CLAS offers flexibility in teaching
This semester, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is implementing new policies that will allow faculty more flexibility in their teaching loads, offering new course lengths and encouraging collaboration across disciplines.
Faculty can now change their teaching loads from the traditional balance. The majority of faculty members teach four courses per academic year, most often two courses per semester. In the past, they could not alter that. As departments within the College make plans for future offerings, they will have the ability to do so. Paul D'Anieri, associate dean of the College, said faculty and students will benefit from the change.
"I think this gives faculty more flexibility to meet student needs, and I think students will find there will be fewer times when the class they need is not out there. Departments will have more flexibility to replace courses lost when faculty are on leave," D'Anieri said. "By freeing up time, this can also be a significant benefit to research productivity."
The policy extends across two years. Faculty can bank their course loads in consecutive years to meet the usual eight-course load required every two academic years. For example, a faculty member could conceivably teach three courses two consecutive semesters and one in the following two semesters.
Departments will be required to submit such plans to the CLAS dean's office to ensure all necessary courses are offered and teaching loads remain reasonable. D'Anieri said the oversight will make sure the quality of teaching remains high, and the change will likely be subtle at first.
CLAS is also introducing eight-week courses on a limited basis this semester. The goal is to meet needs the standard 16-week, three credit-hour course does not. The courses would be similar to those offered during summer terms on an eight-week basis. Students will be the beneficiaries of the shorter courses, D'Anieri said. Such courses offered in the second half of the semester would help students who have dropped a class, could give them more time to complete internships, study abroad programs or research projects. Shorter courses for fewer credit hours, such as a lab or less in-depth program, often fit students' needs better.
Collaboration across disciplines is also being encouraged through team teaching. Faculty from various departments within CLAS now have more leeway to work together to offer classes.
"Fascinating things are going on at the intersections of disciplines, and we want to bring that to our teaching," D'Anieri said.
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