Minutes of the University Committee
for November 5, 2002

The Committee met at 2:05 in D135 MOLN. Members present were John Buenker, Peggy James, James Kinchen, Don Kummings, Greg Mayer, and Gary Wood. Also present were Larry Duetsch, Gene Goodman, and Jim McKeever.

Professor James invited Professor McKeever, Chair of the Working Group on the Implementation of PSF11/95-96 Faculty Workload Principles, to address the Committee. She said the Working Group had been given a difficult assignment and had done its work conscientiously. Professor McKeever said the Working Group found that current departmental workload policies tend to be too general in nature. He said the Working Group recommends that each academic department develop written protocols that clearly describe specific departmental norms under PSF11/95-96.

The written departmental protocols should be reviewed and certified as reasonable/appropriate by the dean and (probably) the University Committee. Each department should list measurable criteria that can be used to document the type and amount of activity (scholarly or other) that warrants specific reductions in teaching load (of one or more credits). To ensure equitable treatment, each department chair must be prepared to document the grounds for individual teaching assignments of less than 21 hours.

Professor Mayer asked whether the Working Group found that teaching loads have declined here, as some accounts have suggested. Professor McKeever said periodic changes in reporting systems have confounded comparisons over time. Professor Mayer asked what the average teaching load is now and Professor James said it is 17.5 hours per year.

After some discussion of specific issues such as variations in the way internships are handled, Professors Kummings and Mayer questioned the need to examine each person's teaching load if only problem cases need attention. Interim Associate Provost Goodman said the deans need clearly stated norms in order to identify the problem cases. Professors James and Kinchen felt that clarification of departmental expectations would be an easy way of avoiding allegations of special treatment for some.

Professor Mayer again pressed for an example of an altered workload that would warrant scrutiny and the Associate Provost cited a (hypothetical) individual who teaches and (now) does little else. Professor Buenker wondered if such scrutiny would be called for every semester.

Despite the concerns that had been expressed, the Committee agreed unanimously that the departments should be asked to clarify their protocols for determining individual teaching loads by January, prior to the preparation of the Fall 2003 course schedule.

With several members indicating that they had to leave, the Committee adjourned at 3:10, after agreeing to meet next on November 12 at 2.