The university’s new cap on teaching loads is doing exactly the opposite of what it intended to do.
The edict, which was handed down from Provost Dr. Alisa White in late December, limited teaching loads to 15 credit hours.
Professors in some departments have lost considerable pay because of the decision.
The reason for the rule, White said, was that teachers were working too hard. Plus, the university needed to stay in line with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools accreditation standards.
But some professors are indignant about the change – in the past, when they worked extra, they were paid extra.
Now their opportunity to earn extra money has been stunted.
It’s hard to argue whether a cap like this should be imposed.
On one hand, some professors probably are working too hard. On the other, a lot of them need the extra money.
Regardless, a sweeping new rule this needs to be implemented over time and with transparency.
Even if this was a good idea, it wasn’t a good idea to push it onto faculty at the end of December.
This hasty implementation has resulted in cancelled and delayed classes.
In Dr. Gary Fashimpar’s (professor of social work) case, it has resulted in a nullified contract for three “overload” courses.
The way the changes were made has definitely cost MSU money, at least so far as revenue from cancelled classes and students who have dropped from other classes.
Plus, the sneaky, in-the-back-door approach that was used hasn’t engendered faculty trust. If anything, faculty members and students are wary of the cap because it was rushed into existence.
Here’s a tip: if administrators want to increase transparency (which they’re so very vocal about), they should practice some. This means not springing major policy changes on faculty at the last minute.
At face value, it looks like an underhanded attempt to take money away from faculty.
Who knows if this was the real impetus for the new rule? It probably wasn’t.
But if that’s what the faculty think, it might as well be.
Administrators should work hard to earn the trust of their faculty.
This isn’t how you do it.