Faculty Workload: Implementing a Strategy for Assessing Faculty Utilization. AIR 1992 Annual Forum Paper

This conference paper presents a description of how faculty workloads are assessed for fiscal and other purposes at Northern Arizona University (NAU). Following a discussion of workload issues, the paper examines: (1) definition of workload; (2) methodology for data collection; (3) development of a faculty full-time equivalency database and two linking databases on faculty demographics and course offerings; (4) usefulness of the workload data for assessing instructional productivity, instructional activity, noninstructional activity, and other areas in which the data can be used; (5) challenges and pitfalls; and (6) alternative methods such as self-reported surveys, time-based analysis and expectation/accomplishment documents. A conclusion lists elements that are important to consider in developing a system similar to the NAU system. (JB)