Faculty handbook nears deadline

By A. Jeter
The Metropolitan

Faculty senators have spent two years reshaping Metroâs faculty handbook, and professors still are trying to iron out some disputes weeks before a final draft is submitted for publication.

About 35 faculty senators met Sept. 4 with Faculty Senate President Monys Hagen and Cheryl Norton, provost and vice president of Academic Affairs, to discuss the handbookâs language. The last meeting to discuss the handbook before it goes to the governing board is Sept. 23, Norton said.

Aerospace Safety Professor Bill Rourke said the meeting made him optimistic that Metroâs governing board will listen to faculty concerns.

ãThis will show the faculty united, and (the new handbook) has a better chance of getting accepted,ä Rourke said.

Many senators want the handbookâs language clarified so they know exactly what the college expects of them, but they also want enough leeway to easily adapt departmental policies to those in the
handbook.

Peer evaluations, where professors are graded by their colleagues or department head, are of particular concern for the faculty.

Susan Josepher, Metro Art department chairwoman, said the handbookâs language is vague, and she doesnât understand what classes need to be evaluated or who has the authority to conduct the evaluations.

Metro English Professor Gene Saxe said he was worried about unqualified people evaluating teaching methods and wanted that addressed in the handbook.