Presentation to the Educational Policy Committee for Enhanced Faculty Positions

December 5, 2011

School of Art and Design

Background:The School Art and Design is the largest major count program at NMU and is the second largest state supported art and design program in Michigan.

Background:The School of Art and Design has experienced a one hundred and seventy (170%) percent growth in major count enrollments during the past thirteen years.

A+D Majors

Art +Design Majors Fall Headcount 1998-2011

285

770+485 majors -170% increase

Majors and first and second minors

Total Contribution Report by Academic Major Within Department

842

507

677

520549604625

67117*

16* 15* 20* 19*5* 11* 35*

Background:However, the 11 full-time faculty in 1998 to the17 full-time faculty in 2011 represents only a 55% increase. If we had kept pace with the increased majors we would today have 30 full-time faculty!

A+D Full-time Faculty

Art +Design Full-time Faculty 1998-2011

11

1755% increase

Current Status:Forty-Five majors per faculty inA+D is considerably over the university average of 31*advisees per faculty member and continues to place a serious strain on faculty from those studio areas that are in the greatest demand. If we were to average 31 student majors per faculty member we would require an additional 7 faculty members.

*student/faculty advisor ratio from Jim Gadzinski

Faculty

NMU Majors/Advisor Ratio 31:1

MajorsFaculty

Majors

A+D Majors/Advisor Ratio 45:1

Majors

Faculty

Major counts (45 to1) and prospective majors are a true indication of the faculty load stressors because:

-Faculty Mentoring for AD 303 IAR and AD 403.

-Faculty Advising for courses and general support.(all studio instruction uses individual critiques)

-Faculty participation in Campus Visits.

Why Full-time Faculty and Major Counts are Important:

Art and Design faculty begin their working relationship with prospective students even before they are NMU students. Faculty provided160 campus visits last year. (campus visits in October 2011)AD 303 Individual Art Review, required of all A+D majors, is a portfolio review by full time faculty each semester. Faculty meet with advisees many times to prepare for their presentation that includes statement and current work. Students must pass the course to enter upper level classes. Student mentoring is similar to the individual instruction of a music lesson.AD 403 Senior Exhibition requires the faculty advisor to critique portfolios and statements that will be presented in the exhibition. Once again, student mentoring is similar to the individual instruction of a music lesson.

Why Full-time Faculty and Major Counts are Important:

Daniel Freeborn

Art and Design faculty begin their working relationship with prospective students even before they are NMU students. Faculty provided160 campus visits last year.AD 303 Individual Art Review, required of all A+D majors, is a portfolio review by full time faculty each semester. Faculty meet with advisees many times to prepare for their presentation that includes statement and current work. Students must pass the course to enter upper level classes. Student mentoring is similar to the individual instruction of a music lesson.AD 403 Senior Exhibition requires the faculty advisor to critique portfolios and statements that will be presented in the exhibition. Once again, student mentoring is similar to the individual instruction of a music lesson.

Why Full-time Faculty and Major Counts are Important:

Art and Design faculty begin their working relationship with prospective students even before they are NMU students. Faculty provided160 campus visits last year. (campus visits in October 2011)AD 303 Individual Art Review, required of all A+D majors, is a portfolio review by full time faculty each semester. Faculty meet with advisees many times to prepare for their presentation that includes statement and current work. Students must pass the course to enter upper level classes. Student mentoring is similar to the individual instruction of a music lesson.AD 403 Senior Exhibition requires the faculty advisor to critique portfolios and statements that will be presented in the exhibition. Once again, student mentoring is similar to the individual instruction of a music lesson.

