As the field of online education continues to grow and evolve, there is more and more pressure for candidates seeking to teach online to have a strong Curriculum Vitae or resume. While there is a preconceived notion that scholarship and research by faculty is more geared toward traditional colleges and universities, in recent years, as the requirements for accreditation have changed, more and more online colleges and universities are also taking a keen interest in promoting research and scholarship among their faculties.
Each college or university has their own requirements for research and scholarship, as well as teaching and these can vary greatly, depending on the type and quality of institution.
It is becoming more and more important for online instructors, even at the adjunct level, to a have a strong record of scholarship. Scholarship for university or college instructors typically falls within several main areas: papers, presentations, and publishing within journals and/or book publishing. These works are typically within an individual’s field of study, are new and unique ideas, and help to further the discussion and other research within the given topic.
For instructors, even those who work online, it is very important to have a strong background in publications, articles for conferences, journals, and books if one would like to advance within their chosen field. As many baby boomers reach retirement age, there are more and more teaching positions available – both online and in a traditional classroom setting.
When applying for an college or university faculty position, Deans are looking for well-rounded candidates who are able to list a variety of experiences and expertise within their education and experiences. All too often, this scholarship aspect of the job requirements seems to fall by the wayside due to instructors teaching at a variety of different schools and worrying about teaching for enough colleges or universities to make a decent salary. However, this process also ends up hurting those instructors because their lack of scholarship makes them less desirable to deans (especially when being considered for full-time work) who are hiring due to their lack of scholarship.
Some colleges and universities realize that not all professors are also interested in research. At these schools, there are professors of practice. This means that they primarily focus on teaching and significantly less on research and scholarship. These professors typically do not hold a Ph.D. and are hired at the university because of their strong background in a specific area or subject. To become a tenured professor of practice, there is usually a minimum of 12 years of teaching required and a record of significant achievement within the classroom.
For most individuals interested in teaching at the collegiate level, it’s important to remember that the position requires a great deal more than being a strong classroom teacher (either online or in a traditional setting). For most professors, a long-standing love of their subject matter and a commitment to ongoing research and scholarship is also a necessity.
About the Author
Jamie Weitl is a WAHM teaching for several online universities and raising three precocious little ones. In her spare time she enjoys writing, baking, and running. For more info, see my Google Plus Profile.
