August 2007

Faculty-Student Interactions: The Details
Research starting in the ’70s consistently and repeatedly documents the value of faculty-student interaction, especially when that interaction occurs outside the classroom. These studies tell us that such interactions help students make better career choices, aid students’ personal growth, and make it more likely that students will graduate from college. Surprisingly, other than knowing that interaction with faculty benefits students, few details about the nature of those exchanges are known. The research cited below aimed to uncover more about the kind of exchanges that occur between faculty and students.

Non-Tenure-Track Faculty Contracts
In 2005, Appalachian State University established three-quarter- and full-time non-tenure-track contracts with benefits for non-tenure-track faculty members who had been teaching at least three-quarter time for three years. The move was intended to provide fair compensation and promote loyalty that might pay off in improved quality of instruction.

Internal or External Email for Online Courses
By David Reavis, CCP, PhD, and Charles Mohundro, JD, PhD
Choosing the right tool for email in Web-based classes can streamline the communication process for both students and instructors. Choosing the wrong email tool can frustrate everyone involved by requiring more time and effort than necessary for communication. To make the best choice, instructors need to understand the differences between internal and external email systems, and find the mix of features that best supports the course objectives and work habits of the students and instructor.

Take the Poll!
Last month's question was "Do you feel that your graduate education prepared you adequately for your role as a faculty member? If not, what aspects of your graduate experience do you think could have been better?"