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Session 2793

A Model to Assess and Balance Faculty Workload

Vic Cundy, Ph.D., P.E. Head, Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering

David F. Gibson, Ph.D., P.E. Dean, College of Engineering

Don Rabern, Ph.D., P.E. Head, Department of Civil Engineering

Montana State University-Bozeman

Abstract

An assessment and planning model utilizing an Excel-based spreadsheet is presented. The model breaks individual faculty member’s activities into well-defined units. An index for the individual and the department is derived which represents productivity and workload. Costs of all faculty activities including individual classes, advising, lab development, research, and others are derived. Student credit hours produced, student faculty ratios, and other metrics are also computed. The model has been useful not only as a fiscal management tool but also to assess trade-offs in the deployment of departmental resources. The fundamentals of the model are described and examples are given.

I. Introduction

The most important resource in an academic environment is human capital; that is, faculty time. In the complex mission of an engineering department where individuals generally contribute to a wide variety of activities, it is often difficult to adequately determine faculty workloads. Faculty activities generally include teaching traditional classes, advising students, conducting sponsored and non-sponsored research, committee assignments, laboratory supervision, development, outreach, maintaining industrial partnerships, student club advising, shared responsibilities with peers, and other assignments. Also, at a time when the cost of education is rising faster than most other sectors of the economy, the cost of each of these activities is important for department heads to monitor. Increasingly, governing boards and upper administrators, as well as legislators (at public institutions) and other constituents are demanding accountability for their investment in higher education. A quantitative model to help department heads and deans deal with these issues as well as to more effectively manage budgets has been developed and implemented in the College of Engineering (COE) at Montana State University-Bozeman (MSU).

Proceedings of the 2001 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition Copyright © 2001, American Society for Engineering Education

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Cundy, V., & Rabern, D., & Gibson, D. (2001, June), A Model To Assess And Balance Faculty Workload Paper presented at 2001 Annual Conference, Albuquerque, New Mexico. 10.18260/1-2--9564