Relationship of Religious Commitment to Characteristics of Part-time, Online Instructors

Abstract

Part-time, online instructors are a diverse group. Some are employed full time outside of higher education. Some string together several part-time teaching positions from multiple institutions in an attempt to generate a full-time income. Some are full-time faculty who also teach part-time "on the side." It is important for administrators within higher learning institutions to more fully understand variables that may impact the personal and work characteristics of this diverse group. The variable of interest in this paper is religious commitment. The degree of religious commitment has been identified in the literature as one factor that predicts a faculty member’s organizational commitment. A recent Pew Research Center study concludes that those in the millennial generation have lower religious commitment than the average American. The same research determined that the millennials (adults ages 18 to 34) are now the largest share (33%) of the American workforce. Thus, we would expect to find some millennials with a lower religious commitment working as part-time, online instructors. This paper presents the results from an online survey (n=1054) regarding the relationship between religious commitment and certain characteristics of part-time, online instructors. Results suggest that part-time, online instructors with low religious commitment differ from those with high religious commitment in regards to characteristics such as gender, age, ethnicity, religious affiliation, level of education, instructional environment, motivation, instructor behaviors, instructor concerns, job satisfaction, and employer loyalty. These differences have implications for administrators of faith-based institutions who wish to attract, support and retain instructors that are mission fit (based on religious commitment).