2008 Woodie Awards
Temporary faculty: Benefit or burden?
Profs share mixed feelings of short-term colleagues
By Lexxie Shiring
Rocket Contributor
Issue date: 11/9/07 Section: News
Slippery Rock University professors share mixed feelings about temporary faculty on campus.
SRU President Robert Smith does not have any intention of having a lot of temporary faculty.
"There are two reasons why we have temporary faculty. The first reason is failed searches conducted by academic departments where they are unable to find a person in a timely fashion," Smith said, "so we have to fill the class with temporary faculty.
The second reason is to have highly specialized areas where we want an expert in the field for a short period of time, so we will hire someone because they will provide the particular expertise."
Smith said SRU does its best to hire full-time faculty members whenever possible.
"Our bias is to hire full-time faculty who are on a 10-year track so that they will have a long-term commitment to the students and university," Smith said.
Wendy Stuhldreher, assistant to the dean of the College of Health, Environment and Science, has mixed emotions about the 23 temporary faculty members within that college.
"Temporary faculty fills a need right now, when we are having growing pains, but are not always helpful when you are trying to build a department," Stuhldreher said. "It is a solution to growing pains and sabbaticals, but we hope it does not become a permanent solution."
Jace Condravy, president of SRU's APSCUF chapter and an English professor, thinks temporary faculty plays an important role at the university.
"I think it is very helpful to have temporary faculty when regular faculty members retire or resign suddenly and there is not enough time to search for and find a fully qualified 10-year track member," Condravy said.
Condravy thinks that although temporary faculty can cover a temporary gap, it is not in the best interest of the students.
"Having full time or 10-year track faculty in the classroom is best for students because temporary faculty find it difficult to make the commitment to the university and students that 10-year track professors can make," Condravy said, "and it is perfectly understandable."
SRU President Robert Smith does not have any intention of having a lot of temporary faculty.
"There are two reasons why we have temporary faculty. The first reason is failed searches conducted by academic departments where they are unable to find a person in a timely fashion," Smith said, "so we have to fill the class with temporary faculty.
The second reason is to have highly specialized areas where we want an expert in the field for a short period of time, so we will hire someone because they will provide the particular expertise."
Smith said SRU does its best to hire full-time faculty members whenever possible.
"Our bias is to hire full-time faculty who are on a 10-year track so that they will have a long-term commitment to the students and university," Smith said.
Wendy Stuhldreher, assistant to the dean of the College of Health, Environment and Science, has mixed emotions about the 23 temporary faculty members within that college.
"Temporary faculty fills a need right now, when we are having growing pains, but are not always helpful when you are trying to build a department," Stuhldreher said. "It is a solution to growing pains and sabbaticals, but we hope it does not become a permanent solution."
Jace Condravy, president of SRU's APSCUF chapter and an English professor, thinks temporary faculty plays an important role at the university.
"I think it is very helpful to have temporary faculty when regular faculty members retire or resign suddenly and there is not enough time to search for and find a fully qualified 10-year track member," Condravy said.
Condravy thinks that although temporary faculty can cover a temporary gap, it is not in the best interest of the students.
"Having full time or 10-year track faculty in the classroom is best for students because temporary faculty find it difficult to make the commitment to the university and students that 10-year track professors can make," Condravy said, "and it is perfectly understandable."
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