impact of faculty loss

Date: May 18, 2004

impact of faculty loss

Date: May 18, 2004

OK, I'll go first.

The Department of Anthropology and Sociology has lost one full professor, Dr. Frank Glamser who will be replaced next year with a 1-year temp with limited teaching experience.

Date: May 18, 2004

Bump

Date: May 18, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Amy Young
"OK, I'll go first. The Department of Anthropology and Sociology has lost one full professor, Dr. Frank Glamser who will be replaced next year with a 1-year temp with limited teaching experience. "

Out of how many total in the department?

Does that leave a specialty not covered? I think these aspects are as critical to include as numerical losses, because they impact the department or program's ability to deliver the requisite experiences. I am thinking here of how the loss of Susan Malone affects the teacher education component of the English Department.

Date: May 18, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Amy Young
"OK, I'll go first. The Department of Anthropology and Sociology has lost one full professor, Dr. Frank Glamser who will be replaced next year with a 1-year temp with limited teaching experience. "

Since Dr. Glamser only taught two classes a semester, it doesn't seem like it will be too big of a loss from a teaching standpoint.

Date: May 18, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Question
"Since Dr. Glamser only taught two classes a semester, it doesn't seem like it will be too big of a loss from a teaching standpoint."

My understanding was that he left at least 135 students. Did that also include his seminar, which I understand he alone had the background to offer.

This is one aspect of Dr. Glamser's removal which did not get enough attention -- these students were stranded for two weeks, and neither the chair nor the dean was given any advance warning. If I had been a parent of one of those students, I think I would have raised some dust. Did any parents or students get a chance to protest or complain directly to anyone?

Date: May 18, 2004

I'm sorry for helping get Dr. Young's post off-topic. FS, maybe you want to zap this whole divertissment

Date: May 18, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Question
"Since Dr. Glamser only taught two classes a semester, it doesn't seem like it will be too big of a loss from a teaching standpoint."

This is response to the above comment by "Question." I find it unbelievable that anyone could suggest that Dr. Glamser's absence from the classroom will not be a loss for USM. I can tell you for certain, "Question," Dr. Glamser's absence from the classroom is a big time loss for USM. Real teaching effectivness is not judged in the same manner as one might judge a "widget maker" in a widget factory, i.e., not on the basis of how many meaningless widgets are made per hour. Rather, real teaching effectiveness is based on how many lives are changed. I can tell you. for certain, Dr. Glamser touched the lives of scores and scores of undergraduate students. Dr. Glamser's classes were packed. Students sought him out as an instructor. Moreover, as I believe the grade distribution on his class rosters would confirm, he did not contribute to rampant "grade inflation." How could you afford to let this man go? (And, by the way, I suspect that Dr. Glamser's teaching load was greater than two classes per semester. I can't imagine where you got that figure). I would be remiss if I failed to point out that two classes per semester would, indeed, be considered a normal teaching load at most major universities. Just as a good lawyer does not spend every hour in the courtroom, and just as a good surgeon does not every hour in the operating room, a good university teacher does not spend every hour in the classroom. After all, teaching is only one, albeit very important, role of a professor at a major university such as USM. Please don't turn USM into a widget factory.

Date: May 19, 2004

Glamser was scheduled for three classes this summer and three in the fall. He had a reduced load this spring because of an auditorium section of 135 students. The average faculty member at USM teaches three courses and about 80 students a term. The teaching load at major research universities is usually two courses a term while at teachers' colleges it's usually four. USM falls between these categories, for now.

Date: May 19, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Question
"Since Dr. Glamser only taught two classes a semester, it doesn't seem like it will be too big of a loss from a teaching standpoint."

And since SFT taught ZERO classes when he was last a "faculty member" (all taught by his grad assistants), then I suppose his returning to faculty status when this is all over won't be that much of an impact on PSC, from a teaching standpoint. Jeez.

Date: May 19, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Question
"Since Dr. Glamser only taught two classes a semester, it doesn't seem like it will be too big of a loss from a teaching standpoint."

TROLL ALERT

Date: May 19, 2004

History has lost Jeoff Jensen to VMI. The history department has a well-regarded military history emphasis; Dr. Jensen's leaving is a significant loss.

