<p>I was an art professional for years. After 6 years work experience I was able to get adjunct positions fairly easily. If I wanted more courses at one place I could get them back then but I freelanced enough to not need to.</p>
<p>But for clarity’s sake for those students who might not know, an adjunct professor is not a tenure track permanent position, it is basically part-time work with the hours being below the required number for benefits, health insurance, etc. I’m curious Mommyme, are you still doing this and if not what was the approximate time period (what years) when you were working?</p>
<p>I know it’s not a tenured position but it is a foot in the door to that if you want that. You have to start somewhere. </p>
<p>I did this in mid 80’s, then again in the 90’s and last time was 2006 where I was aiming for full-time and was told I was being lined up for it. Then they had layoffs due to an enrollment drop. That was a private college that was not cheap. Now they doing more online.</p>
<p>I just wanted to make that clear to the kid’s who are reading this information. </p>
<p>In fact, unfortunately, tenure track can be pretty difficult nowadays. But the distinction should be clear as, as you know, there is a big difference between free-lancing and have a staff permanent position. Getting those staff permanent positions can be quite competitive and these days may only come up when there’s a retirement. Most schools seem to be using more and more adjunct professors, working initially as an adjunct may be the most logical path to anything that opens up.</p>
<p>artsmarts,
I think you going to see a lot of things change with the paradigm shift that could be coming. Tenure may even be for the days of old as states go broke. Life-long security may become a thing of the past. </p>
<p>I was told in art school, which was during bad times, that if we couldn’t get a job to create one. That advice is more survival even if just in the interim.</p>