Are Adjunct Faculty Called Professor in the US Educational System?

In the United States educational system, the term adjunct faculty often raises questions about their professional title. Are they really professors, or should they be addressed differently?

Understanding Adjunct Faculty

Adjunct faculty members are crucial to the educational landscape, providing expertise and support across various academic disciplines. However, the term adjunct does not always align with the formal title of professor. The status and title can vary widely depending on the institution.

Varied Perspectives on Title

In some community colleges, it is explicitly advised that instructors should not refer to themselves as 'professors.' This is often due to institutional policies or to maintain a distinction between full-time and part-time staff. Yet, there are other institutions where the title 'adjunct professors' is used officially.

That said, many etiquette sources, including professional etiquette experts and academic institutions, generally advise that one may refer to any college or university instructor as 'professor' unless specifically instructed otherwise. This is particularly true in the US system, where rising to the title of 'professor' typically involves a doctoral degree and a tenure-track position.

Consider a scenario where an adjunct faculty member holds three master's degrees but no PhD. This individual might address themselves as 'Mr. Allen' or 'Professor Allen,' not 'Doctor Allen.' This is a common practice in the US, where professional titles are officially recognized and respected within academic circles.

Universal Respect and Address

In the US, it is safe to address any university-level teacher as 'professor,' regardless of their job description or title. Common titles such as 'The John Q. Smith Chair of BlahBlah Studies, Professor, Associate Professor, Assistant Professor, Instructor, Lecturer, Professor of Practice, Visiting Professor, Adjunct Professor, Professor Emeritus, Chair, Fellow, and Part-Time Adjunct' all receive the same formal address: 'Professor.'

Global Variations

The practice of addressing university teachers as 'professor' is not universal. In many European countries, such as Germany, the term 'professor' is reserved for full professors and professors emeritus. Even then, they are often addressed as 'Herr Professor' or 'Doctor.' In Italy, it is common to address all teachers, from preschool through university, as 'professore' (male) or 'professoressa' (female).

Student Etiquette

Students in the US typically call their college instructors 'professor' regardless of their technical rank or specific title. This reflects a trend towards informal and respectful communication in educational settings. While other university staff may use the term 'Doctor' for adjunct faculty members with a doctoral degree, this is generally not expected, and students are usually unaware of the distinction.

For instance, at the beginning of each class, an adjunct instructor like Mr. Allen might inform the students that while he has three master's degrees, he does not have a PhD. He requests that students address him as 'Mr. Allen' or 'Professor Allen,' not 'Doctor Allen,' highlighting the importance of following institutional norms and professional courtesy.