Date: May 19, 2004

Update:

USM used to be the largest nursing school in the state (most graduates). I doubt that will continue until significant resources are replaced in the School of Nursing (lost in reorganization- and from 3 years of budget cuts before that). Potential donors do not want to contribute money when the University is not also trying to do its part!

Nursing has about 8 full time positions that need to be filled now. There are 39 full time faculty at present in Hattiesburg, Meridian, GulfPark.

For clinical courses, law limits the number of students to professors to 10:1. Movement is underway to change that to 8:1 due to the increased level of illness of patients since the 1970's.

There is a huge Nursing Shortage right now. Nursing desperately needs more resources and support from USM and the community so the economic loss in the long run (ie hospital floors shut down, sending patients to other hospitals, bringing in temporary travel nurses, etc) can be contained.

Actions:

Professors are teaching 12-14 hours. However, teaching clinicals requires a different ratio of contact time for each contact hour. For example, if one teaches a 2 hour clinical, that represents 5 hours in the hospital/clinic, etc. per week. This means research and service to the community and University are diminished. This does not count the fact that overworked professors do not have the time to spend on individuals needing more help... there will be more nursing students (future nurses) who are lost to attrition.

USM Nursing is not admitting any PhD students this year, are limiting MSN admissions, and are admitting only 40 BSN students in Hattiesburg in the Fall, and 40 at Gulf Coast, despite a very large number of qualified students who could have been admitted (at least 100 more), if there was sufficient, stable staff support, more professors, and more/larger classroom space (ie NEW BUILDINGS).

Nursing is not sure who will be there to teach in the Fall, but it is committed to a system of triage that involves teaching those in the program NOW, then looking at what may be done with those who have been admitted for Fall. (Upper administration told Nursing to admit 40, despite concerns. That could be interesting.)

Further personnel losses in this School this year (which will also require replacement) are:

Dr. Sharyn Janes, Director-- going to another University, due to lack of administrative support for Nursing. This is a loss of an internationally known Full Professor (who still teaches), and an excellent administrator.

Wanda Dubuisson, Asst Director- Retiring, then working at William Carey for the same reason as above. Loss of a 30 year veteran Nursing Instructor and a wonderful administrator. She is a legacy lost to us. (She still taught)

Dr. Betty Sylvest, Instructor- going to Mountain State in West Va for better opportunities and time to do research. A new PhD we have lost.

Vicky Walley, Instructor- going to William Carey due to problems in administrative support and lack of faculty. Another 25 year veteran instructor with phenomenal teaching, high standards for students, and was a technological resource for faculty.

Raylawni Branch, Instructor- retiring. Another faculty, with varied experience and many important community and political ties.

Sarah Powell, Instructor- activated to Military Duty, an excellent nurse and instructor in Psych mental health nursing on the Coast.

This leaves Nursing with 14 openings. There are rumors of 3 more resignations, but not confirmed yet.

Nursing hopes there will be interest in these new positions. There has been 2 candidates interview for the Director position, no takers on the Asst. Director position, and 1 interview for one of the Asst. Professor positions.

Nursing needs more senior faculty, or the graduate programs (MSN and PhD) cannot be continued at their present levels.

Dr. Thames, are you out there? Your Provost (Hudson) has been asleep at the wheel.

Date: May 19, 2004

Thanks, Nurse Alum! I just sent this off to the IHL. They are going to have plenty to read before tomorrow's meeting!

Date: May 19, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Concerned Nurse Alum
"(snipped for brevity) Dr. Thames, are you out there? Your Provost (Hudson) has been asleep at the wheel. "

Will Nursing professors be willing to write a guest column for the HA about this crisis? Or at least contact the HA to talk about this critical shortage? Please get this message out to the media....PLEASE!

Date: May 19, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Bay Rat
"History has lost Jeoff Jensen to VMI. The history department has a well-regarded military history emphasis; Dr. Jensen's leaving is a significant loss."

Don't forget about Professor (he'll always be Dean to me) Harper who is retiring from his. dept. He will be a great loss as well. I remember reading a previous thread about Dr. Bolton looking at a position in Montana; if that goes through that will be another loss especially since he heads the Oral History dept.--but Dr. Austin can head it and it will still run smoothly.

Date: May 19, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: truth4usm/AH
"Will Nursing professors be willing to write a guest column for the HA about this crisis? Or at least contact the HA to talk about this critical shortage? Please get this message out to the media....PLEASE!"

