We are not Alone on the Workload Train

This post has nothing to doing with teaching and technology, but it does have very much to do with an issue currently occupying the minds of members of faculty here at Cave Hill, the issue of workload adjustments in harsh economic times.  I thought I would share an insightful article appearing in today's issue of the Chronicle of Higher Education, entitled Back in the Classroom: Colleges are calling off the deal that allows many professors time out from teaching.   Some institutions link the move to an "increased eye on efficiency" or "more equitable workloads", others bluntly tell faculty "The world has changed, in case you haven't noticed."  Whatever the reason, it seems that across the USA state universities, in particular, are ushering in a wave which is seeing  large numbers of "top tier" full-time faculty back in the classroom and teaching inroductory level courses.  Even more interesting than the article itself,  are the comments and exchanges that it stimulated.

" I'm having some trouble mustering sympathy for the professors mentioned in this article. I haven't taught my contractual load of 3 courses per semester plus a short term (3 - 3 - 1) since the day I walked on this campus 16 years ago. My real load? Somewhere around 4.5 - 1 - 4.5 (Neither have I ever been paid for an overload.)

And we wonder why those outside the academy are setting up the guillotine."

If you would like to read the full article  (and the comments which follow it), CLICK HERE