Characteristics of Part-Time Online Instructors: A Comparison of For-Profit to Nonprofit Faith-Based Institutions

ABSTRACT

As the for-profit business model and a reliance on adjunct faculty continues to grow among faith-based institutions, little research exists on the differences in the characteristics of part-time online faculty in for-profit versus nonprofit environments that could provide guidance to administrators. This study utilized a descriptive, nonexperimental survey design employing the chi-squared test (χ²) as a statistical tool to analyze the categorical data. This descriptive exploratory study compares part-time online faculty in for-profit and nonprofit environments based on results from a convenience sample of 1,034 online instructors from 19 faith-based institutions in the United States. Information presented in this paper includes demographic characteristics, types of students served, religious commitment, course logistics, and student–instructor interaction. Part-time online instructors from for-profit or nonprofit faith-based institutions were similar in several personal characteristics such as age and household income, as well as in their motivation to become a part-time online instructor. However, there also were several statistically significant differences noted, most notably their religious commitment (χ²[40, N = 1,034] = 111.93, p < .001; Cramer's V = 0.329) and religious affiliation (χ²[20, N = 1,028] = 107.59, p < .001; Cramer's V = 0.324). Recommendations for faith-based institutions of higher learning by type included increasing the diversity of instructors at nonprofit institutions, screening applicants for mission fit at for-profit institutions, and increasing compensation at both types of institutions.

Funding

I wish to acknowledge Indiana Wesleyan University for supporting my application for a sabbatical and financial support for the travel undertaken for this study.