Tag: academic affairs

2020-2021, Answered, In Writing

OIR Faculty and Staff Data Webpage

Written Question

For Office of Institutional Research/Academic Affairs

The OIR Faculty and Staff Data (by rank, gender, ethnicity) webpage has not been updated since fall 2017 (https://www.unf.edu/ir/inst-research/Faculty_and_staff_data.aspx). Does OIR have these data for fall 2018, 2019, and 2020 to report out?

Answered by Dr. Abby Willcox, Director of Institutional Research & Data Administrator

We are in the process of developing a more comprehensive interactive faculty dashboard to replace the existing page that we plan to roll out in the coming weeks. Unfortunately, ensuring ADA compliance of our website as well as staffing issues have slowed down our efforts to update and modernize the IR page.

 

Below are our current numbers.

Fall 2018 Fall 2019 Fall 2020
Total 617 634 654
Tenured 55% 51% 50%
Tenure-Earning 17% 16% 17%
Non-Tenure-Earning 29% 32% 33%

 

Fall 2018 Fall 2019 Fall 2020
Total 617 634 654
Professor 24% 22% 22%
Associate Professor 30% 30% 28%
Assistant Professor 19% 18% 20%
Asst. Professor Equivalent 0% 0% 0%
University Librarian 1% 1% 1%
Assoc. University Librarian 1% 1% 1%
Asst. University Librarian 0% 1% 1%
Instructor 19% 21% 21%
Lecturer 4% 4% 5%
No Rank 1% 2% 1%

 

Fall 2018 Fall 2019 Fall 2020
Total 617 634 654
Female 48% 49% 50%
Male 52% 51% 50%

 

 

Fall 2018 Fall 2019 Fall 2020
Total 617 634 654
Non-Resident Alien 6% 6% 6%
Hispanic 4% 4% 4%
American Indian or Alaskan Native 0% 0% 0%
Asian 7% 7% 8%
Black or African American 5% 6% 6%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0% 0% 0%
White 75% 74% 73%
Two or More 3% 2% 2%
Unknown 0% 0% 1%

 

2020-2021, Answered, From Floor

Interim Provost

Questioner: Heather Truelove

Question from the floor, Posed to Dr. Karen Patterson, Interim Provost and VP of Academic Affairs

now that Karen is in her new role, I’m wondering about her old role—if we’re going to have someone in a temporary/interim position while she’s filling the provost role—if there’s been any discussion about that yet.

Answered from the floor by Dr. Karen Patterson, Interim Provost and VP of Academic Affairs

the question is under consideration, and she promised more to come on that topic soon and having a faculty member in that position.

2020-2021, Answered, From Floor

Remote Instruction

Question posed to Dr. Szymanski or Dr. Coleman

When will faculty be able to convert to remote instruction or distance learning for spring if they don’t feel safe?

Answered from the floor

He noted that the university is just now pivoting to spring considerations and still mapping out where it can be. He added that there’s a collective wisdom that has yet to be developed, and it’s possible that the spring is not too different from the approach to fall. He clarified, too, that the goal is to keep things open and ensure faculty and students are protected, so a timeline is not available yet as the focus is on fall 2020.

Dr. Coleman offered that a best guess for a starting point for the discussion is the fall 2020 model, but it’s early days right now.

2020-2021, Answered, From Floor

Metrics goal

Question Posed to Dr. Szymanski, UNF President

In terms of your goals, have you considered changing your metrics goal from “getting more points” to “improving UNF’s ranking” so we’re not camped out in the bottom three among state universities?

Respond from the floor by Dr. Szymanski, UNF President and Dr. Coleman

Dr. Szymanski offered that metrics are not optional, and that the BOG uses them so UNF must consider them, and while UNF does address metrics, he views them as an outcome and not a particular set of goals. In this way, in attending to improving aspects of the university that support faculty and students, the metrics are likely to improve as well.

Dr. Coleman clarified that the bottom 3 rankings no longer limit an institution’s receipt of performance funds and instead institutions are measured against themselves year over year for improvement.

