How do I going about teaching adjunct at a community college?
Asked by San Chez
I'm interested in teaching at a community college. I'm a CPA and would teach accounting. I'm curious if other accountants have done this and enjoyed it or not. How do people do this with a full time job? Has anyone made the transition into doing this full time after working in industry?

Best Answer:
I spent more than 20 years teaching at community colleges and universities, though not in accounting. Look at your target CC's web site and find the portion that takes faculty applications to see if there is something such as a "community college teaching credential" or such that you require and lack. If you lack it, look through the CC's offerings and find the course and take it ASAP. You'll waste time if you don't have the necessary credentials. Do you have a Masters degree? If not, you may not be selected either as that is the norm for academic programs at community colleges. If you meet their qualifications, obtain the application and fill it out with copies of the necessary credentials, a resume, and a cover letter to the chair of the business department. If you are interviewed, it signifies nothing. They like to have folks they can call on a moment's notice. If you are invited to teach, you probably will get one course and they'll see how you do. The odds of becoming full-time are poor. In most community colleges, the vast majority of all courses are taught by part-times (adjuncts). Though pay is poor and respect is non-existent there is always a supply of those willing to work under this system. There simply is NO incentive for them to hire you full-time when they get such a discount on your services. They will NOT admit to that, of course, but it is true. So long as they have ONE full-time accounting prof, they can probably keep accreditation, etc. happy. Sorry to be negative about it--clearly can't be anything against you--but I'm simply reporting the facts. Oh and if you do get some classes, remember that if a full-timer has one that doesn't make he can have yours. HIS contract has to be fulfilled, yours does not.