If someone will post the email addresses of the appropriate HA reporters, I will be glad to send this to them. I looked on the HA site but didn't see the addreses listed.

Date: May 19, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: truth4usm/AH
"Will Nursing professors be willing to write a guest column for the HA about this crisis? Or at least contact the HA to talk about this critical shortage? Please get this message out to the media....PLEASE!"

From what I hear, when Nursing professors have written to the IHL, or spoke to the press (without handlers) they have been admonished by administration, and are told not to air their dirty laundry, and are accused of giving "Southern Miss" a bad reputation. In other words, threatened and punished. The HA needs to contact the Director for verification, more information. Maybe she will speak, since she is leaving.

Date: May 19, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: USM Sympathizer
"If someone will post the email addresses of the appropriate HA reporters, I will be glad to send this to them. I looked on the HA site but didn't see the addreses listed."

They are all here:

http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/customerservice/directory.html

Kevin Walters: kwalters@hattiesb.gannett.com

Janet Braswell: jbraswell@hattiesb.gannett.com

Toni Kontz: akonz@hattiesb.gannett.com

Nikki Maute: nmaute@hattiesb.gannett.com

Date: May 19, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Concerned Nurse Alum
"From what I hear, when Nursing professors have written to the IHL, or spoke to the press (without handlers) they have been admonished by administration, and are told not to air their dirty laundry, and are accused of giving "Southern Miss" a bad reputation. In other words, threatened and punished. The HA needs to contact the Director for verification, more information. Maybe she will speak, since she is leaving. "

Admonished by whom?

Date: May 19, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Mediahound
"Admonished by whom?"

The Dean

Date: May 19, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Concerned Nurse Alum
"The Dean"

The Interim Dean

Date: May 19, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: truth4usm/AH
" They are all here: http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/customerservice/directory.html Kevin Walters: kwalters@hattiesb.gannett.com Janet Braswell: jbraswell@hattiesb.gannett.com Toni Kontz: akonz@hattiesb.gannett.com Nikki Maute: nmaute@hattiesb.gannett.com "

Thanks! I apologize for overlooking this info. I've sent the message by the Nursing Alum off to Kevin Walters and Janner Braswell.

Date: May 19, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Anonymous
" The Interim Dean"

Thanks for the correction.

Date: May 19, 2004

Colleagues,

I have been receiving via email lots of very good departmental analyses concerning the losses of faculty.

In total numbers, ANT/SOC has not dropped in the number of faculty in the last two years. We have very heavy teaching demands in this department, with possibly some of the highest FTE ratios in the university. Frank Glamser taught two classes Spring 2004, including a large SOC 101 auditorium class which "counts" for two classes. He was on the books to teach 3 classes this summer. I believe he was scheduled for 3 classes in the fall as well.

We have his classes covered by a 1-year temp. with a PhD with limited teaching experience. She, of course, will not be expected to contribute in terms of service, nor in research. What students lose is the years of teaching and researching experience in a full professor like Frank Glamser, AND in the energy and commitment from a new tenure-track hire.

Our department does an incredible amount of university service. A loss of even one more means the rest of us here do more. More with less!

I hope to use these data to help show that what is going on here is eroding the quality of the education that south Mississippians have access to. There are many other programs (see nursing above) and departments that have been hit harder than we have in ANT/SOC.

Date: May 19, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: USM Sympathizer
"Thanks! I apologize for overlooking this info. I've sent the message by the Nursing Alum off to Kevin Walters and Janner Braswell."

Would you also forward it to Mr. Chain, who has inspired me and given an old Nurse hope in so many ways. (I am not sure how to do that) I am sure he knows people in the Medical Community who may also have concerns. Thanks.

Date: May 19, 2004

I am not in this department but it appears that Criminal Justice is losing three senior faculty (two fulls, one associate) from the legal and social science side of the discipline. This is out of seven Hattiesburg faculty. What remains are one associate professor, and three assistant professors, two of whom may be promoted soon. The department, which has a doctoral program, is recruiting for an entry level person in forensic science. All of this needs to be confirmed with the department.

Date: May 19, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Concerend Nurse Alum
"Would you also forward it to Mr. Chain, who has inspired me and given an old Nurse hope in so many ways. (I am not sure how to do that) I am sure he knows people in the Medical Community who may also have concerns. Thanks. "

I just sent it to him. I think Mr. Chain has given us ALL some hope today!

