46th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2003

REQUESTING THE COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION TO ESTABLISH AND IMPLEMENT GUIDELINES REGARDING THE RATIO OF FULL-TIME TO PART-TIME FACULTY AND STAFF AT STATE INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION.

WHEREAS, the commission on higher education has studied and reported on the issue of ratios of full-time to part-time faculty and staff and its impact on the quality of service provided by the state institutions of higher education; and

WHEREAS, the report does not yield definitive conclusions regarding the impact of various ratios of full-time to part-time faculty and staff; and

WHEREAS, the literature reviewed in the report suggests the following serious disadvantages to achieving quality education arising from the use of part-time faculty and staff:

A. part-time faculty assignment to core courses that should be taught by full-time faculty;

B. continual employment of part-time faculty and staff over the years with no contract or commitment by the institution;

C. part-time faculty and staff often do not receive employment benefits;

D. few part-time faculty and staff participate in curriculum planning, program assessment and other academic decision-making processes;

E. part-time faculty and staff are not often engaged in team teaching, research collaboration, grant writing and other aspects of institutional life; and

F. full-time faculty and staff must absorb the planning, student advisement and governance duties when too many part-time faculty and staff are employed; and

WHEREAS, the commission on higher education study does not address the possible relationship of the ratio of full-time to part-time faculty and staff to the high turnover rates of faculty and staff and the adverse impact on the quality of educational services; and

WHEREAS, guidelines for optimal ratios of full-time to part-time faculty and staff are not established and the trends are not monitored; and

WHEREAS, after continued systematic monitoring and analysis of information about the current staffing practices in public higher education institutions, a determination should be made of whether there is a need for setting up a more structured and organized system for hiring and retaining part-time faculty and staff in those institutions;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the commission on higher education be requested to establish guidelines that do not exceed those ratios that currently reflect recognized best practices and, furthermore, will enhance and maintain the delivery of quality higher education services; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the commission on higher education systematically and annually monitor and analyze information regarding the impact of these guidelines on the quality of education at state institutions of higher education; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the commission on higher education implement formal and continued annual monitoring of ratios of full-time to part-time faculty and staff and determine the impact on the delivery of higher education services; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the findings and recommendations resulting from the implementation of the guidelines and the monitoring be provided to the legislative education study committee by November 1, 2003; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the executive director of the commission on higher education, the superintendent of public instruction, the director of the legislative finance committee and the director of the legislative education study committee.