FA-005-910FA-005-910

Awarding of Supervisory UnitsAwarding of Supervisory Units

PurposePurpose

Investigate issues related to Investigate issues related to assignment and awarding of assignment and awarding of supervisory units and respond to supervisory units and respond to questions raised in the referralquestions raised in the referral

Background Background InformationInformation There are two categories of classes:There are two categories of classes:

– S classesS classes– C classesC classes

Supervisory classes, also referred to Supervisory classes, also referred to as S-Factor classes, are assigned as S-Factor classes, are assigned when the mode of instruction when the mode of instruction involves direct involves direct one-on-one contact one-on-one contact between faculty and studentbetween faculty and student. .

Background Background InformationInformation Assignment of release time is a Assignment of release time is a

separate issue from assignment of separate issue from assignment of faculty to S-Factor classes with low faculty to S-Factor classes with low enrollment. enrollment.

WTU releases may be given by the WTU releases may be given by the president/designee for direct or indirect president/designee for direct or indirect instructional activities such as release instructional activities such as release time for research, scholarship, new time for research, scholarship, new course preparation, course overload, course preparation, course overload, credit by examination, instructional credit by examination, instructional support for graduate students, etc.. support for graduate students, etc..

Background Background InformationInformation Faculty workload is measured in Faculty workload is measured in

Weighted Teaching Units (WTU)Weighted Teaching Units (WTU) Faculty workload is average of 12 WTU of Faculty workload is average of 12 WTU of

direct instructional and 3 WTU of indirect direct instructional and 3 WTU of indirect instructional activities. The average is instructional activities. The average is commonly over one academic year.commonly over one academic year.

There is a misconception that faculty There is a misconception that faculty workload is 3 classes per quarter. It may workload is 3 classes per quarter. It may or may not be.or may not be.

Background Background InformationInformation For supervisory (S-Factor) classes For supervisory (S-Factor) classes

the WTU is computed as:the WTU is computed as:– WTU = K- Factor * Number of StudentsWTU = K- Factor * Number of Students

K Factor varies by the classification. K Factor varies by the classification. The typical K-factor is 0.333 for The typical K-factor is 0.333 for undergraduate and .50 for graduate undergraduate and .50 for graduate classes.classes.

Note that the workload in S-Classes Note that the workload in S-Classes does not depend on number of units does not depend on number of units assigned to the class.assigned to the class.

Background Background informationinformation S-Classes are expensive. They result in S-Classes are expensive. They result in

large WTU and low FTES.large WTU and low FTES. Example: Example: 12 Students in a two unit 12 Students in a two unit

undergraduate class with S-36 undergraduate class with S-36 Classification.Classification.– WTU = .333*12 = 4WTU = .333*12 = 4– FTES = (12*2)/15 = 1.6FTES = (12*2)/15 = 1.6

This same class would require 12 hours This same class would require 12 hours per week of direct contact with students.per week of direct contact with students.

Fall Quarter 2010 DataFall Quarter 2010 Data

In Fall quarter of 2010 a total of In Fall quarter of 2010 a total of 657 active S-Factor classes were 657 active S-Factor classes were offered at Cal Poly, Pomona. offered at Cal Poly, Pomona. These classes required These classes required approximately 876 WTUs and approximately 876 WTUs and generated only 415 FTES. generated only 415 FTES.

Fall 2010 S-Factor Class Enrollment

322

216

67 438

0

100

200

300

400

1 2-5 6-10 11-20 21-70

Number of Students Enrolled

Nu

mb

er o

f C

lass

es

Off

ered

Fall 2010 S-Factor Classes Number of Units

1 12 4 1

5585

324

175

050100150200250300350

12 8 6 5 4 3 2 1

Number of Units

Nu

mb

er o

f C

lass

es

Q1: Should there be a university policy Q1: Should there be a university policy that limits the number of supervisory that limits the number of supervisory units a faculty member can be awarded units a faculty member can be awarded per quarter?per quarter?

