Contacting adjunct professors?

[longsuede]

I'm just wondering if there's any value in connecting with a POI who is an adjunct faculty member? I understand that speaking with anyone at the university is useful, but I'm speaking more about impact on the selection process. It's my understanding that adjunct professors do not normally take on advisees, is that correct? In which case, would meeting with one and then mentioning them in my application even be worthwhile?

[smg]

If you want to work with an adjunct I would mention it.  It will show that you've done research into what the university has to offer beyond the core faculty of the department you are applying to.  Contacting them could be useful as far as finding out if they are even around to help in advising a project.  Or o figure out what their research interests are. They might also have insights into the department culture and whatnot.  Who knows?  I'd contact them you have nothing to lose.  

[fuzzylogician]

I'd be careful with this. Adjuncts are temporary and it's not at all guaranteed that someone who is there now will also be there next year. Mentioning that you want to work with someone who won't be there by the time your start (and more importantly, by the time you start forming a committee and doing dissertation research) means that you are basing your decision re: fit with the department at least partly on something that's not going to work out, so you're less of a good fit than you might think. Of course, no one can guarantee that any professor will be there 3-4-5 years from now, but TT and tenured faculty have a longer term commitment and in general you can count on their sticking around, unlike adjunct or visiting faculty. Also, adjuncts don't tend to participate in admissions decisions (though I'm sure this varies) so meeting with them and getting their endorsement is likely not going to help much. If you do mention adjunct faculty in your SOP, I'd make sure it's a secondary reason to attend the school, with more prominent reasons being fit with TT or tenured faculty.

[juilletmercredi]

I would not contact an adjunct faculty member, and I would definitely not specify an adjunct in my statement, for all the reasons fuzzy mentioned.

[longsuede]

That's pretty much what I anticipated. Thanks for the help!

[Eigen]

The one caveat I have for this is in the case of someone who is a full time faculty member at the University, but on an adjunct appointment in your particular department. It's not a common arrangement, but I have seen it. 

 

In that case, you're not really connecting with them as an adjunct, but looking for an interdisciplinary project.