The rise of generative artificial intelligence has altered the day-to-day realities of contingent and sessional instructors, transforming how courses are prepared, delivered, and evaluated. While institutional leadership often focuses on high-level strategic integration, adjunct educators frequently face the challenge of adapting to these shifting standards in real time and in front of learners, all without the safety net of long-term contracts or dedicated departmental support. Because non-tenure-track instructors teach a massive share of undergraduate courses, their ability to navigate AI-enabled pedagogy directly influences student retention and tech-equity across diverse classrooms. This is admittedly no small challenge for those in sessional roles.
Yet forward-thinking contingent instructors are exploring ways to leverage AI to streamline assignment design and formative feedback, even while short-term contracts and heavy teaching loads may create a barrier to participating in comprehensive faculty boot camps or instructional design workshops. Making this all work requires institutions to provide accessible, low-barrier resources that empower sessional faculty to experiment safely with AI tools, ensuring that instructional innovation is not restricted only to fully resourced, permanent departments. Ultimately, supporting adjunct faculty in their AI literacy journey is essential for maintaining consistent, high-quality instruction across higher education.
Ann Kirschner, "Education’s AI Reckoning Is Here. Who’s In Charge?," Forbes, April 12, 2026
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