STATUS OF NONTENURE-TRACK INSTRUCTIONAL FACULTY STANDING COMMITTEE
Meeting
Wednesday, November 20, 2002
2:10 PM
Minutes:
The committee met with Herlinda Leon, Asst to Dept Head, Department of Romance Languages, lleon@oregon.uoregon.edu. Robert Davis (committee member) also provided input.
Committee Members Attending: Robert Davis, Romance Languages; Jim Long, Chemistry (co-chair); Margaret Hallock, Morse Center (co-chair); Jeanne Wagenknecht, Business; Greg McLaughlan, Sociology (Senate President 2002/3).
Ms. Leon described the use of NTTIF principally to teach the larger, and more numerous, language courses. She said that while NTTIF in the department feel that theyÕre on the fringe of the department, they are actually "the program." She supplied several handouts:
Ms. Leon took us through the handouts.
(1) Posting for the "Teaching Pool Positions"
The pool is renewed annually. Fall is the most difficult term because the actual appointments canÕt be made until registrations have been completedÑvirtually the first day of the term. For the winter and spring terms, the appointment letters can be sent out about a month before the start of classes. They get, through their advertisement in the MLA newsletter, more applicants from out of town than within. The pool serves three languages, with Spanish accounting for about half of the positions and Italian and French sharing the other half about equally. They get about 75 applications each year. The committee suggested that a letter be sent to any within the pool that would not be considered for the pool.
(2) A Sample Offer Letter
This offer letter is sent to those picked for the program. This year there are 19 full-time instructors, 11 of whom are senior instructors, and two part-time. The department tries to rehire instructors as much as possible if they are teaching well. Leon noted the conference travel support. She said that even though this is offered, it is not often used. Instructors are hired either as Instructors (or Senior Instructors) or Visiting Assistant Professors.
(3) Department of Romance Languages, Policy for Instructors (2/8/89)
The 2002-2003 annual starting salary is $26000. This is increased by about $500 each year. The department uses merit increases to keep the older NTTIF at about the same level as new NTTIF. Senior Instructors vote with the regular faculty on the promotion to Senior Instructor.
(4) Class Observation Letter
The committee suggested that the department look into the senate committeeÕs list of evaluation points.
(5) Promotion to Senior Instructor in Romance Languages
The NTTIF get no additional time off or reduced teaching loads to prepare their material for promotion.
(6) Recommendations for Instructor Merit-Based Salary Increases
This has been used once, last year.
(7) Draft of the Sabbatical Leave Policy for Romance Language Instructors
This is a draft from departmentÕs Instructor Advisory Committee, which includes one tenure-track faculty who serves as a liaison to the tenured faculty. It has not been tested.
The committee then asked what Leon would view as the most important policies that could be developed at the university level. She noted that the relationship of the department with their NTTIF is somewhat fragile because they receive low salaries and are subsequently not held accountable for professional development. Support for conference attendance still remains available for NTTIF within the department. Finally, Leon noted that there is no title available for NTTIF who take on supervisory roles beyond that of Instructor or Senior Instructor.
Meeting adjourned at 2:59 PM.Minutes by Jim Long