Addressing the Unique Needs and Challenges for Contingent Faculty at UNC Charlotte

The University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNC Charlotte) Center for Teaching and Learning spearheaded a longitudinal, data-driven project to better understand and respond to the needs of non-tenure-track faculty. When the project began in 2014, the study consisted of five phases: contingent faculty needs assessment, implementation of institutional responses to identified contingent needs, follow-up assessment and contingent faculty initiatives, institutionalization and dissemination of successful contingent faculty initiatives, planning for expansion and continuous improvement of contingent faculty needs. UNC Charlotte has completed the first three phases, are fully engaged in phase four, and are moving towards phase five. With institutional stakeholders including Academic Affairs, College Deans and Department Chairs, Offices of Institutional Research and University Assessment, and Faculty Governance, the project has birthed new and exciting practices to support non-tenure-track faculty.