Date of Award
2003
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education
Department
Programs for Higher Education
Advisor
Karen D. Bowser
Committee Member
Joan B. Murry
Committee Member
Barbara Packer
Keywords
adjunct faculty, administration, benchmark, college operations, development and evaluation research, effectiveness, evaluation, faculty development, faculty groups, full-time staff, implementation, implementation plan, institutional growth, job satisfaction survey, knowledge, national models, part-time faculty, part-time staff, president, professional development, professional education, recommendations, research questions, skills, South Puget Sound Community College, SPSCC, staff development opportunities, strategic plan
Abstract
The problem under investigation was the lack of a process to enhance the knowledge, skills, and abilities of parttime faculty at South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC). The purpose of this study was to produce a comprehensive professional education, implementation, and evaluation plan for part-time faculty.
The following five research questions were investigated as part of this study: (a) What is the current status of faculty development at SPSCC? (b) At the national level, are there models for part-time development programs that could establish a benchmark for the SPSCC program? (c) What are the essential elements of a professional development program designed for part-time faculty? (d) What strategies should be considered in an implementation plan? (e) What criteria should be used to evaluate the effectiveness of the professional education program?
The development and evaluation research methodologies used in this study followed these overall strategies. First, there was the need to recognize the important role adjunct faculty play in the operation of the college. Second, there was a need to create a professional education plan specifically designed to enhance the knowledge, skills, and abilities of part-time faculty.
There are five recommendations associated with the study. First, the final plan should be sent to the president for his review and recommendation. Second, the administration should develop a strategic plan for improving relations with the faculty and handling tremendous institutional growth. Third, the job satisfaction survey should be completed again in five years. Fourth, if approved by the college president, the professional education plan should be presented to faculty groups on campus. Fifth, additional research needs to be conducted with regard to part- and full-time staff development opportunities.