Dear Faculty:
The Faulty Senate would like to thank you for responding to the recent survey on Academic Freedom. The results and selected comments are attached.
While most of the respons support the college's position on Academic Freedom, there are still several areas for concern. Members of the Faculty Senate will be sharing the survey results and these specific concerns with members ofthe Administration.
Again, thank you for your time.
| Question | Yes | No | ||||
| 1. I am familiar with the college's Academic Freedom policy | 25 | 23 | ||||
| Strongly Agree (1) |
Agree (2) |
Neutral (3) |
Disagree (4) |
Strongly Disagree (5) |
Mean | |
| 2. The college administration fosters a climate that is supportive of Academic Freedom. | 3 | 22 | 12 | 7 | 3 | 2.7 |
| 3. The college's Academic Freedom policy represents my understanding of Academic Freedom. | 1 | 11 | 22 | 8 | 1 | 2.9 |
| 4. Relationships among faculty and administrators are cooperative regarding Academic Freedom. | 2 | 24 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 2.7 |
| 5. Administrative appointments at the college are free from outside influence. | 1 | 4 | 18 | 11 | 11 | 3.6 |
| 6. While recognizing the need to meet measurable performance objectives, my department supports my right to teach in a manner free from external constraints. | 20 | 15 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 2.1 |
| 7. The college administration uses established mechanisms to ensure a faculty voice in decisions affecting faculty individually or collectively | 2 | 15 | 8 | 14 | 9 | 3.3 |
| 8. As an instructor I am free from external controls in the selection of course materials. | 10 | 16 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 2.6 |
| 9. My department supports the right to conduct research through the application of administrative approved sabbaticals. | 1 | 8 | 13 | 9 | 13 | 3.6 |
| 10. Course outlines, textbook selection, instructional methods etc., are consistently applied by faculty within my department. | 15 | 18 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 2.3 |
| 11. Within my area of expertise, I am free to develop course materials that I believe would be helpful for my class. | 24 | 15 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 1.8 |
| ______________________________________________________________________
There were 48 instructors (30 Stanton, 18 Wilmington) that responded to the survey. Not all questions were answered. Within a 5% probability error, there was no significant difference between the responses of the instructors of Stanton and Wilmington for the same question except for question #5 |
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Note: The following comments about further specific concerns not addressed by the survey were submitted. No attempt has been made to edit any grammar and/or spelling mistakes in transcribing them below. * Not aware that "sabbaticals" are even part of the Personnel Policy. * What I am not free to do is decide what course materials can be delivered by lecture. I have been told I have to deliver content in a lab that I think is better delivered in a lecture format. * The campuses should be autonomous. * Perhaps my responses to Academic freedom are clouded by the lack of support from the technical side as I research new technical needs for instruction. As I expand instructional methods and material there is a need for support from admin and technical staff for implementation. Not at all sure Admin understands the needs of instruction to continue to grow with technology as applied to classroom instruction. * You needed to define external constraints. Your questions assume "external contraints" are the only threat. Suppose your department chair is the problem? Is that external? Bottom line: I have to march in step with what I'm told to do. If I challenge an assignment or textbook, I'm shouted down. My job has been threatened when I questioned logic. * I am not always allowed to use my recommended instructional delivery system ie - lecture vs. lab; telaclass vs Lecture class. * This is a strange survey. I fear that the standardization process (measurable performance objectives) will decrease freedom for most faculty (not me however) since I am course leader. * What sabbaticals? * Distance Learning & Intellectural Property. * In my dept. many times faculty do not get to pick textbooks. * Our Dept chair gives a certain amount of "Lip-service" to academic freedom by bringing up related topics in Dept meeting. But he completely shoots down any opposing opinion. He will also make life very difficult for anyone who argues with him. Now no one in the department cares enough to voice a dissenting opinion, and everyone agrees with the chair's decisions without giving them much thought. * I still think Academic honesty is a major concern. * Online coursework-No pay for rewriting courses yet college retains right to copyright materials! * In the name of academic freedom though, the same course taught by two different instructors are like poles apart. They become two totally different courses-one very intense, the other watered down! * We need a uniform sabbatical privilege for all faculty. Comments that were appended to specific survey questions are as follows: * To the survey question, "I am familiar with the college's Academic Freedom policy." · No. I couldn't find in the Personnel Handbook. Will you distribute a copy? * To the survey question, "Relationships among faculty and administrators are cooperative regarding Academic Freedom." · Agree, but not with chairpersons. * To the survey question, "Administrative appointments at the college are free from outside influence." · It seems that at times people are hired at DTCC if they have ties to the State legislature/ state politics. · What does this have to do with Academic Freedom? * To the survey question, "The college administration uses established mechanisms to ensure a faculty voice in decisions affecting faculty individually or collectively." · What voice? * To the survey question, "As an instructor I am free from external controls in the selection of course materials." · I am given choice - but I always discuss w/colleagues affected & chairman * To the survey question, "My department supports the right to conduct research through the application of administrative approved sabbaticals." · Never allowed, to my knowledge. · What is a sabbatical at DT&CC? Not really a perk option, or beneficial to faculty? As compared to other colleges. · Never! · How do I know that everyone in my department supports? |
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Contact
Howard M. Berlin, content
administrator for this web page, with comments, questions or corrections.