Adjunct Faculty Handbook

This handbook is for adjunct faculty to address issues specific to adjunct employment and to ensure you are provided with the information you need in order to be successful.

The President/designee shall consult with the department concerning the need for hiring adjuncts. In addition, no adjunct faculty member shall teach more than twelve (12) credits in any one (1) academic year.

Adjunct appointments terminate at the end of the stated period and carry no implication of future employment.

Adjunct Position Postings

If an Adjunct position is posted, it can be found on the University’s Career Opportunities website. Selection of adjuncts must be based on legitimate job-related reasons, taking into account the University’s Equal Opportunity & Title IX obligations and commitment to diversity.

Credentials/Qualifications

An adjunct will have a master’s degree, specialized licensure, or other special preparation/experience. The department shall be responsible for evaluating the academic credentials of the candidate and making recommendations to the President/designee. Please consult the hiring department for any additional criteria and documentation.

An adjunct will have to meet any posted qualifications or criteria.

Pay Scale/Salaries

Salaries are determined by the IFO master collective bargaining agreement which can be found on our Bargaining Units page. 

Adjunct Employment

There are several steps involved in the processing of hiring documents: each one critical to the adjunct faculty member receiving an accurate and timely paycheck. It is imperative that all of the following steps are completed as the employee may not start working until all documentation is received and processed.

In order for an adjunct employee to be paid timely, all hiring documents must be processed through Human Resources per the FWM Approval Deadlines. Please inquire with the department if you have questions or concerns.

1. Offer Letter - Adjunct
   1. All adjunct faculty must receive a written offer letter from the Dean of the College in which they will be teaching. The written offer letter will include specific information regarding the Adjunct Faculty's assignment. Written acceptance along with the provision of all additional paperwork listed below is required for processing. If you do not receive a written offer letter, please contact your hiring department immediately. You may not start working without a written offer letter and all other appointment documents.
2. Additional Requirements
   1. The Offer Letter will specify the additional documentation that must be completed in order to be placed on the payroll system including:
      1. Official Transcripts of highest relevant completed degree directly from the granting institution.
      2. All adjuncts, including returning adjuncts, are required to submit an official transcript of their highest degree (if not already on file in Human Resources), along with a current resume. Any exceptions to the degree requirements must be discussed in advance of an offer with the Dean and/or the Office of the Provost.
   2. Resume/CV
3. Required for Employment: Form I-9
   1. It is essential that within three days of the date the employee is to begin teaching to complete Form I-9 requirements and provide the necessary proof of eligibility for employment in the United States. Acceptable forms of identification are listed on the Form I-9. International faculty or employees should contact Human Resources for assistance at 507-389-2015.
      1. Section 1 of the I-9 is required to be completed by the employee no later than the first day of employment, but not before accepting a job offer.
      2. Section 2 of the I-9 is required to be completed by Human Resources with the supporting documentation presented by the employee within 3 business days of the employee’s first day of employment. The original documentation required for Section 2 must be physically viewed by Human Resources, 336 Wigley Administration Center, to meet I-9 regulations.
      3. I-9 regulations require that if the guidelines listed above are not met, employment will be terminated.
   2. Need of Remote I-9
      1. If the adjunct needs to alternative location to complete the Form I-9, please contact Human Resources via email: hr-adjuncts@mnsu.edu.

Adjunct faculty may be entitled to enrollment in courses at any University in the Minnesota State System without payment of tuition or fees, excluding laboratory and special course fees.  

The number of credits available to eligible adjunct faculty is equal to the number of credit hours taught by that individual within that credit year. Credits may be used in the same semester that they are earned or in a later semester within the same credit year. A credit year runs Fall Semester through Summer Sessions. The faculty member’s spouse or dependent children may share this right within the credit limit established above, with waiver of tuition only.

Application for tuition waiver is time sensitive. Generally, applications must be received on-line within 10 days of the start of the class for which the waiver is sought.

For more information regarding tuition waiver view the University Tuition Waiver website or contact Benefits and Leaves at benefits-and-leaves@mnsu.edu or 507-389-2015.

Discretionary Tuition Waiver Program

Some Bargaining Agreements permit the president of a university the discretion to authorize eligible university employees to use the tuition waiver benefit at a state college or to use tuition waiver to applied doctoral courses.

This program is not automatically granted and is subject to budget availability and approval from the Office of the President. Fewer credits are typically allocated under this program compared to the University Tuition Waiver, so we encourage employees to thoroughly review their contract for the total number of credits allowed for discretionary waiver purposes. In addition, refer to the Tuition Waiver Matrix for more information specific to your bargaining agreement.

Application Process & Deadlines

The process and designated deadlines for the Discretionary Tuition Waiver differ from the University Tuition Waiver. The Benefits and Leaves team will post updates on the Fountain when applications open for each academic term. These updates will include:

• The application window
• The submission deadline to Human Resources
• The review and decision timeline

Please allow approximately seven (7) to ten (10) business days for application review and approval/denial. All applicants will be notified of the President’s decision once it is finalized.

Please contact the Benefits and Leaves team at benefits-and-leaves@mnsu.edu or at 507-389-2015 with any questions you may have.

Adjunct faculty may be eligible for a number of retirement plans; these include both mandatory plans and voluntary plans.

Adjunct faculty are eligible for the mandatory plan when they achieve 0.25 FTE (six credits) or if they have prior participation.  For a list of available mandatory and voluntary retirement options, please visit the Human Resources Retirement webpage.  

For more information regarding eligibility requirements, please contact the Human Resources Benefits & Leaves Team.

Insurance

Please note that an adjunct faculty may or may not be eligible for insurance benefits as determined by the IFO Master Agreement and/or the ACA (Affordable Care Act) guidelines.

An adjunct faculty member holding separate appointments at different institutions within Minnstate Colleges and Universities and/or Minnesota Management and Budget Agencies. shall have such assignments combined for purposes of determining eligibility for insurance.

To be eligible for this benefit, such adjunct faculty members must report any multiple appointments to the Human Resources office at each reporting institution. 

Have Questions? 

Contact Human Resources at 507-389-2015 or hr@mnsu.edu.