by Aaron Kiel
Staff Writer
Five faculty members met Monday to discuss their workloads and explore possible solutions to the question, “Can the University of La Verne equalize faculty workload across all departments and all schools?”
According to those in attendance, the answer to the question was an overwhelming “no” because there are too many variables to consider. Some of these variables might include academic advising, music lessons, research, large classes, labs, committee work and various off-campus responsibilities.
Faculty workload is determined by the number of classes taught and additional responsibilities as assigned by respective departments.
“Faculty are normally always overloaded,” said Dr. John Gingrich, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.
Dr. Raymond Garubo, associate professor of public administration, facilitated the Faculty Workload Committee meeting. He said that there is a discrepancy among faculty workloads.
The committee explained how one professor may have a heavier workload than another, but it needs to be considered that individual professors may enjoy extra work, or others may have families to care for and might not be able to handle substantial amounts of work assigned through their department.
“There are many factors to be considered such as the discipline being taught, level of courses being taught, number of advisees, number of courses and labs,” said ULV President Dr. Stephen Morgan. “To attempt to weigh those factors appropriately is difficult indeed.”
The committee would like to see ULV as a fair and equitable place regarding workloads, but understands that this is difficult to achieve.
“You can’t measure everyone on the same scale,” said Dr. David Flaten, professor of theatre arts.
During the discussion, the committee explored merit pay and an incentive track. Both are suggestions as to how professors can receive additional benefits for heavier workloads.
“It’s my job and the department chairs’ job to see that there’s some sort of equity. It’s never going to be exactly the same,” said Dr. Gingrich.
“I suspect some of them [faculty members] are concerned about workload comparisons, but they may be reluctant to talk about those concerns. At the moment we are interested in gathering as much faculty input regarding workload as possible. That is our primary effort for now,” said Dr. Morgan.
Dr. Morgan went on to say that the University needs the assistance of faculty to determine how workloads can be made equitable across all departments.
“Faculty workload is an important issue to be addressed by the faculty themselves through their committee structure,” said Dr. Morgan.
“I’d like to work with them [faculty]. I don’t see this as a ‘we’ and ‘they’ thing. I hope we can work this out together, in terms of faculty workload, if there’s a feeling that it’s inequitable. I want to be able to understand where they’re coming from and work with them,” said Dr. Gingrich.
“It seems faculty are much more sensitive to this issue than they are to their sex life,” said Dr. Flaten.
