<p>In my expereince, taking a course, particularly a basic UG on from a top name prof means the professor gives his lecture in the hall, and most everything else is handled by the grad students. I went to a top 25 research university and my classes even freshman year were taught ostensibly by big names. Very impressive schedule I had. But, really it was the grad students who did the work, whereas the prof just showed up and gave his piece. I remember one course , in particular, where the lectures had little to do with the materials covered in the course and for which we were tested. It was just an add on lecture. </p>
<p>As for research for undergrads at these universities, good luck. The grad students get the goodies for the most part,. It’s there, but I wouldn’t consider that a big chunk or much of anything that the profs provide. </p>
<p>I still think that these profs, a distinct minority pull their weight at their schools, though not for their teaching prowess . They are a draw. This is a situation that exists in many situations. </p>
<p>Wasatch, thanks for the info. Points 7 and 8 are where the problems lie in terms of being taught by adjuncts. And, yes, some are excellent teachers. The colleges should be tracking and monitoring these adjuncts to make sure they are getting the material across to the students, not just relying on surveys where popularity, easy grades, personality, letting kids get away with a lot may be the reason for high marks. If the numbers of kids not getting the material needed in the next level of courses start to creep up, that has to be addressed. Whether schools are doing this or not is a question.</p>
<p>Also, it is a shame if proper facilities are not provieded to adjuncts. Again the student is getting cheated here, and as a parent, i don’t want my kids in schools where this is the case. The adjuncts that I knew in several cases for my kids were well provided for in terms of office hours and meeting times outside of class, but then they were not the ones teaching at several schools to cobble together a living They were deliberatiely just teaching that one course at the college at that time and doing so because they wanted to do it, not for the money. They all had another primary well paying job. They were all very interested in teaching and to help the students reach a new level and gain interest in their fields. They were superior to many professors/teachers with heavy course loads, as they were doing this because they wanted to do so. </p>
<p>Ideally, the direction I see for adjuncts would mean there would be fewer opportunities for them to make a living. There may well be a enough folks out there who want a university affiliation and part time work and make the one or two courses taught a focus who would be better teaches than aduncts described in points 7 and 8 above. When the situation degenerates to that in the adjunct picture, it’s time to cut the cord there and find a fresh teacher.</p>