2007-10-19 Working With Faculty (SWSLC)
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1) Strengthening coalitions with faculty can help pass bills by generating grassroots pressure and expertise on issues. Several examples are given of bills passing after gaining faculty support. 2) It is important to understand faculty concerns around academic freedom and student success and make requests in a way that respects these concerns. 3) Specific faculty members to engage include department chairs and tenured professors. Faculty organizations can also apply pressure. Make strong, concise asks and follow up ruthlessly.
2007-10-19 Working With Faculty (SWSLC)
- 1. Working With FacultyHow to leverage the faculty at your school for the benefit of students.Nicole AllenThe Student PIRGsSouthwest Student Leadership ConferenceOctober 11, 2008
- 2. Why work with faculty?Strengthen coalitionsWashington, 2007:After 6 weeks of deadlock, the WA textbooks bill was scheduled for a hearing 2 days after the faculty association endorsed it.
- 3. Why work with faculty?Strengthen coalitionsGrassroots pressureIllinois, 2008:The Illinois Faculty Council generated 500 calls from faculty against proposed changes to the textbooks bill.
- 4. Why work with faculty?Strengthen coalitionsGrassroots pressureExpertise on issuesFlorida, 2008:An economics professor from UF testified against a bill that would not address the economic problem of textbook costs.
- 5. Why work with faculty?Strengthen coalitionsGrassroots pressureExpertise on issuesAccess to resourcesLane College, ORThe math department at Lane Community College sponsors storage space and donates books to the SGA-run textbook rental program.
- 6. Why work with faculty?Strengthen coalitionsGrassroots pressureExpertise on issuesAccess to resourcesAccess to studentsPowershift, 2007:The key strategy that brought 6,000 students to DC for Powershift was 4,000 professors who forwarded emails and recommended 1,400 student leaders.
- 7. Why work with faculty?Strengthen coalitionsGrassroots pressureExpertise on issuesAccess to resourcesAccess to studentsTextbooksUCLA, 2005:The UCLA math department negotiated a 25% price cut on a common textbook.
- 8. Why work with faculty?Your examples?
- 9. Understanding facultyWhat are faculty?Teachers
- 10. Understanding facultyWhat are faculty?TeachersProfessional Scholars
- 11. Understanding facultyWhat are faculty?TeachersProfessional ScholarsEmployees
- 13. Understanding FacultyFaculty Concern: Academic FreedomThe principle that freedom of ideas is essential to higher educationi.e. faculty should be able to teach their subject how they see fit
- 14. Understanding FacultyFaculty Concern: Student SuccessThey are most sensitive to student issues when they impact student learningThey feel threatened when student issues conflict with student learning
- 15. Working With FacultyHierarchy of Faculty MembersDeans (staff management)Department Chairs (academic management)Tenured ProfessorsTenure-Track Professors (“assistant” or “associate”)Emeritus Professors (retired, honorary title)Lecturers, Instructors
- 16. Working With FacultyFaculty OrganizationsDepartments Faculty Senate (similar to SGAs)Faculty Associations (similar to SSAs)Faculty UnionsAcademic Societies
- 17. Working With FacultyPrinciples for Approaching FacultyMake it clear that you understand and respect their academic freedomContext everything through its impact on students’ ability to receive an educationBe clear about what you are asking to avoid misunderstandings
- 18. Working With FacultyTips for Approaching FacultyKnow exactly what you want, and be prepared to make a strong askHave a clear, concise overview of the issueBe prepared to explain, in detail, why your proposition is going to have an impact Ruthless followup
- 19. Breakout GroupsOutline a plan to work with faculty to achieve your goal. What is your strategy for working with faculty?Which faculty member(s) will you talk to?What action(s) will you ask them to take?How will you make the ask?Group 1: Get 100 professors at your school to sign a pledge to prefer low-cost textbooks.Group 2: Pass legislation requiring publishers to provide textbook prices to professorsGroup 3: Register 2,000 students to vote
Editor's Notes
- #10: Help students learnSensitive to student concernsCan effectively advocate for student needs
- #11: Their job is to be experts, so continued research is importantDifferent profs weight the importance of teaching and research differentlyThey are the ones who know the issue best, so don’t try to argue with them
- #12: Just like everyone elseConcerns are the typical hours, benefits, pay etc – but also the integrity of their professionFaculty unions are strong
- #14: The #1 concern of faculty members is preservation of academic freedom
- #15: The #1 concern of faculty members is preservation of academic freedom