In recent years, rapid advancement has taken place in computing technology that allows institutional researchers to efficiently and effectively address data of increasing volume and structural complexity (Luan, 2002). In this chapter, the authors propose a new data analytical technique, Bayesian belief networks (BBN), to add to the toolbox for…

College faculty live and work in four cultures: that of the academic profession, the discipline, the academy as an organization, and the institution type. Each of these influences how they function in the organization. Colleges should recognize and build on the sometimes conflicting cultures. (Author/MSE)

Findings and methodologies from recent research on college faculty workload are reviewed and implications for higher education policy are suggested. It is noted that although such studies have not resulted in demonstrable change in allocation of faculty work, they have focused attention on enhanced learning, and that the research has yet to…

Data from a national faculty survey and other research on faculty motivation give insight into the difficulty of categorizing faculty work and productivity into discrete categories. The studies examine how time is experienced by faculty and used within the academic culture. Implications for definition of workload are examined. (MSE)

A discussion of methods for measuring college faculty workload first reviews course load analysis, the traditional method used to define, measure, and report faculty workload, then suggests some data alternatives and related issues faced by institutional research offices. Suggestions are offered for locating existing workload data, compiling a…

Campuses should act on salary equity issues before litigation arises. Campuses must resolve database problems, unfocused studies, problems in data interpretations, and constraints on implementing findings if they are to take timely actions. Internally motivated monitoring and court-ordered monitoring are discussed. (Author/MLW)

Areas in which human judgment must be used to conduct a fair statistical analysis of college faculty salary equity are discussed, and guidelines for making those judgments are offered. Four decision elements and four fields of study are considered as the basis for establishing criteria for selecting the appropriate regression model. (Author/MSE)

The faculty athletics representative plays an important role in the athletic-academic relationship. This responsibility includes certifying student-athlete eligibility, reporting academic data as required, evaluating athlete-applicant qualifications and abilities, regular evaluation of athlete performance, and participation in evaluation of…

A discussion of college faculty cultures and climates explains both conceptual notions and how institutional researchers, deans, and department heads can assess and understand them. It is proposed that this information can be useful to administrators committed to understanding, supporting, and leading the faculty of their units. (Author/MSE)

The "academic ratchet and administrative lattice" framework for examining costs and productivity in college administration is applied to the University of Delaware. The productivity of academic units is analyzed quantitatively and issues in overstaffing and overbudgeting of administrative units are discussed. Faculty staffing trends from…

This report presents the results of the International Studies Survey of state-supported and independent institutions of higher education in Virginia designed to establish the state of international studies programs, and explore related issues among the various colleges and universities in Virginia. A secondary goal was to make this information…

Given the growing need to look across national borders in order to be prepared for global challenges confronting higher education in the coming decades, it can be expected that institutional administrators in the U.S. and other western countries will need information on the quality and efficiency of their activities, including an international…

This document provides technical information about the "Faculty at Work" questionnaire for those considering using it in their institution. The "Faculty at Work" questionnaire was designed to gather data on a number of factors that are important elements of faculty motivation and may help plan for professional development…

A faculty workload study and several related campus initiatives at Kent State University (Ohio) are described, including institutional participation in a roundtable on the future of the university and the initiation of a major institutional strategic planning process. A particular focus of the efforts is on an expanded view of scholarship in…

A local study of faculty attrition in a four-campus university system examined two factors not considered in national studies: discipline and campus location (urban or rural). Lack of forecasted increases in local demand for faculty puts into question whether special action to increase faculty supply is needed. (MSE)