Community College Professors Earning High Salaries Through Massive Online Course Loads
Some adjuncts teach dozens of asynchronous classes simultaneously, raising concerns about instructional quality and oversight.
1The Rise of Mega-Adjuncts
California community college professors are increasingly managing massive course loads by teaching dozens of online classes simultaneously. Some educators, such as Thien-Huong Ninh Villarreal, have earned nearly $800,000 in a single year by holding multiple tenured and part-time positions. This trend highlights a significant shift in how higher education is delivered and compensated.
2Lack of Systemic Oversight
California’s 73 community college districts operate independently, meaning there is no centralized system to track how many courses a professor teaches across different districts. While universities like the UC system limit course loads, community colleges lack the infrastructure to monitor total faculty workload, creating a regulatory loophole for high-earning adjuncts.
3Asynchronous Instruction Model
Professor Andrew Vanden Heuvel exemplifies this model, teaching roughly 50 online astronomy classes to 1,000 students from his home. He utilizes pre-recorded lectures and computer-graded quizzes, arguing that this approach provides necessary financial stability. He maintains that his scale allows him to reach students in rural areas who otherwise lack access.
4Concerns Over Educational Quality
Faculty union leaders argue that teaching 30 or more classes makes providing meaningful student support impossible. Sarah Thompson of the Faculty Association of California Community Colleges notes that professors cannot effectively evaluate progress or offer direct feedback at such a scale. Critics fear this factory-like approach undermines the rigor of higher education.
5Financial Disparities in Academia
While some professors earn hundreds of thousands, many adjuncts struggle with precarious contracts and low pay. Tina Leonard, an American Sign Language teacher, earned $84,000 across five districts, citing the need to cover taxes and the difficulty of securing full-time tenure-track positions. The system creates a stark divide between high-earning outliers and typical adjuncts.
6Data Analysis Reveals Scale
A CalMatters analysis of public payroll records identified at least 70 adjuncts who were paid by five or more college districts in 2024. These records, corroborated with course catalogs, show that many of these high earners rely heavily on asynchronous instruction to manage their massive student populations across various California campuses.
7Institutional Accountability Gaps
Chris Ferguson, an executive vice chancellor, stated that multiple jobs are not inherently problematic unless they prevent required student engagement. He emphasized that accountability lies with individual college districts rather than the statewide system. However, without cross-district data, districts remain unaware of the total workload their faculty members are actually carrying.
8The Role of Automation
Many of these high-volume courses rely on algorithms for grading and multiple-choice assessments. Vanden Heuvel admits he does not grade assignments by hand, comparing his method to standardized testing like the GRE. This reliance on automated systems raises questions about the depth of learning and the potential for academic dishonesty.
9Student Success and Interaction
Research indicates that asynchronous classes often provide less interaction, which is historically detrimental to student success. While working adults appreciate the convenience of online learning, the lack of direct professor involvement remains a significant drawback. Federal and state laws require interaction, yet enforcement is difficult when one professor manages thousands.
10Union Perspectives on Workload
Faculty unions, which have long advocated for better pay and job security for adjuncts, expressed shock at the extreme workloads. Jim Mahler of the California Federation of Teachers suggested that some professors might simply be hitting play on recorded lectures. They view this trend as a systemic failure to value quality instruction.
11The Tenure-Track Connection
The analysis found that many of the highest-earning adjuncts also hold full-time tenure or tenure-track positions. Professors like Bobby Seals and Nicholas Nardi teach dozens of additional courses across multiple districts beyond their full-time roles. This suggests that the issue is not limited to part-time staff but extends to tenured faculty members.
12Future of Online Education
As California invests millions to ensure online courses match in-person rigor, the lack of workload tracking remains a critical vulnerability. The debate over whether these massive online portfolios constitute a successful educational experiment or a systemic loophole continues. Policymakers face the challenge of balancing accessibility with the need for genuine academic engagement.