Education has long been a central part of what I do and who I am.
A few weeks ago I shared the news that I was starting my twentieth professional position since graduating from college.
Adjunct Life, Part 21
Today, I completed my responsibilities for teaching an undergraduate survey of world religions summer semester course. Submitting grades was my final responsibility to complete twenty-one consecutive semesters as an adjunct professor. Over that time, I’ve taught more than thirty courses.
Time and Place
I’ve worked for Hodges University longer than for any other employer. In fact, I’ve worked there more than twice as long as I’ve worked anywhere else.
Interestingly the “there” I mentioned above does not refer to a specific geographic location. While I’ve enjoyed my time on both of the university’s campuses most of those efforts were for reasons other than my adjunct position. My adjunct teaching has always been 100% online. The student experience was identical whether I was teaching from a location that was a few miles away or across the country.
The End
My streak of consecutive semesters teaching as an adjunct will end at twenty-one since I’m not scheduled to teach for the fall semester.
I’m grateful for the opportunity to have taught so regularly for so long, and thankful for a break.
So What?
Since this is a blog about matters of faith that matter it is important to note that more than 85% of the courses I taught fell into this category (and 100% over the last 4 years).
To be the best teacher possible, I expended significant time as a learner. My own knowledge of many of the world’s great religions is far grander today than it was before I started on this adjunct teaching journey.
While my students learned much from the learning materials I leveraged to guide our time together, I trust that they learned at least as much from one another and from their required interactions with those who practice religions other than their own.