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2much2do
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« on: March 07, 2010, 05:28:06 PM » |
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I taught in a professional program, and took a leave of absence a couple of years ago to take a position in the community. I've been teaching as an adjunct at the college, although not in my old department. We have a faculty member who was a bully in the department, who left to take a position with another department in the college. Unfortunately, when I left, they brought her back, and she's now teaching 1/2 time in each department. I'm now returning to the department to teach part of a course this spring as an adjunct.
The problem is that this faculty member has been trashing our curriculum to anyone who will listen - faculty from other colleges, faculty within the department, students, our professional organizations. When she's approached me, I've just said I think the curriculum is solid and since I'm no longer teaching in the department, I don't feel that I can comment. But now that I'm coming back, I feel like I need a better response. I got her off my back in the past by being a b!tch, but that's not my style, and I'm not sure I can pull it off again. And I'd like to get her to stop the behavior, but I'm not hopeful. Any suggestions? She's tenured.
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mountainguy
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« Reply #1 on: March 07, 2010, 05:35:51 PM » |
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"Gee, Sally, I'm just an adjunct. You should bring these concerns to the attention of the curriculum committee."
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kedves
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« Reply #2 on: March 07, 2010, 05:37:42 PM » |
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"Gee, Sally, I'm just an adjunct. You should bring these concerns to the attention of the curriculum committee."
Exactly! (And it will throw her off her stride if her name is not Sally.) |
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larryc
Hu hatin'
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 18,285
Eschew the hu.
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« Reply #3 on: March 07, 2010, 07:02:30 PM » |
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Wait, are you still on your leave? If not, surely you are not an adjunct but a member of the department?
This matters a lot. If you really are adjuncting, it is not your curriculum anymore, it is theirs. Just shut up and let them change it however they like.
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mended_drum
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« Reply #4 on: March 07, 2010, 07:09:15 PM » |
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I'm going to disagree (slightly and tremulously) with Larryc. I think the proper response to your colleague is this:
"Well, I'm not a full-time member of the department anymore, but it sounds like you're really worried about the curriculum. I think you should volunteer to serve on a departmental curriculum review committee. The accrediting agencies like to see evidence of on-going responses to student needs, so I'm sure your chair will welcome a report and a proposal."
Seriously. I've decided that anyone who continually complains about anything that can actually be changed should be placed on a committee.
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larryc
Hu hatin'
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 18,285
Eschew the hu.
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« Reply #5 on: March 07, 2010, 07:19:29 PM » |
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Oh, all the responses redirecting the woman to the curriculum committee are just fine. But the OP needs to remember that her nemesis is a faculty member and that she is not.
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2much2do
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« Reply #6 on: March 07, 2010, 08:03:09 PM » |
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OP here - just to clarify, I took a leave, but now have actually resigned. So, I am an adjunct and you are all right - I'll just refer her to the curriculum committee, and let them deal with her. I'm just there to teach my favorite class and get library privileges. The biggest challenge may be remembering that it's not my curriculum anymore. Thanks for the perspective.
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larryc
Hu hatin'
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 18,285
Eschew the hu.
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« Reply #7 on: March 07, 2010, 08:06:16 PM » |
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Take comfort from the fact that you now earn more money than her! Good luck.
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spyzowin
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« Reply #8 on: March 07, 2010, 08:31:04 PM » |
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I taught in a professional program, and took a leave of absence a couple of years ago to take a position in the community. I've been teaching as an adjunct at the college, although not in my old department. We have a faculty member who was a bully in the department, who left to take a position with another department in the college. Unfortunately, when I left, they brought her back, and she's now teaching 1/2 time in each department. I'm now returning to the department to teach part of a course this spring as an adjunct.
The problem is that this faculty member has been trashing our curriculum to anyone who will listen - faculty from other colleges, faculty within the department, students, our professional organizations. When she's approached me, I've just said I think the curriculum is solid and since I'm no longer teaching in the department, I don't feel that I can comment. But now that I'm coming back, I feel like I need a better response. I got her off my back in the past by being a b!tch, but that's not my style, and I'm not sure I can pull it off again. And I'd like to get her to stop the behavior, but I'm not hopeful. Any suggestions? She's tenured.
Well... is the curriculum strong or not? Your post doesn't really answer the crucial question. |
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2much2do
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« Reply #9 on: March 08, 2010, 09:02:19 PM » |
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Good point, larryc. I'll hold that thought when she approaches me.
Amnirov, although it's difficult to evaluate a curriculum, external measures such as pass rates of national exams and surveys of regional employers would suggest that our students do well after graduation.
I think her gripe is that we don't spend enough time on her subspecialty - but then we don't spend enough time on mine, either. But eventually the students insist on graduating, getting a job, and paying back their student loans, so we have to practice the art of compromise.
Thanks for all your suggestions.
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spyzowin
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« Reply #10 on: March 08, 2010, 09:04:30 PM » |
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I think her gripe is that we don't spend enough time on her subspecialty ... But eventually the students insist on graduating, getting a job, and paying back their student loans, so we have to practice the art of compromise.
Now, I understand. Perhaps just ignore her. |
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