Date: May 19, 2004

The nursing situation is apparently much worse than I realized, and I've been on this board a while now. This is a good issue, as someone else has suggested, to bring to the attention of the physicians (Dr. Guice, et.al.) as surely something they can relate to.

What's a crying shame is that nursing had just secured a wonderful dean, Dr. Farrell, after a national search, and she was axed along with the others. Where did she go, by the way? Would she be a voice in any of this?

Date: May 19, 2004

Dr. Farrell is in Bakersfield California. HUGE loss to nursing.

Date: May 19, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: flyingundertheradar
"Dr. Farrell is in Bakersfield California. HUGE loss to nursing. "

when did she leave USM?

Date: May 19, 2004

July 1, 2003

Date: May 20, 2004

This is likely to be an incomplete response--we've lost SO MANY in the last several years, and I'm likely to leave some folks out as I'm not working from paper; I am also only going to highlight briefly some of what these losses mean to us. If you don't have more information already about this, Amy, we'll make sure we get it to you.

Tenured/tenure-track faculty departures in the last, oh, three or four years (this year's departures included):

Evelyn Ashton Jones (Associate), Rhetoric and Composition

Julie Lindquist (on the verge of Associate), Rhetoric and Composition, Director of Writing Center

Lisa Langstraat (on the verge of Associate), Rhetoric and Composition, Director of Composition Program

--NB: with the departure of these three, we have lost (in addition to our Directors of Comp and Writing Center) ALL of the faculty members involved in our Ph.D. specialization in Rhetoric and Composition; this is a hot field and students in this program were landing good, tenure-track jobs. Those students who remain trying to finish out the degrees they started have to cobble together committees from people who are not trained in the discipline. Lisa and Julie (perhaps Evelyn too, I'm not sure) are still serving on committees despite being in new, highly demanding jobs. Unproductive all around.

Susan Malone (Associate), Director of English Education (also highly involved in NCATE and SACS committees; brought in lots of grant money through the federally funded PT3 grants; instrumental in a variety of university committees). Her loss is devastating not only to our department, but to the university.

Kevin Dupree (Assistant), English Education

(with these losses, on top of the losses above them, we've lost all tenure-track faculty on this campus who teach our English education classes; Jeanne Ezell was a full-time instructor who was also instrumental in making sure these classes happened; she is gone too. Bettee Boyd, a long time full time instructor who supervised student teachers, is also gone (retired). We have a full-time instructor in place supervising student teachers now. We're trying to hire another to teach English ed classes.)

Genevieve West (Assistant), African American Literature (we have no one trained specifically in Af Am lit to teach undergrads or grad students, to direct dissertations, comp committees, etc., in this absolutely critical field

Mary Robison (Associate), Center for Writers

David Berry (Professor), Center for Writers

(well-known--internationally--writers, prize-winning; in the case of DB, former Moorman prof, winner of three excellence in teaching awards, and part of the department's/university's institutional memory)

Don't know how to put Gary Stringer here; clearly he's "lost" to us, too. With him will surely go the Donne Variorium. With him will go part of what gave our department an _international_ reputation. His loss is incalculable.

I think we've lost others--can't remember who right now. Any help here?

In addition to taking note of the program losses--losses that affect not just our department but also our university AND our national reputation--I want to highlight the fact that UNTIL THIS YEAR, NO HIRES/REPLACEMENTS ON THE HATTIESBURG FACULTY HAVE BEEN AUTHORIZED. We've hired two tenure-track people for the coast campus in the last couple of years (right, folks?); none in H'burg. William Kuskin is the ONLY junior faculty member on the H'burg campus. Up here, we have lost an entire generation of assistant professors. This is TERRIBLE for the life of any department. It's been devastating to us.

