This study was designed to examine tenured faculty perceptions of accreditation. This qualitative study utilized interviews and document analysis to gather the perspective of faculty in a college of education. While there are quantitative and qualitative studies that have addressed accreditation and faculty, the extant literature lacked the perceptions of faculty involved in the accreditation process. This qualitative study offers an in-depth analysis of the perceptions of faculty particularly tenured faculty in a college of education regarding accreditation. The inclusion criteria for faculty were: experience in higher education for a minimum of 10 years, involved in curriculum development, and tenured. The study included a total of 11 participants. The interview questions focused on experience with accreditation, impact of accreditation on curriculum, and faculty roles and rewards. A theme analysis was completed utilizing the interview transcriptions along with document analysis based on the research questions. Time emerged as a major theme throughout the interview questions. The sacrifice of ones’ own scholarship, hours spent aligning syllabi with standards, and/or coordination associated with the accreditation process were all referenced during the interviews. Additional themes such as accreditation serving as recognition and utilized for advertising purposes emerged as well. Implications and recommendations for administrators, faculty, and accrediting offices within universities or colleges are discussed.

This commentary describes the significance of faculty citizenship in the broader context of institutional culture and defines faculty citizenship for use across all aspects of faculty roles in the Academy. The definition includes two key components (engagement and collegiality) that can be used to measure citizenship behaviors. Continued discussion and study of faculty citizenship will further the Academy’s understanding and use of the concept.

The rapid increase in the number of non-tenure-track faculty members (Curtis, 2014), has prompted research about this group (Allison, Lynn, and Hovermann, 2014; Coalition on the Academic Workforce, 2012; Eagan and Jaeger, 2009; Umbach, 2007). There is also a large body of literature that explores the experiences of faculty members of color (Joseph and Hirshfield, 2011; Stanley, 2006a; Turner, González, and Wood, 2008). However, there is very little research about the experiences of non-tenure-track faculty members of color (NTFOCs). This study centered the experiences of NTFOCs to understand how this group experiences racism and other forms of systematic oppression in their work environments. The theoretical frameworks for this study were critical race theory (CRT) (Bell, 1980; Delgado and Stefancic, 2012; Ladson-Billings and Tate, 1995) and critical race feminism (CRF) (Wing, 1997). Critical race methodology was integrated throughout the research process (Solórzano and Yosso, 2001; Solórzano and Yosso, 2002). The sample consisted of 24 NTFOCs who worked at four-year, historically White colleges and universities. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews. Ten themes emerged that revealed the ways NTFOCs experienced racism and marginalization in their work environments: (a) not treated like a professional; (b) lack of support; (c) formal discrimination; (d) racialized evaluations; (e) racialized and gendered microaggressions; (f) feeling unsafe in the classroom; (g) unpaid labor; (h) balancing job responsibilities; (i) lack of resources; (j) different treatment than White colleagues. Four additional themes regarding the ways NTFOCs navigated these experiences with oppression and marginalization: (a) relying on systems of support; (b) negotiating speaking out against forms of oppression; (c) disclosing personal information; (d) deciding how to interact with department/program colleagues. These findings have implications for the personal well-being of NTFOCs, how they perform their job, and their ability to gain secure employment. The findings highlight the need for campus constituents to recognize the work of NTOFCs and to create better work conditions for them. / Ph. D. / There has been a rapid rise in the number of non-tenure-track faculty members (Curtis, 2014). These faculty members are underpaid and lack job security relative to their tenured and tenured-track colleagues (Allison, Lynn, & Hovermann, 2014; Coalition on the Academic Workforce, 2012; American Federation of Teachers, 2010a). However, there is little research that considers race and the experiences of non-tenure-track faculty members of color (NTFOCs). This study sought to explore how NTFOCs experienced racism in their work environments. I interviewed, 24 non-tenure-track faculty members of color about the ways they experienced racism in their classrooms and departments, and how they navigated these experiences. Participants worked at predominantly and historically White colleges and universities across the United States. Ten themes emerged that revealed the ways NTFOCs experienced racism and marginalization in their work environments: (a) not treated like a professional; (b) lack of support; (c) formal discrimination; (d) racialized evaluations; (e) racialized and gendered microaggressions; (f) feeling unsafe in the classroom; (g) unpaid labor; (h) balancing job responsibilities; (i) lack of resources; (j) different treatment than White colleagues. Four additional themes regarding the ways NTFOCs navigated these experiences with oppression and marginalization: (a) relying on systems of support; (b) negotiating speaking out against forms of oppression; (c) disclosing personal information; (d) deciding how to interact with department/program colleagues. The findings highlight ways that NTFOCs are marginalized by the nature of their positions as well as intersections of racism and sexism.

