Community colleges in Virginia rely on adjuncts even more than four-year institutions, particularly for technical and occupational courses, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported.
"Because of the system's open enrollment policy, community colleges also count on adjuncts to fill gaps resulting from fluid student numbers," according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
Gerald L. Quirk, who teaches three courses a semester and two each summer at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, plus two to three courses at the University of Richmond's School of professional and Continuing Slides, told the newspaper he compares the reliance on adjunct teachers to the way businesses use temporary workers during peak periods.
Quirk has been teaching economics, marketing and business courses part-time since 1984.
At Reynolds Community College, 65 percent of courses are taught by adjuncts. Adjuncts represent about four times the number of full-time faculty members, David Loope, vice president for academic affairs at the school, told the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
Loope said he'd like to see an increase in the full-time numbers.
Although community colleges don't offer tenure to professors, Loope adds that those working on long-term contracts "tend to be more invested in the college."
Loope said some instructors at the community college are trying to make a living as adjuncts by teaching at several institutions, he said, but many are professionals or retirees like Quirk, who has retired from a career in industrial printing.
He said instructors like Quirk bring an important perspective to the classroom because "they are first and foremost professionals in their field."
Quirk does not plan to stop teaching either
"I would never miss a class. It's that exciting to me," he said. "If I wasn't on my deathbed - and even then if I thought I could get there and get back - I would go to class."
