2008 Woodie Awards
Rosenberg addresses faculty issues in letter
By: Anna Waugh, Associate News Editor
Issue date: 4/11/08 Section: News
As the college continues its search for a new provost, it is also considering a review of the college's faculty governing structure. In a seven-page letter to the faculty, issued last month, President Brian Rosenberg expressed his concerns and opinions about the effectiveness of the existing faculty government and suggested an evaluation of the relationship between faculty scholarship and teaching. The letter also guided the faculty toward dialogues that would strengthen the community by increasing trust among faculty departments and with the administration.
"I think the current [government system] is working well in some respects," Rosenberg said. "It was overhauled just before I got here. However EPAG, [the governing body in charge of all curriculum changes], has so much to do that it is very hard for it to get through everything. It is an overwhelming job to be on that committee," he said.
There are four faculty governing committees at Macalester. The Educational Policy and Governance Committee has seven faculty members on its board. The Faculty Personnel Committee advises the provost on tenure and pre-tenure decisions. The Resource and Planning Committee advises the president on long term financial planning and broader institutional changes. The Academic Liaison Committee coordinates the efforts of the other three committees.
"Faculty have a lot of responsibility. When they reconstituted the governance system a few years ago, they misjudged the amount of work that EPAG would have, and they took on a lot of work that administrative chairs and the provost would do at other schools," Geography Professor David Lanegran said. "It's one thing to have input, it's another to have administrative responsibilities."
He said that today's faculty do not have the time to attend important faculty meetings because of teaching and family responsibilities, and that he felt some of the time spent administrating might be better spent in other areas.
"I think the current [government system] is working well in some respects," Rosenberg said. "It was overhauled just before I got here. However EPAG, [the governing body in charge of all curriculum changes], has so much to do that it is very hard for it to get through everything. It is an overwhelming job to be on that committee," he said.
There are four faculty governing committees at Macalester. The Educational Policy and Governance Committee has seven faculty members on its board. The Faculty Personnel Committee advises the provost on tenure and pre-tenure decisions. The Resource and Planning Committee advises the president on long term financial planning and broader institutional changes. The Academic Liaison Committee coordinates the efforts of the other three committees.
"Faculty have a lot of responsibility. When they reconstituted the governance system a few years ago, they misjudged the amount of work that EPAG would have, and they took on a lot of work that administrative chairs and the provost would do at other schools," Geography Professor David Lanegran said. "It's one thing to have input, it's another to have administrative responsibilities."
He said that today's faculty do not have the time to attend important faculty meetings because of teaching and family responsibilities, and that he felt some of the time spent administrating might be better spent in other areas.
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