Adjunct faculty play a major role in the success of America's community colleges. Part-time faculty bring industry expertise, professional know-how, and workplace experience to the classroom. They also provide an economic benefit to the institutional bottom line. Yet they are often regarded by administrators and full-time faculty alike as "second-class citizens," not fully appreciated for the contributions they bring to the colleges and to the students they serve. This article discusses four issues central to an understanding of adjunct faculty: (1) the increasing use of adjunct faculty, (2) reasons people teach part-time, (3) competency and compensation issues, and (4) opportunities for professional development. Adjunct faculty provide a significant service to community and technical colleges. They should be recognized and valued as professional colleagues working in collaboration with full-time faculty and administrators to achieve the teaching mission of America's community colleges.