Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-CÂŽ)
Faculty Counterpart Guide
Table of Contents A Message From the Vice President of Learning and Engagement............................................ 2 The Faculty Counterpart Chair............................................................................................... 3
The Chair Role.......................................................................................................... 3
Appointment and Term............................................................................................... 4
Faculty Counterparts............................................................................................................ 4
The Counterpart/Member Role................................................................................... 4
Functions.................................................................................................................. 4
Recommendation Process.......................................................................................... 5
Feedback Process..................................................................................................... 5
Top 10 Tips from Current and Former Counterpart Chairs........................................................ 6
A Message from the Vice President of Learning and Engagement As a faculty counterpart chair, you play an integral role in shaping and advancing the goals of your academic discipline, department and the institution. Counterpart groups are one of the cornerstones of Tri-C’s shared governance model, wherein faculty and administration agree to principles of partnership, equity, accountability and ownership that enable sustainable decisions to support student success and the goals of the College. The offices of the provost and Learning and Engagement collaborated with existing counterpart chairs and the Joint Faculty Senate Council on the development of this Faculty Counterpart Chair Guide. Designed to assist new and returning counterpart chairs, it explains roles and expectations and provides tips from experienced chairs. We continue to explore methods and tools to assist you in your role as a faculty counterpart chair. Thank you for your commitment. Sincerely, Lindsay S. English Vice President Learning and Engagement
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The Faculty Counterpart Chair The Chair Role The faculty counterpart chair serves as a crucial link between administration and faculty. Chairs recognize that communication must flow in both directions, and they must be able to create synergy among faculty members and administrators to address academic quality initiatives, effective educational practices and other interventions to enhance the student experience. Chairs have the opportunity to shape the future of their departments by guiding department dialogue in positive and fruitful directions. Chairs must interpret and present information and arguments that accurately reflect the intent of each constituency to the other for the overall purpose of advancing the institutional mission by connecting department objectives with the College’s broader mission. Chairs recognize and accept the considerable commitment of time and energy required by this role. They must often complete weekly tasks in addition to facilitating counterpart meetings on mandatory days or as needed. The expectations of a faculty counterpart chair comprise a range of activities that may include:
• Acting as the College-wide lead/advocate for their discipline, including point of contact for: • Ohio Department of Higher Education OTMs, TAGs and guaranteed pathways; • Higher Learning Commission accreditation issues; • Grant opportunities; and • Transfer and articulation agreements. •
Creating a culture of collaboration and consensus building, and working across boundaries to reach common goals.
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Shaping a collective vision for the department, including recognizing change opportunities.
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Encouraging and fostering discussions of evidence-based teaching strategies.
• Convening and presiding over counterparts meetings, including: • Planning agendas to meet both discipline and College needs; • Keeping and distributing minutes of meetings as appropriate; • Preparing and submitting recommendations on behalf of counterparts for review and consideration; • Following up on decisions to ensure action has been taken.
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Appointment and Term Currently, terms of faculty counterpart chairs are variable; some renew annually, but many range from two to several years. We recommend that the election of counterpart chairs by fellow counterparts happen in May so that they may begin their duties immediately (during the summer session). Large counterpart groups may develop an executive committee and various subcommittees, or they may identify additional roles such as secretary or note-taker. The Office of Learning and Engagement must be notified when new counterpart chairs or other officers are selected.
Faculty Counterparts The Counterpart/Member Role Full-time faculty are expected to attend meetings, actively participate in committee discussions, and contribute to the work and tasks needed. Faculty are also encouraged to engage in discussions with their peers about best practices, resources and programming, with the goal of building on these linkages for future curriculum development projects or improvements in student learning outcomes. Counterparts may invite lecturers and adjunct faculty to attend their meetings. Lecturers and adjuncts should be formally invited via email or other written communication.
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Faculty Counterparts (Cont.) Functions • • • •
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Preparing recommendations regarding standards and processes for their discipline. Conducting and completing regular curricula reviews and updates. Conducting course outline reviews and updates in a timely manner. Providing guidance for articulation agreements and pathways, and submitting OTM/TAG course updates as needed. Participating and conducting course- and degree-level assessment of student learning outcomes, including ELOs, and, when appropriate, program-level assessment. Creating and providing experiential learning opportunities such prior learning assessment and, when appropriate, internships, co-ops, etc. Textbook selection. Reviewing FT and adjunct job descriptions. Providing Advisory Committee updates. Communicating professional development needs. Discussing trends, challenges and “hot topics” in their discipline.
Recommendation Process Faculty counterpart recommendations may be submitted to the provost/EVP of Access, Learning and Success at any time during the academic year.
Feedback Process Responses to recommendations can include acceptance, request for further research or analysis, modification or denial. Every effort will be made by the provost/EVP of Access, Learning and Success to provide feedback within four weeks of receiving the written recommendation or request. The faculty counterpart chair is responsible for informing their colleagues of the outcome.
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Top Tips from Current and Former Counterpart Chairs 1)
Set year goals as a group. a. Focus on the big picture. b. Drive important issues, including creative goals. What does the department want to do? c. Relate to College goals. d. Establish/reiterate department processes for chair selection, time of service, etc.
2)
Create agendas with input from colleagues. a. Avoid topics that are DOA. b. Discourage pet projects. c. Invite colleagues to RSVP in order to prevent unexpected absences. d. Identify items that can be discussed or resolved via email/WebEx prior to meeting.
3) Stick to the meeting agenda. a. Do not get off-topic. b. End on time. c. Share meeting minutes with group for fact-checking within a week to 10 days. 4) Ask for help! a. Recruit someone to take meeting notes when appropriate. b. What’s the history? What works? What doesn’t? How can you improve it? c. Be a good listener. 5) Discourage complaining. a. Ask for solutions and positive action items. b. Use common sense. Sometimes a meeting is better than an email chain. 6) Ask for old records. a. Talk to previous chairs. Ask for copies of records, distribution lists and ongoing concerns. b. Keep your own records — everything from agendas to meeting notes to decision sign-offs to attendance. 7)
Share records and stay in touch. a. Share early and often. Be proactive. b. Connect with counterparts and deans. c. Use a consistent method.
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Stay current. a. Share recent reports and articles with counterparts to encourage big-picture thinking. b. Know what is happening across the institution. c. Create a central location to save and access minutes, project information, etc. d. Create subcommittees to take ownership of certain goals/initiatives. e. Know what is happening at the state level and understand TAG/OTM jargon. FACULTY COUNTERPART GUIDE 2019 | 7
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