Present: Jean Blachère, Barbara Fredette, Carrie Holzworth, Tom Metzger, Susan Neuman, Billy Njobou, Susan L. Whitney

Sue Whitney stated that the minutes have not been circulated since the last meeting. She will attempt to get those to the Committee members as soon as possible. She did provide a written update of the note from the Provost to the Committee. He received our comments related to the Center for Instructional Development in Education that was requested by the end of this month. In that letter it stated that it was not imperative that it be called an Office of Teaching. After perusing the WEB and receiving some materials that Dr. Neuman sent to Dr. Whitney, it was duly noted that naming it a Center for Instructional Development was probably more in line with what other universities are doing at this time.

Dr. Neuman reported that there is a URL address that is very helpful for all members to check. The address is http:\\www.codnetwork.org. If you have any questions about getting on the site Dr. Neuman can help you.

The Committee then talked about part-time teachers at the University of Pittsburgh. There were concerns about the sources of assistance for part-time teachers, as follows:

1. Is there any attention provided to the teaching skills of part-time teachers?

2. Is there any mechanism to screen those that are chosen for teaching?

3. Many part-time teachers are now teaching between two and four courses per term. The part-time role has significantly increased in some departments across the University, and the part-time faculty are reaching a lot of students. There was concern about whether part-time faculty have a commitment to the institution and that this may be picked up by the students during or after class.

4. Do they have adequate facilities/mailboxes/office hours?

5. How does each department monitor the quality of part-time teachers?

6. Is there peer evaluation of the part-time teachers?

7. Overall, is there support, supervision, and evaluation of part-time faculty?

8. On what basis were the part-time faculty hired?

9. There were concerns about operational procedures that part-time faculty are not aware of, such as part-time faculty not knowing how to put things on reserve in the library, and knowing where supplies are within their department.

10. How is each department or school monitoring quality control of part-time faculty?

11. How do the part-time faculty members learn the rules of the department?

12. When are part-time faculty notified that they will teach a course (lead time)?

13. Are the part-time faculty loyal to the institution?

14. Is there any possibility that big freshmen classes being taught by part-time faculty may effect the drop out rate at the institution?

A couple of other questions that came up at the meeting are: Where are we at with updates related to fixing the classrooms? Where are we with updates on the computer labs across the institution.

These are questions that are being asked as they relate to good teaching here at the University of Pittsburgh. We will attempt to formulate these into more succinct questions, and will use these to develop a questionnaire for the Deans that will be sent out over the summer.

Our next meeting is scheduled for March 16th from 12:00 - 1:30 in Room 6061 (Physical Therapy Conference Room) - Forbes Tower.

Respectfully submitted,


Susan L. Whitney