In some cases, adjuncts' contracts may not be renewed due to academic politics. Maybe a new dean wants to bring in their own people or there's a shift in the department's focus. An adjunct who has been teaching successfully for years could suddenly find themselves out of a job without much explanation, all because of these internal political games.
One horror story is the overwork. Adjunct professors often have to teach multiple classes at different institutions just to make ends meet. They get little time for prep and grading. For example, an adjunct might teach four or five courses a semester, each with different syllabi and requirements. It's a nightmare of juggling.
Adjunct horror stories are appealing because they allow us to experience fear in a safe way. We can read about terrifying situations and monsters without actually being in danger. It's like a rollercoaster ride for our emotions.
One horror story I've heard was about a student who dated a professor secretly. The professor started to use their relationship to manipulate the student's grades. If the student didn't do as the professor wanted in the relationship, like going on dates at odd hours, the grades would mysteriously drop. It was a really unfair and unethical situation for the student.
Sure. A common one is the professor who is always late for class but never allows students to be late. This shows a lack of respect for the students' time. Another is the professor who changes the course syllabus halfway through the semester without any prior notice, causing chaos for students who were planning their study schedules based on the original one.
One horror story is when a colleague spread false rumors about another to get a promotion. The victim was constantly being undermined and was even accused of things they didn't do. Eventually, they left the company, while the rumor - spreader got the position unjustly.
There was a case where a researcher was on the verge of a major discovery. But his jealous colleague stole his research notes and published the findings as his own. The original researcher had no proof and faced a great setback in his academic career. He had to start anew and prove his worth all over again.
One professor horror story could be a professor who is extremely strict about deadlines and gives no leniency. For example, a student was in the hospital due to an emergency and couldn't submit an assignment on time. The professor refused to accept it late and gave a zero, even though the student had valid proof of the situation.
An adjunct novel is often a book that is related to a main work in some way. For example, it could be a spin - off novel that takes a secondary character from a popular series and gives them their own story. It might expand on the world or events of the original work, but not be the central part of the main narrative.
One horror story is when a candidate was constantly interrupted during the interview. The interviewers kept cutting in while the candidate was answering questions, not allowing them to fully express their ideas. It made the candidate feel disrespected and flustered, and they couldn't present their best self.