The College of Public Affairs and Community Service at the University of North Texas has implemented a new policy this fall requiring professors spend four hours per day, four days a week on campus, in addition to the hours they spend teaching in the classroom.
There are two major goals of the new policy, said Thomas Evenson, dean of the college.
"We are using this policy to promote more collaborative research between both students and faculty as well as across disciplines," he said. "The second aim is to increase overall student-professor interaction."
The policy arose after complaints by some faculty members who spent most of their time on campus and therefore handled a majority of student needs, Evenson said. A major impetus for the policy began with one department chair who believed there needed to be an increased faculty presence on the UNT campus.
The policy, discussed during the summer and implemented at the start of this academic year, has received a "mixed reaction," Evenson said.
Shahla Ala'i-Rosales, an associate professor of behavior analysis, worries about the effects of this policy.
"Any specific mandates about how we allocate activities in locations might restrict our flexibility to respond to changing disciplinary, students and community needs," she said. "I think a series of discussions and experimentation would be more beneficial than a one-size-fits-all policy."
Evenson, however, said the policy is only a guideline. Professors will not be expected to fill out time sheets, but rather, "if a professor is not meeting course goals or publication goals among other expectations, the amount of time he or she spent on campus will be a basis for discussion."
Furthermore, Evenson clarified that the purpose is not for professors just to be in their offices for 16 hours a week.
"These 16 hours may include being off-campus but conducting research at a clinical site or spending time on involvement with a committee like the faculty senate," he said.
The University does not have a policy like that of UNT, nor does it plan on implementing one in the near future. "Given that faculty members have important reasons for serving the students and University off-Grounds in so many ways, we do not have that policy," Unviversity Provost Arthur Garson said.
Evenson said the policy at UNT will be reviewed and evaluated "at some point" and changes will be made depending on its success.
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