Due largely to the difficult economic environment faced by many of today's colleges and universities, adjunct faculty represent the fastest growing segment of the academic workforce. This study, using IPA methodology, investigated the experiences of eight adjunct faculty members at a small, private, nonprofit university in New England to understand their perceptions of their role at their institution and their identified needs in regards to support and development. Findings from this study reveal that the adjunct faculty role is a dichotomous role comprised of many tradeoffs. While the adjunct faculty role provides many benefits to those who pursue it as well as to the university overall, these benefits exist against a backdrop of downsides and disadvantages that result in frustration for adjunct faculty as they navigate their experience at the university. This study revealed that by and large the positive aspects of the role are those aspects closely related to the adjunct faculty members' courses and their students while the difficulties of the role typically derive from issues outside of the classroom. In addition, there is a sense of conflict inherent in the role with the palpable tension the participants exhibited between feeling marginalized and inferior and recognizing the value that adjunct faculty provide to the institution both individually and collectively. Adjunct faculty members' willingness to take steps to overcome challenges and to persist in their adjunct faculty role provides evidence that for most, the rewards of the position are significant and worth pursuing. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]