Learning Objective #1: Identify at least two strategies to manage enrollment through the increased use of adjunct faculty

Learning Objective #2: Identify at least four approaches to purposeful orientation, education, and support of adjunct faculty

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In this time of dramatic nursing shortage and economic turbulence, it is imperative that leaders in nursing education strive to efficiently manage resources while attempting to maintain or increase enrollment. As nursing programs strive to meet nursing workforce needs, academic leaders are challenged with a concurrent nursing faculty shortage. In many cases, this has resulted in the utilization of increased numbers of adjunct faculty. While the use of adjunct faculty offers numerous advantages, it also presents a variety of challenges as programs attempt to maintain integrity and consistency of their curricular philosophy and values. Academic leaders are also challenged with shrinking financial resources, which limits their ability to hire an increased number of adjunct faculty. The purpose of this paper is to identify effective strategies that academic nursing leaders can employ to overcome these challenges. Strategies include: enrollment management via utilization of adjunct faculty; purposeful orientation, education, and support to adjunct faculty in order to maintain program integrity; and approaches to increase the number of adjunct faculty despite shrinking financial resources. Examples of creative collaborative partnerships between academic and practice settings will be provided.