In the fall semester of 1998, the CCFA contacted approximately 900 community college faculty association presidents. The purpose of this contact was to announce the establishment of the organization and to request that each of the presidents fill out an information survey which addressed many of the issues that community colleges face today. The response to the survey was excellent. In spite of the letters being sent bulk mail and only addressed to "Faculty Association President," we received 156 responses (one as recently as November 21, 1998). And, responses came from across the country, with no majority coming from one state.
The results of the survey were interesting and occasionally predictable. The responses show that, for the most part, all of us at community colleges wrestle with the same challenges and issues. Those filling out the surveys were highly supportive of the goals of the CCFA. Such support is gratifying.
Now on to the results themselves. As you will notice when you read through the following, the questions were designed to be easy to answer, not requiring large amounts of time. However, in addition to usually requesting a "Yes or No" response, we left space for the presidents to make comments. Although not all offered comments, most did. In fact, the comments were so extensive that we cannot possibly include them all here. Instead, we add general summaries when possible. If you would like to know more about the survey or the comments, please contact the CCFA director Terry Stewart (806.371.5181).
1. Is class size at your institution appropriate for effective instruction?
Yes: 131
No: 14
Other: 11
Comments: Most respondents indicated that class size was generally appropriate in most classes. However, a significant number indicated that course numbers were too large in English classes.
2. Does your institution offer dual credit classes in conjunction with area high schools?
Yes: 132
No: 24
Other: 0
Comments: Many respondents added comments to this question. Some indicated that the dual credit courses were successful. Others indicated that the courses were too new to be adequately judged; others said the same but also that they were highly skeptical of the arrangement. Still others indicated that the courses were not college-level courses, that they were merely watered-down versions of college classes. And, occasionally a respondent indicated that the courses had posed real problems, especially when four-year institutions would not accept them for transfer.
3. If so, in your opinion as an educator, is the dual credit program successful?
Yes: 82
No: 20
Other: 54
Comments:
4. Does your institution have a workforce development program (one which creates a partnership between local businesses and your school)?
Yes: 135
No: 20
Other: 1
Comments: Most respondents indicated that this program was highly successful at their schools.
5. If so, in your opinion as an educator, is the program successful?
Yes: 94
No: 16
Other: 46
Comments:
6. Does your institution offer tenure to faculty?
Yes: 94
No: 61
Other: 1
Comments: Since community college faculty are often told that tenure for two-year faculty is rare, a thing of the past, the responses to this question were surprising.
7. Does your institution offer professorial rank to faculty?
Yes: 77
No: 78
Other: 1
Comments: The same applies to this question.
8. What percentage of instruction at your institution is taught by part-time faculty?
Comments: Suffice it to say, the percentages varied widely. Some institutions had as little as 5% of their instruction taught by part-time faculty. Other respondents indicated that as much as 85% of their instruction was taught by adjuncts. The average seemed to run somewhere between 40-50%.
9. Do part-time faculty receive benefits or participate in pension plans?
Yes: 35
No: 109
Other: 9
Comments:
10. Has your faculty received a significant raise (more than 4%) in the last three years?
Yes: 66
No: 87
Other: 3
Comments: Clearly, the majority of faculty at two year schools have not and do not regularly receive significant raises. The amount of funding and the funding formulas of states determine how large or raises are. However, enrollment is going up at most two-year schools, so the reason probably does not lie in poor enrollment figures.
11.Does your institution have a merit pay system?
Yes: 23
No: 133
Other: 0
Comments: Most respondents answered enthusiastically that their schools did not have merit pay for faculty. The general response was that faculty did not want such a system.
12. Are faculty at your institution compensated for club/organization sponsorship?
Yes: 34
No: 120
Other: 2
Comments:
13. Is serving on campus committees expected or required of faculty?
Yes: 143
No: 8
Other: 5
Comments:
14. Does your institution have a Faculty Development Program?
Yes: 130
No: 20
Other: 6
Comments: Formal Faculty Development Programs are relatively new at most two-year schools. The reaction to them seemed, generally, positive. However, even those who replied that their programs are a success hastened to add "so far."
15. If so, is it effective?
Yes: 76
No: 33
Other: 47
Comments:
16. Is a faculty union available at your institution?
Yes: 91
No: 63
Other: 2
Comments:
17. Is remedial instruction a significant part of the courses taught at your institution?
Yes: 134
No: 17
Other: 5
Comments:
18. If so, are those classes more often taught by full-time or part-time faculty?
Full-Time: 78
Part-Time: 32
Other: 46
Comments:
19. In your opinion as an educator, is the remedial program at your school effective?
Yes: 126
No: 19
Other: 11
Comments:
20. Does your state require a college placement exam?
Yes: 73
No: 20
Other: 6
Comments: The respondents who indicated that their schools required no placement exam expressed great frustration over its lack. Some even said that all a student needs is a social security number and a pulse to enroll!
21. Are the technology needs of students and personnel being met at your institution?
Yes: 102
No: 42
Other: 12
Comments: The responses to this question were a bit surprising. In fact, we expected the results to be the opposite. However, it's clear that most institutions understand the value of state-of-the-art technology; students expect it and need it for internet access, online courses, etc.
22. Does your institution have an early retirement program for faculty?
Yes: 54
No: 95
Other: 7
Comments: This question seemed confusing to many respondents, who assumed early retirement plans referred to pension plans. However, early retirement plans are being proposed at many schools nation-wide; further, many schools have them in place, with varying levels of success.
© CCFA 1999. All rights reserved.
