What time frame should I consider when answering questions?
Many survey questions aim to quantify your level of satisfaction or dissatisfaction, which invites comparisons across time and perhaps to prior faculty positions. Each of us brings a valuable experience that informs our view of the present. These perspectives are worthy of capture and reflection.
Regarding the effectiveness of specific programs, offices, or those who’ve served in specific offices or roles, Allegheny’s COACHE team believes it best serves our purposes if primary consideration is given to roughly the last five years in which pandemic and post-pandemic circumstances and a significant reduction in staffing have delineated new possibilities and necessities at Allegheny.
Defining offices, divisions, & titles:
Department
Any recognized department or program with which you are aligned as a contributor with responsibilities or input. We realize many of our faculty contribute to multiple programs, so please use your best judgment in responding in a way that reflects those multiple and sometimes uneven commitments. If you have an interdisciplinary tenure committee, please treat that committee as your “department” for questions relevant to the tenure and promotion process
Department Chair
Refers to titular Department Chairs and Program Coordinators, as well as others providing oversight and guidance to faculty participating in an academic program. If you have an interdisciplinary tenure committee and the question relates to tenure and promotion, then this may refer to your tenure committee chair.
Provost
Both Provost and Chief Academic Officer refer to the same office at Allegheny College, and to all of its recent office-holders.
Dean or Division Head
We do not have multiple Deans or Division Heads at Allegheny, so an answer of “Not Applicable” is most appropriate.
Committee Chairs
Faculty elected and appointed to lead standing and ad hoc committees, task forces, etc., but not administrators who chair or co-chair those entities.
Faculty Leaders
Appointed and elected faculty in specific leadership roles (i.e.members of Faculty Council, Director of Faculty Development, Director of URSCA, chairs of standing and ad hoc committees). You may also consider faculty peers who are not currently in official leadership positions but are influential and invested in shared decision-making.
Senior Administrator
This refers to positions such as President, Provost, Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, members of the President’s Cabinet, etc.
Terms related to tenure & promotion:
Dossier
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The materials that are turned in via Interfolio when you are evaluated for pre-tenure, tenure, or promotion to full. These typically include a self-evaluation, institutional CV, RSE summaries, sample syllabi, teaching observation letters, and copies of publications or creative works.
The materials that are turned in via Interfolio when you are evaluated for pre-tenure, tenure, or promotion to full. These typically include a self-evaluation, institutional CV, RSE summaries, sample syllabi, teaching observation letters, and copies of publications or creative works.
Terms and language related to shared governance:
Consider this definition of shared governance from SUNY:
“The structures and processes through which faculty, professional staff, administration, governing boards and, sometimes, students and staff participate in the development of policies and in decision-making that affect the institution.”
From our faculty handbook, Section 2.5 on standing committees:
“Allegheny College is distinguished by its commitment to shared governance. This commitment rests upon three principles:
- We are a community dedicated to a common project: engaging with our students in a liberal education.
- We believe that this common project is best advanced when we draw upon the broad competencies of all members of our community.
- We think that the general direction of the College should be determined by democratic practices and habits.
The commitment to shared governance endows members of the Faculty with rights but also imposes responsibilities. Among the most important are leadership and participation in shaping our common future. The committee system is the principal means through which we realize this commitment.”
Governance committees
This refers to standing committees of the faculty (e.g. Curriculum Committee; Finance and Facilities Committee) and also to ad hoc committees, task forces, and strategic planning groups. Other extraordinary contributions through service to the College may be considered as well.
The Faculty as a governing body
Because our full faculty votes on business and Faculty Council serves primarily in an advisory capacity, we have designated “the faculty” as the faculty governing body for the purposes of this survey. Please use your best judgment in answering here.
Other small points of clarification
Merit process
Allegheny does not currently have a merit process, so an answer of “Not Applicable” is most appropriate.