California community college profs rake in up to $800K a year teaching dozens of online classes at once
Some California college professors are raking in more than the state’s highest-paid education officials by teaching dozens of online classes at once, many using pre-recorded lectures, according to a CalMatters investigation.The nonprofit outlet identified more than 70 instructors who taught across at least five California community college districts, Cal State or UC campuses in 2024, largely relying on online courses students could complete on their own schedules.There are no rules in place to limit how many districts a community can work within and no tracking systems in place to monitor a teacher’s workload.The biggest news, opinion and culture shaping California right now.
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Never miss a story Colleges have no way to see an instructor’s full course load because each of the state’s 73 districts is governed independently.One instructor in the CalMatters analysis was listed as teaching at least 69 course sections across nine districts in 2024, the outlet reported.The highest earner CalMatters identified is Thien-Huong Ninh Villarreal, who teaches sociology, ethnic studies and business.
She holds full-time jobs at San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton and Cosumnes River College in Sacramento, and also teaches part-time at seven other community colleges and Cal State Sacramento, the outlet reported.This fall, she is teaching about 30 classes with more than 1,100 students, according to CalMatters.She made nearly $800,000 in 2024, more than any community college administrator in the state, including the system’s chancellor.Ninh Villarreal did not respond to The Post’s request for comment.Astronomy instructor Andrew Vanden Heuvel teaches about 50 online classes and labs from an office above his garage in a small Michigan town on the shore of Lake Michigan.
He said he has taught as many as 1,000 students in ...