Context

As part of faculty support efforts, I was asked to take a closer look at the adjunct experience and identify opportunities to improve connection, communication, and access to resources.

Adjunct faculty were teaching across departments with varying levels of support, and there was limited visibility into how they experienced onboarding, communication, and professional development.

Approach

I designed and distributed a survey to gather feedback from adjunct faculty, focusing on areas such as pedagogy, professional development, technology, and communication.

Responses were organized and analyzed to identify patterns in needs, frustrations, and areas of opportunity. The data revealed a strong interest in more structured support, clearer communication, and opportunities for connection across departments .

This work also included reviewing existing onboarding practices and identifying where additional structure or guidance could improve the experience.

Design Decisions

Initial concepts included more robust onboarding structures and ongoing engagement models designed to build community and maintain visibility into adjunct needs over time.

However, this work also required evaluating what could be realistically supported within the institution. Some of the more comprehensive models depended on sustained facilitation, coordination, and regular data collection. Without dedicated ownership, these approaches would not be maintainable long-term.

The final direction focused on solutions that could improve the adjunct experience while remaining practical to implement, including targeted faculty development and clearer access to resources.

Proof of Concept

I designed and facilitated workshops focused on teaching practices, technology use, and trauma-informed approaches to learning. These sessions translated identified needs into actionable strategies, including:

• using LMS tools to increase clarity and consistency

• structuring courses to reduce ambiguity and support student success

• integrating trauma-informed principles such as transparency, peer support, and student voice

The presentation materials emphasized clarity, structure, and usability, modeling the same principles being taught.

Outcome

A set of faculty-informed recommendations supported by survey data, along with workshop materials and development sessions aligned with identified needs.

The work provided a clearer picture of the adjunct experience and established a foundation for more intentional faculty support, while also identifying the level of ongoing coordination required for larger-scale initiatives.

Full documentation available upon request.