This year, we've been authorized to hire three tenure-track people on the coast (two of the searches were successful; the other was filled with a one-year replacement and will be "rerun" as a full search in the fall; two tenure-track people in H'burg (one search was successful; the other was authorized very late; after getting a very small pool of applicants, we opted to convert the job into a one-year and run a tenure-track search in the fall; we think our candidate is accepting the one-year job). We're also trying to hire in english education (see above). We're thrilled to have new people coming in and that, at last, our urgent needs have been recognized. But once again I reiterate: we're missing a whole generation of people--in H'burg at least, we'll have brand new folks, and then mid-rank folks. No folks in their 2-6 years . . . )

We're a decimated department. We hope to rebuild. But in the next couple of years we'll many of those whose international reputations have kept our department and university on the map--Frederick Barthelme, Noel Polk, and, of course, Gary Stringer. Others are likely to go sooner than they expected. We're close to rubble.

Sorry for the grim picture. It's even grimmer, I think, than I can say.

EW

Date: May 20, 2004

I'd like to echo Ellen's sentiments above and explain to Shelboo, if he is reading, how these tremendous losses in the English Department affects STUDENTS (his prized possessions).

Students are taught by faculty, period. Can't get around that one. Of course, some argue that adjunct instructors "teach" just as well as full, tenured professors. Possibly true, in some cases. But the problem is that being a faculty member is about MORE THAN JUST TEACHING! (for the umpteenth time). In losing David Berry, I have lost my dissertation director. There's no way that his "service" to me as a graduate student can be replaced with an adjunct or one-year appointment. Faculty members are not interchangeable widgets in a large machine. Each faculty member's loss is a blow not only to the "present" university, but to the university's "potential," as well. These losses are incalculable.

As Ellen stated, USM's English Department has lost whole fields of concentration that were once thriving and bringing in lots of graduate students (i.e. Rhetoric and Composition) and making a difference for undergraduate students, too (i.e. English Education teaching the next generation of elementary and secondary English teachers). This is ALL GONE, folks! Where is the cry of outrage for those who care about the state of education on all levels in MS? How do you think the next generation of K-12 English/Language Arts teachers will be taught? It is just an absolute shame, and I think that all K-12 teachers in Southern MS need to join the call for SFT's resignation.

Just my $.02 on reflecting on this sad, sad news about the English Department.

Date: May 20, 2004

ew-

add tamara harvey.

Date: May 20, 2004

Thanks, enggr--and I feel MORE THAN dopey about leaving Tamara off, as she is very dear to me. She's also an up-and-coming early Americanist who's taken an excellent job at George Mason.

Tamara, if you're reading this, forgive me!

EW

Date: May 20, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Ellen Weinauer
"Thanks, enggr--and I feel MORE THAN dopey about leaving Tamara off, as she is very dear to me. She's also an up-and-coming early Americanist who's taken an excellent job at George Mason. Tamara, if you're reading this, forgive me! EW"

Forgiven, of course. There are sooo many--omissions are inevitable. That I read this thread at all shows how much those of us who have left care about USM and are concerned about what has happened to us and continues to happen to our colleagues and students there. As an untenured faculty member, I am relieved to be out of a very scary situation. However, I'll miss my students and my excellent colleagues in the English department.

Date: May 20, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Ellen Weinauer
"Thanks, enggr--and I feel MORE THAN dopey about leaving Tamara off, as she is very dear to me. She's also an up-and-coming early Americanist who's taken an excellent job at George Mason. Tamara, if you're reading this, forgive me! EW"

Forgiven, of course. There are sooo many--omissions are inevitable. That I read this thread at all shows how much those of us who have left care about USM and are concerned about what has happened to us and continues to happen to our colleagues and students there. As an untenured faculty member, I am relieved to be out of a very scary situation. However, I'll miss my students and my excellent colleagues in the English department.

Date: May 20, 2004

The School of Music has (so far) managed to hold the number of faculty steady, but has lost at least two and possibly three very important people.

Marian Wilson Kimber (associate professor) has accepted a job at the University of Iowa--one of the top music departments in the country. She is a wonderful scholar and will continue to build an international reputation. She also is a demanding teacher who insists that graduate students in music write clearly and intelligently.

Michael Kimber (professor) leaves without a job. I'vae been told that they came to USM expecting to stay till they both retired. With his departure, the School of Music loses an experienced teacher, a fine performer, and an excellent composer. Michael also brought the experience and wisdom of a senior person into the department.

I have heard there is a good chance that Mary Ann Stringer will leave, though I've also heard that she is still weighing her options. If she leaves, the department loses someone who not only teaches and performs but one who is willing to serve on committees and to work with the community.

There may be others, but these are the three I've heard about.