January 29, 2024
TO: Deans and Chairs
FROM: Mike Ogg, AVP Academic Resources and Simone Aloisio, Interim AVP Faculty Affairs and Success
RE: Fall 2024 Scheduling and Work Assignment Processes
During the Fall 2023 semester, there were workshops with Chairs and Deans to discuss workload and assigned time for Chairs under the new re-organized structure. The proposed structure is now out for comment, and the recommended assigned time for Chairs has also been made. Starting in April 2024 and continuing through the end of the semester, departments will recommend Chairs to be appointed for the start of the Fall 2024 semester. Department Coordinators may also be assigned to also start at that time. Eligibility and deliverables for Department Coordinators will be released on March 8, 2024.The following memo is meant to help guide current Chairs and Deans when scheduling and assigning classes for the Fall 2024 semester. There is a Professional Development session for Chairs scheduled for February 2, 2024 at noon to answer questions and provide further guidance.
Course Scheduling and FTES Targets
It is anticipated that most of the scheduling will go on as it normally would for most faculty. The first priority is to schedule courses based on student needs and then assign instructors. In most cases, it is likely that the Fall 2024 Chair and potential Department Coordinator(s) may not yet be identified, particularly in the first few rounds of reflist preparation. There will be a need to be flexible, but the more communication and planning that happens, the easier the transition will be. For example, if it is anticipated that there will be multiple faculty members interested in Chairing, contingencies should be made for each of the faculty members should they not be appointed to be Chair for the new year. It is not unusual for assignments to change as plans change because of things like low enrollment, or changes in assignments, and we anticipate some of this happening as a result of the uncertainty associated with the reorganization.
FTES targets are expected to be released to Academic Affairs after Spring census. Departments should schedule for Fall 2024 using the same guidelines as past fall and we will then adjust as necessary for new FTES targets. At that time, we will package target FTES under the new organizational structure.
Entitlements, Work Assignments, Appointment Letters
There are no anticipated changes to lecturer unit entitlements related to the reorganization. This may be a topic of discussion when the faculty union is notified of the changes and we will follow contractual requirements for this discussion. Chairs should assume that lecturer unit entitlements will work the same as they have been. That is, lecturers maintain entitlements within the department, not the School or College. The Office of Faculty Affairs and Success will send current Chairs a list of faculty with unit entitlements in their departments, including their position in the order of appointment. The assignment of work and issuance of appointment letters is anticipated to continue as it has. Faculty Affairs and Success will provide guidance on when contracts should be submitted in order to ensure a smooth work process for both summer and fall contract issuances.
Dr. Karen R. Moranski
She I Her I Hers
Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs
Sonoma State University