An anonymous readers writes:
"Interesting that the president's report to the BOR included a reduction of 51 positions, and in addition, that there was a hiring freeze. Today, I see where MSU has hired an media relations persons for athletics, yet we cannot hire qualified faculty for some programs that are increasingly in demand. Stimulus?"
I have a couple of responses. First, the reduction of 51 positions from the 2008-09 personnel roster includes both faculty and staff. I have not seen a recent figure on the number of faculty positions, but my understanding was that faculty positions would depend on SOAR numbers. I am not sure that I ever heard the word "freeze" used, although I know the administration has been very carefully monitoring hiring this year and approving hirings on a case-by-case basis. I will, however, attempt to find out if the number of faculty positions has indeed gone down and by how much.
It should be pointed out that the Media Relations Director position is not a new position. Drew Dickerson is replacing Randy Stacy in that position. It is fairly common for universities--especially those that play Division I sports--to hire Media Relations Directors or something equivalent.
Now, I think the more interesting question here is how much emphasis MSU should place on athletics. This is a complicated issue, and I have to admit to having mixed feelings about it. In recent years, MSU athletics have had a number of successes, and MSU has invested some significant resources in our sports teams and facilities. It is frequently argued that sports are the "front porch" of the university. How convincing is that argument? I would very much like some advice on this matter.
Ron
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
7 comments:
Given your reasoning with regard to 'existing positions', then it would be reasonable to assume that facult positions that are vacated for one reason or another would also be open for replacement. Perhaps I am most unaware of "goings on" than I would like to admit, but this seems not to have been the case in the past two years. How many faculty have left to become assistant administrators of some sort or another in the last year or two, and are there plans to advertise for these positions for the benefit of our students? On your second point with regard to athletics...I would agree that it is the 'front door' so to speak, but, just as in the horse racing business, the racing stable does not pay the bills....it is the day-to-day mundane proliferation of progeny that brings in the 'big bucks'...
Let me try to find out how many of the 51 vacant positions are faculty and how many actually stayed vacant following the SOAR sessions. It may take a while--and I assume that the numbers may still be changing. But I promise to get back to you on this matter.
One sore point here is that university administrations are growing nationwide--while the number of the tenure-track positions is continuing to shrink. Perhaps your program was identified for "enhancement" (as was mine), and you continue to wait to see what exactly "enhancement" means in the current budget situation.
Why would SOAR sessions affect faculty positions for graduate programs that have been acknowledged, by the administration, as having exceptional growth potential?
On another note, has there been a final "flow chart" published regarding the administrative structure of ALL of academic affairs ? Who reports to whom, and who, by name, is filling what positions? How many new postitions have been 'creatively' created in the past two years, and have these been beneficial to the students of this institution? We hear the terms 'continual assessement' and 'data-driven decision-making' targeted at faculty and departments, but has there been any inquiry as to applying the same principles to other entities of the institution...those that seem to be 'sacred cows' of the administration?
Let me explain my comment about SOAR sessions a little more clearly and then answer your second question.
First, SOAR sessions may have an impact on the overall number of faculty hired. More than likely these faculty hired over the summer may be in instructor positions, and they may be in disciplines that serve general education.
You're probably right that SOAR sessions will have little impact on graduate programs--at least immediately. But, since we're not likely to get increased revenues from the state and the CPE is limiting how much we can raise tuition, enrollment increases are about our only hope in increasing revenue. And better overall enrollment figures (including improved retention numbers) may eventually help us to expand your graduate program.
In response to your second question, I assume that a revised organizational chart is forthcoming. In early July, the Provost announced that she was working with Communications and Marketing to find the best way of packaging this information. I can only assume that faculty will receive this information relatively soon. (Besides hoping for best, I will also ask the Provost when this information will be available.)
At the June BOR meeting, I expressed my concern that the Personnel Roster reflected the organizational structure from 2008-09. (Thus, for example, the Personnel Roster listed departments of Physical Science and English, Foreign Languages, and Philosophy. Neither of those departments existed on 1 July.) I was assured that the Regents will receive a briefing on major organizational changes during the August meeting.
I have also repeatedly asked how the academic re-organization will make us more efficient and serve students better. I have not received an entirely clear answer to that question.
From your statement "...the Provost announced that she was working with Communications and Marketing to find the best way of packaging this information."
So can we expect a media campaign, smoke and mirrors, glitz and glamour and little substance? What about the Joe Friday philosophy...."just the facts"...? Why not just a simple accounting of events, postitions created and lost, etc.?
I hate to speak for the Provost (and I hope we hear from her soon on this matter), but I would presume that she needs the help of "Communications and Marketing" for at least two reasons (maybe more).
First, we are talking about some major changes in Academic Affairs--both on the faculty and staff sides. Packaging the information will include reporting new administrative structures, new unit names, new office locations, and so forth. And this information needs to be available to students, their parents, and the general public, as well as to faculty and staff.
The second element, I would guess, is that many of these changes have been in process over the summer and some are still not completely finalized. (I know, for example, of at least a couple of faculty who have not been able to move into their new offices as of Monday of this week.)
Still, I agree that the situation is frustrating. We don't need any more speculation from me or anyone else. We need the information from the Provost, however she chooses to present it. I've voiced this concern in a recent e-mail to her, and I'm hoping to hear something soon.
hi! It's a simply super... easy to download
Post a Comment