Underrepresentation of faculty of color in higher education is a phenomenon that has been studied and well documented by researchers for many years (e.g., Aguirre, 2000; Aguirre, Martinez, & Hernandez, 1993; Bair, Bair, Mader, Hipp, & Hakim, 2010; Chai et al., 2009; Collins, 1990; Turner & Myers, 2000). This issue is even more evident as it relates to the underrepresentation of African American faculty at predominantly White institutions (PWIs). Many studies have addressed the underrepresentation of African American faculty at PWIs (e.g., Alexander & Moore, 2008; Bower, 2002; Brown & Dancy, 2010; Cleveland, 2004). According to the United States Department of Commerce, Economic and Statistics Administration, United States Bureau of the Census (2016), African Americans represent 13.3% of the United States total population. However, African American faculty account for 6% of full-time faculty in higher learning institutions in the United States according to the 2016 release of the National Center for Education Statistics. This disparity forms the essential component of my investigation and sets the stage for my examination of the experiences of African Americans as they perform their duties as full-time faculty at PWIs. This study takes a new approach to investigating the low number of African Americans serving as full-time faculty in higher education by examining their perceptions of the intercultural competence of their colleagues on campus based on their experiences. Intercultural competence is the ability to proficiently interact with people from different backgrounds using acquired knowledge and experience (Elosúa, 2015). Intercultural competence has been studied in a number of areas including business, government, healthcare, military, and religion (e.g., Bennett, Bennett, & Allen, 2003; Benkert, Tanner, Guthrie, Oakley, & Phol, 2005; Berry, Phinney, Sam, & Vedder, 2006; Deardorff, 2009). There has also been research on intercultural competence in education regarding students studying abroad in other countries, teaching in different cultures, and global citizenship (e.g., Banks, 2017; Byram & Nichols, 1997; Deardorff, 2009). However, my review of the literature indicates that there has not been research about the impact that intercultural competence has on the underrepresentation of African American faculty at PWIs in post-secondary education. This is a qualitative multiple case study that engaged full-time African American educational leadership faculty who were employed at PWIs in post-secondary education as participants. The data were collected through interviews. The collected data were analyzed and the findings used to make recommendations to improve the experiences of African American educational leadership faculty at PWIs in post-secondary education.

No description available.

The retention of African American faculty at predominantly White institutions (PWI) has long been a point of concern in higher education. Midwest Community College (MCC), a PWI, 2-year public institution, has a problem of retaining African American faculty employed by the college. The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions of African American faculty retention practices at MCC since little is known about the African American faculty experience at PWIs. Delagado and Stefancic's critical race theory conceptual framework of counter storytelling, Whiteness as property, interest conversion, and critique of liberalism guided this study. A qualitative case study research design was implemented for this study with research questions about the perceived issues of African American faculty and administrators' retention practices at MCC. Four African American faculty and 4 African American administrators answered questions to an interview. Interviews, observation of interviewees, archival review, and field notes constituted the data collection techniques. A qualitative research process of manual data and inductive thematic analysis was implemented in this study. Key findings developed from the themes with implications for changes to organizational culture as well as faculty recruitment and retention practices. Policy recommendations include: the appointment of a Diversity Office designee to the Joint Advisory committees; faculty recruitment through the development of a minority faculty recruitment program; faculty retention through the development of a minority faculty success retention program, along with parallel diversity training for all MCC employees. This study would promote social change by offering focused practices for hiring and retaining African American faculty.

The retention of African American faculty at predominantly White institutions (PWI) has long been a point of concern in higher education. Midwest Community College (MCC), a PWI, 2-year public institution, has a problem of retaining African American faculty employed by the college. The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions of African American faculty retention practices at MCC since little is known about the African American faculty experience at PWIs. Delagado and Stefancic's critical race theory conceptual framework of counter storytelling, Whiteness as property, interest conversion, and critique of liberalism guided this study. A qualitative case study research design was implemented for this study with research questions about the perceived issues of African American faculty and administrators' retention practices at MCC. Four African American faculty and 4 African American administrators answered questions to an interview. Interviews, observation of interviewees, archival review, and field notes constituted the data collection techniques. A qualitative research process of manual data and inductive thematic analysis was implemented in this study. Key findings developed from the themes with implications for changes to organizational culture as well as faculty recruitment and retention practices. Policy recommendations include: the appointment of a Diversity Office designee to the Joint Advisory committees; faculty recruitment through the development of a minority faculty recruitment program; faculty retention through the development of a minority faculty success retention program, along with parallel diversity training for all MCC employees. This study would promote social change by offering focused practices for hiring and retaining African American faculty.

The purpose of this study was to identify faculty perceptions of the personal and student benefits deriving from participation in faculty development activities. Faced with the challenge of keeping up-to-date with technology in order to keep their students up-to-date, faculty participate in many different activities. The perceived effectiveness of faculty development activities varies depending on the knowledge and interest of each faculty member. This study was descriptive, using a two-part survey to collect both quantitative and qualitative data. First, a mail survey was used to collect data on the perceptions of faculty members regarding 12 professional development activities. The survey was sent out to 407 faculty in Business Technology and Engineering and Industrial Technology at the 23 colleges in the Virginia Community College System. Second, selected participants were contacted for a follow-up phone interview which elucidated some of the information from the mail survey. The surveys were designed based upon a review of the literature and through interviews with professionals. The survey was pilot tested on community college faculty. Major findings from the study included the following: 1. The three most participated in activities were training in computer skills, professional conferences, and college-sponsored presentations and workshops. 2. Professional conferences and college-sponsored presentations and workshops were the highest rated in terms of participation, but rated the lowest in terms of personal and student benefit. 3. Females, on average, participate in more activities and have higher ratings for personal and student benefit. 4. Many faculty reported that funding for professional development activities is limited and that they have a limited amount of time to participate in activities. It is not uncommon for a faculty member to pay out of their own pocket for a worthwhile activity. 5. Activities that deal the most with learning new technologies, such as training in computer skills, retraining for fields in technology, and internships in business or industry, were given the highest ratings of personal and student benefit. Based on the findings several recommendations and suggestions for future research were made: 1. Additional research is needed on the actual measures of student benefit, not just perceptions 2. Community college faculty need to carefully select professional development activities that will benefit not only themselves and their student as well. 3. Community college administrators should encourage faculty members to participate in internships in business and industry. Administrators need to do all they can to provide funding for these activities. 4. Additional research is needed on the differences in how males and females rate their perceptions. / Ph. D.

No description available.

No description available.