Role; *Two Year Colleges IDENTIFIERS American Association of University Professors

The number of part-time faculty employed in two-year colleges has risen dramatically in recent years, with current data indicating that 64 % of two-year college faculty work part time. It is critical, therefore, that colleges ensure that part-time faculty are well integrated into the organizational culture. In assessing initiatives for helping part-timers assimilate, colleges can look to standards established by their regional accrediting agency or guidelines developed by advocacy groups, such as the American Association of University Professors. In addition, a number of processes have been developed and implemented, making part-time faculty integral components of the college. These processes include such steps as providing handbooks for part-timers, conducting formal evaluations at least once a year, developing mechanisms for recognizing and publishing adjuncts' efforts, providing professional development funds, including adjuncts on college committees, and involving them in curriculum and textbook decisions