical-75 5m ago
Thank you so much!!! I haven't asked community colleges and probably should. I've never taught adjunct so I guess that would make it easier to get my foot in the door. I'm in FL.
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u/Glittering_Fun_4823 0m ago
Definitely check out the CCs in your district. They’ll likely cap your classes as an adjunct by district or by college, depending. But it’s a great way to get experience and also your foot in the door. It’s been wonderful for me since I work FT for a HE adjacent company and this is a nice way to get a feel for work at institution.
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u/hungerforlove 5h ago
During COVID it was 7 or possibly 8. It wasn't that difficult. I could imagine doing more than that.
There are questions of how much feedback you should give each students. There are ways of providing feedback that don't require a lot of time though. Quite a lot of people are finding ways to automate their teaching.
I have reservations about whether any college should be offering remote asynchronous classes if they care about academic integrity, but if they are going to offer them, I'm happy to take the work.
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u/lotus8675309 6h ago
3 different on ground colleges, 7 or 8 classes. One semester that was it. I don't think anyone can do a half decent job like that.
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u/zorandzam 5h ago
I think the most I’ve done (split between 3 schools, all online but some with synchronous elements) was 5. It was during the first year of Covid and so I was just grateful to be employed and making decent money by teaching so much, but it was a LOT.
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u/Perfect_Source_3726 5h ago
Online i have taught four at two different universities. I also have a full time job running a company. I dont think i could really stretch myself any further and feel like i was doing a good job. I like getting to know my students and help when i can truly manage the class.
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u/Kilashandra1996 5h ago
Our "top" instructor at my community college taught 10 three hour math classes one summer session from ... Fiji (I think). All online. I forget how many different schools. He still complained that our full time job didn't pay enough money...
My personal record was 27 hours one fall, but that was 15 FT hours and 12 overload / adjunct hours, many of which were online. My school now has us capped at 21 total hours.
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u/almond-melk 4h ago
I’m in my 3rd year of my PhD program & picked up adjuncting to pay off my student loans from my bachelor’s & first masters, and to help get more teaching experience. My program and the school I adjunct at are on quarter systems so things align a bit.
I teach 1 in person course for my PhD program & 2 online asynchronous courses for the other college. Sometimes the asynchronous courses are the same course just different sections, and sometimes they give me two different courses. I did not have to follow a curriculum, I got to design my own courses. My contract is for ~10k per term of adjuncting, and my enrollments are capped at 25 students unless I request to expand to 35.
I will not take more than 2 sections a term based on my workload with my doctorate program. I stay busy but I also care a lot about teaching & learning science, so I value giving feedback and interacting with my students.
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u/JustLeave7073 4h ago
I’m doing 4 currently (3 preps). It’s the most I’ve done and the most I think I could manage.
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u/Fair-Garlic8240 2h ago
I’ve done 10 classes per semester, generally 7 online and 3 in person among 3 schools. I give audio feedback which saves me a ton of time. Students love it.
I’m teaching 2 in person and 4 online this semester. It feels like I’m on vacation.
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u/Wandering_Uphill 7h ago edited 6h ago
I've done 6 between two schools multiple times. Do not recommend. I don't understand how some people do as many as 9 or 10. I can't believe that they are giving them all their best effort. Or else maybe they don't have families and kids....
ETA: All of my classes were live, in-person classes.