Why Full-time Faculty and Major Counts are Important:

Note of Comparison:It is interesting to note that in comparing our load to Eastern Michigan University (bylaws circle of comparison) we found that they have 450 Art and Design majors majors with 25 full-time faculty (18 students per faculty member). This past fall we had approximately 71% more majors with 7 fewer full-time faculty. (unrestricted enrollment)

Note of Comparison:It is interesting to note that in comparing our load to Texas Tech University we found that they have 460 Art and Design majors with 30 full-time faculty (15 students per faculty member). This past fall we had approximately 67% more majors with 13 fewer full-time faculty. (unrestricted enrollment)(17 studio support staff)

Note of Comparison:It is interesting to note that the College of Business at NMU has 770 undergraduate majors and 35 graduate students with 35 full-time faculty. The School of Art and Design has 770 undergraduate majors with 17 full-time faculty. There appears to be a discrepancy in the staffing of these two units?

Assumptions:If we assume that major counts are a true indication of a faculty load stressor, then we are seriously understaffed in the studio areas for which we seek additional full-time faculty.Digital CinemaGraphic Communications/Electronic Imaging-

Painting/Drawing/Illustration

Assumptions:Digital Cinema- one faculty member- 80 advisees. If we add one additional faculty member, the per faculty advisees becomes 40.Graphic Communications/Electronic Imaging-four faculty members-200 advisees. If we add one additional faculty member, the per faculty advisees becomes 40.Painting/Drawing/Illustration-two faculty-100 advisees. If we add one additional faculty member, the per faculty advisees becomes 33.

Possible Solutions:Why not add more contingent faculty?

Highly specialized studio areas require experience with state of the art technology and working knowledge of current software. Local expertise is not available! Even Paint/Draw/Illustration requires computer knowledge and drawing from observation skills. Contingent faculty do not advise majors (3 of 6 are at 10 credit hours-other 3 have 8 credit hours).

Possible Solutions:

Why not use more overloads?Full-Time faculty do not want overloads as many have taught them for years and now simply say no! Digital Cinema program does not exist without overloads. Keith Ellis in Graphic Communication taught an overload every semester for 6 years. Only one faculty has requested Reassigned Time Credit and that has produced one fewer Graphic Communication course for next semester. More overloads do not alleviate the faculty/student major problem.

Possible Solutions:Why not implement restricted enrollment?Freshman and Transfer student applicants would be reviewed through combination of portfolio and HS GPA or ACT scores.

Possible Solutions:Why not implement restricted enrollment?-Freshman and Transfer student applicants would be reviewed through combination of portfolio and HS GPA or ACT scores.

Possible Solutions:Why not implement restricted enrollment?If our goal was to reach a ratio of 31 majors to each faculty member, with current full-time faculty:

1% reduction in undergraduate majors =$500,000 loss in undergraduate tuition revenue = $1.25 million loss to NMU!

18 faculty x 31 majors per faculty=558 770 current majors-558=212 major reduction (8,615-212=8,403) these students represent approximately 2.5% loss.

However-(3 enhancements cost $210,000)=21 full-time faculty

Negative Repercussions of Understaffing:

-Reduced course offerings in high demand studio areas such as digital cinema, graphic communication electronic imaging and drawing.-Elimination of courses such as AD 203 Individual Art Review and two upper level cognates. Reduces student portfolio review to one and limits upper level art theory and practices to one course, all of which diminishes and weakens the student experience.

Negative Repercussions of Understaffing:

-High advisee loads reduce the amount of time faculty can allot to individual instruction and weakens overall student support. -Faculty are reluctant to apply for sabbaticals and Reassigned Time Credit as courses will be unstaffed and eliminated.-Faculty continue to feel overwhelmed by the number of students they mentor and overall morale is depressed and at times angry and cynical.

Recruitment:The School of Art and Design has actively recruited students nationally and we were encouraged by the administration to increase major counts. We have been very successful at recruitment.

10,000 individual visits to studios

2 million impressions1,200 individual visits

visibility of faculty and students

Conclusion:The School of Art and Design continues to receive national and international recognition for our students, faculty and programs and believe we have earned the right to have additional faculty based upon the these accomplishments and our current enrollment status.

Conclusion:The School of Art and Design could add an MFA and additional majors in new studio areas such as clothing/textile design and interior design but can not consider more majors without meeting our current staffing needs.