Administrative Best Practices to Retain Online Faculty

Abstract

This qualitative reflection explores the adjunct instructor perspective and identifies reasons faculty indicate for changing institutions or leaving higher education altogether. Losing faculty is costly in many areas: training new hires, a poor reputation, students questioning instructor turnover, explaining turnover to accrediting agencies, low instructor morale, and a lack of interest or dedication to the institution. Instructors believe administrators have the power to influence change in these areas and, by not doing so, assume administrators are not concerned about retention, fair pay, and a working environment conducive to an engaged faculty base. Administrators can improve faculty retention, working environment, school perception, and attract seasoned instructors by 1) taking a hard look at the reasons faculty are frustrated and/or burned out, 2) bringing in advisors to work with students, and 3) not overburdening faculty who are hired to instruct a course with administrative or micromanaged tasks.