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RPC Meeting Minutes
September 27, 2006
Present: Balik, Collins, Flath, Heyman, Hornbach, Laskin, Latham, Michelfelder, Nedelsky, Wheaton and Contant (ACE Fellow)
- Meeting was called to order at 2:07 pm
- Minutes from the meeting of September 20, 2006 were approved.
- Dan Balik handed out the Executive Summary to the COACHE survey conducted by Harvard University of pre-tenure tenure-track faculty in years 2-5 of their appointment. Macalester had 33 individuals contacted to participate in the survey – 24 completed the survey. Nationally, 14 schools participated with 505 individuals sent surveys and 371 responding. Balik cautioned about drawing conclusions from this small sample size at Macalester. The group discussed the “unrelenting pressure to perform” topic that was identified as one of the worst things about Macalester. It was decided that we should study this issue in greater depth to determine whether it is a phenomenon or a problem to be addressed. Possibly a survey of recently tenured faculty could provide some insight to see if it is the tenure process producing the pressure or something else.
- David Wheaton discussed the process being followed to start addressing a long-term tuition policy at Macalester. A consultant, Bill Hall, met with senior staff two weeks ago and with a group of faculty leaders yesterday to discuss the issues associated with concerns over net tuition, including pricing, discount rates, and sources of financial aid. The conversations have focused on determining what we are trying to achieve with a tuition policy and how to get there from here. Once the consultant provides a report back to Wheaton and Rosenberg, next steps for RPC and the College will be considered.
Several other topics were discussed:
a. Changing sabbatical cycles by discipline
b. Reducing teaching loads to 3 years of 5 courses and 3 years of 4 courses
c. Reduced teaching loads prior to pre-tenure review, then increased up to 5
d. Need to not increase the number of courses taught by non-tenure-track faculty
Spreadsheets on data from other liberal arts colleges with a 4 course teaching load were distributed, with a focus on Bowdoin and Mt. Holyoke as schools comparable in size, endowment, and class sizes. Discussion occurred around the use of larger class sizes to accommodate the reduced teaching loads (principally class sizes between 30-50 students).
The group decided to try to target toward a student:faculty ratio of 10:1 with whatever option is recommended.
Further, the group decided to use metrics identified by last year’s RPC to address issues of academic quality.
- Chair Heyman began the discussion about options for the committee to consider regarding faculty support. Latham suggested that faculty salaries be included as an option in addition to reducing teaching loads and changing the sabbatical cycle. He also suggested that faculty be surveyed about their preferences, but with the impacts of possible options. For example, reduced teaching loads could produce larger class sizes. He also suggested including questions about what would be good for the faculty member and what would be good for the students.
- Meeting adjourned at 3:22 pm.
Respectfully submitted by Cheryl Contant
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