2020-2021, Answered, From Floor

UNF opening committee

Question posed to Dr. Szymanski, UNF President or Dr. Rhodes, UNF Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs

I know several faculty members who were on committees regarding UNF opening during the coronavirus pandemic. They reported that their committees seemingly accomplished numerous tasks (and were even congratulated on their great work). However, the actual committees barely met and did not produce the results. Who produced the results of the committees? Were the committees formed to create the perception that the decisions were a campus-wide collaborative effort?

Answer from the floor by Dr. Simon Rhodes, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs

I counted the number of faculty that are in the COVID planning and working groups, the health teams, the behavioral team, and so on. I tried not to count them twice if they were on multiple teams. I counted 21 faculty. That does include a few faculty that are also chairs – chairs that teach, know pedagogy, know public health, etc. I have also talked to the group leaders and I know how grateful they are for the hard and creative work that these faculty have done. And the faculty members have made critical contributions to helping us evolve these plans. And evolve is the right word – we continue to have to respond to a changing situation and the planning continues to evolve – in terms of facilities and getting supplies, academic preparation, formal and informal ways to improve safety – policies, training, mask wearing, signage, behavior, apps, testing preparation, etc.,

I would also note that we have had three Town halls [with more scheduled]. Feedback from that and other processes such as the website have been very important in generating our plans and learning what faculty need and want.

Bottom line – I thank the UNF faculty who served on these committees and groups – they made substantial and pivotal contributions

Dr. Coleman added that there was a number of different groups meeting frequently, and many people in administration and finance participated particularly early on in trying to scramble to figure out how the university was going to get through the spring term, with housing and dining and everything else. There were a lot of deadlines that were placed upon the university by the powers that be above it.

2020-2021, Answered, From Floor

Tenure and Promotion

Questioner: over zoom

Question posed to FA president, Dr. John White

Has Academic Affairs provided the Faculty Association with the Tenure and Promotion decisions by the provost?

Answered from the floor by FA President, Dr. John White

That information was sent to the President of the Faculty Association immediately following the reading of this question. The delay was an oversight.

2020-2021, Answered, From Floor

returning to campus

Question asked from the floor by Dr. John White, FA President:

If the JAX region is forced to evacuate during hurricane season, what is the plan for returning to F2F courses. Will it require a 14 day quarantine period and testing for all students and faculty prior to returning to campus?

Answered from the floor by Dr. Simon Rhodes, Provost and VP of Academic Affairs:

there is an existing emergency planning structure at UNF that is robust and connected to a larger apparatus across the state’s emergency planning. He added that he couldn’t say positively that a 14-day quarantine would not be out of the question but not necessarily the response.

 

2020-2021, Answered, From Floor

Face Shields

Question asked from the floor by Dr. John White, FA President:

Just clarifying if we heard that face shield alone was ok on UNF campus without a mask? There is evidence that face shields are not meant to function as primary respiratory protection and should not be used alone.

Answered from the floor by Dr. Daniel Moon, Professor – Academic Affairs Administration:

Dr. Moon affirmed the earlier answer that face shields without masks is an acceptable health choice for faculty. He also added that wearing a cloth face mask under the shield is an individual choice and is acceptable.

Answered from the floor by Dr. Simon Rhodes, Provost and VP of Academic Affairs:

that if one is walking around campus, then a face mask/covering, not only a face shield.

Answered from the floor by Dr. Curt Lox, Dean – BCH

that a face mask is a way to cover a face and that a face shield leaves one’s face open, so that face mask is acceptable to use alone when one is not standing near others.

 

2020-2021, Answered, From Floor

New Faculty lines

Question asked from the floor by Dr. Gordon Rakita, Outgoing FA VP:

Timeline for decisions for new faculty lines. Is there a timeline for when we’ll find out if and when we can search for new lines in various departments?

Answered from the floor by Dr. Simon Rhodes, Provost and VP of Academic Affairs:

AA is working as quickly as possible, noting existing needs and the external hiring timelines, but noted that their choices right now are targeted to ensure UNF is in a good place financially in AY22.