Faculty workload issues are adequately Faculty workload issues are adequately addressed by existing university policy and addressed by existing university policy and collective bargaining agreement, there does collective bargaining agreement, there does not seem to be a need for any additional policy.not seem to be a need for any additional policy.

Two implicit concerns:Two implicit concerns:– faculty not receiving credit for the WTU of S-Classes faculty not receiving credit for the WTU of S-Classes

or resulting WTU is used for release time for other or resulting WTU is used for release time for other faculty.faculty.

– student enrollment in non-supervisory classes (C-student enrollment in non-supervisory classes (C-Classes) is raised to support the S-Factor classes with Classes) is raised to support the S-Factor classes with low enrollment.low enrollment.

Q2: Who decides how many units are Q2: Who decides how many units are given for a particular activity supervised? given for a particular activity supervised? Should it be a Departmental Committee?Should it be a Departmental Committee?

The number of units, the The number of units, the classification, and the enrollment classification, and the enrollment in S-Factor classes are curricular in S-Factor classes are curricular matters that are subject to the matters that are subject to the university curriculum process. university curriculum process. The approved university The approved university curriculum process must be curriculum process must be followed.followed.

Q3: What is the mechanism of assessment Q3: What is the mechanism of assessment to make sure that the expected outcome to make sure that the expected outcome

is met?is met?

Student learning in both Student learning in both supervisory and non-supervisory supervisory and non-supervisory classes should be addressed in classes should be addressed in each college or department’s each college or department’s assessment plan.assessment plan.

Q4: For faculty who receive reassigned time Q4: For faculty who receive reassigned time bought out by an external grant, it is generally bought out by an external grant, it is generally implicit in the grant that the faculty member will implicit in the grant that the faculty member will be doing this work with students. Should faculty be doing this work with students. Should faculty be awarded be awarded additionaladditional assigned time units for assigned time units for supervising students working on those projects for supervising students working on those projects for which they already receive reassigned time?which they already receive reassigned time?

Release time is assigned by the Release time is assigned by the President/designee to support faculty President/designee to support faculty activities as deemed appropriate. activities as deemed appropriate.

Assignment of faculty to S-Factor Assignment of faculty to S-Factor classes as well as non-supervisory classes as well as non-supervisory classes shall be determined by the classes shall be determined by the appropriate administrator (Dean of the appropriate administrator (Dean of the college) after consultation with the college) after consultation with the department chair or designee and/or department chair or designee and/or the individual faculty member. the individual faculty member.

Q5: Should there be a difference in units Q5: Should there be a difference in units awarded for undergraduate vs. graduate awarded for undergraduate vs. graduate students supervision?students supervision?

There is a difference in S-factor There is a difference in S-factor between graduate and between graduate and undergraduate classes.undergraduate classes.

The number of units is a The number of units is a curricular matter curricular matter

RecommendationsRecommendations1.1. S-Classes have significant budgetary impact. Each S-Classes have significant budgetary impact. Each

department should review its current offering of the department should review its current offering of the S-factor classes to ensure that the classification and S-factor classes to ensure that the classification and number of units assigned are appropriate to the number of units assigned are appropriate to the department, college, and university educational department, college, and university educational mission while available resources are efficiently mission while available resources are efficiently utilized.utilized.

2.2. Academic Affairs and the appropriate senate Academic Affairs and the appropriate senate subcommittee review and refine the current S-Factor subcommittee review and refine the current S-Factor classifications to ensure adequacy for Cal Poly, classifications to ensure adequacy for Cal Poly, Pomona. Pomona.

3.3. Many large enrollment S-Factor classes seem to be Many large enrollment S-Factor classes seem to be used for internship, direct studies, lab supervision used for internship, direct studies, lab supervision that would not require one-on-one interaction with that would not require one-on-one interaction with the students enrolled in the class. Academic Affair the students enrolled in the class. Academic Affair and the appropriate senate subcommittee should and the appropriate senate subcommittee should modify the C78 classification for use in supervisory modify the C78 classification for use in supervisory classes that do not require one-on-one interaction classes that do not require one-on-one interaction with the student.with the student.