The 1998 General Assembly directed the Council of Higher Education to study policies regarding the use of adjunct faculty at Virginia's colleges and universities. The study aimed to examine course loads and benefits and how these issues relate to faculty with joint appointments at several public institutions. Virginia's public higher education institutions employ 2,450 full-time equivalent adjunct faculty, which is equal to 19% of the total faculty. Adjunct faculty are employed most commonly in the community colleges, where they comprise 43% of the total faculty, and in specific disciplines, including law, fine arts, English and literature, computer sciences, and mathematics and statistics. Adjunct faculty are not eligible for tenure and are usually ineligible for major benefits. While the overall picture of adjunct faculty is positive, there are examples of low morale and perceived exploitation, particularly among adjunct faculty seeking full-time work. Based on the information in this study, five recommendations are made: (1) written policies for adjunct faculty should be established at all institutions; (2) adjunct faculty should receive common institutional benefits, including computing services and library access; (3) adjunct faculty should be compensated according to their qualifications and market demands; (4) institutional use of adjunct faculty should be better documented; and (5) institutions should track adjunct faculty employment at other institutions. Tables include percentages of part-time faculty and their salaries by institution. (JJL)