Spring Break
Class sizes rise, faculty decline
Administration size increased in tenure
KRISTEN COULTER
Issue date: 10/1/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
Since University President Michael Adams arrived at the University in 1997, the size of the student body and the administration have increased, but the number full time faculty has not.
The number of undergraduate, graduate and professional students has increased by 3,297 over the decade, according to the 2006 UGA Fact Book.
However, the number of full time faculty decreased by 42 individuals from 1997 to 2006, according to the fact books.
Adams attributed this decline to budget shortages during the 2004-2005 recession.
"We had to lay off and not hire," Adams said Thursday. "But it's still our goal to get back where we were before."
He said the University hired more than 20 faculty members last year, and is receiving fewer complaints about class availability.
Vice President for Instruction Jere Morehead echoed Adams' comments.
"In the last few years, a significant effort has been made to add back to the faculty," Morehead said Friday in a telephone interview.
He also said to accommodate demands for classes, the class sizes have increased.
Two professors in the School of Public and International Affairs said they agree.
"I am not teaching more classes ... but the enrollments in my classes have grown," Charles Bullock, a political science professor, wrote Friday in an e-mail.
"That, I believe, has been the experience of most, if not all, faculty in the School of Public and International Affairs."
Bullock said he teaches upper division political science electives. He said five years ago, he would have taught about 65 students. Now, his classes draw between 85 and 95 students.
"My enrollments have skyrocketed," Loch Johnson, an international affairs professor, wrote Friday in an e-mail.
"When I first came to UGA in 1979, I usually had about 25 students in a class; now that figure is closer to 48 - a less effective number for good teaching."
Adams said administrators will discuss the amount of faculty members. He said administration faces whether to hire more faculty or pay those who are already teaching more.
"We're leaning toward the latter," Adams said.
The size of the administration has increased over Adams' tenure.
Adams created the office of vice president for instruction, held by Morehead and the vice president for academic affairs and provost, held by Arnett Mace, Morehead said.
Morehead wrote in an e-mail the provost allows Adams "to focus more energy and time on fund raising, alumni development, and external relations."
The number of undergraduate, graduate and professional students has increased by 3,297 over the decade, according to the 2006 UGA Fact Book.
However, the number of full time faculty decreased by 42 individuals from 1997 to 2006, according to the fact books.
Adams attributed this decline to budget shortages during the 2004-2005 recession.
"We had to lay off and not hire," Adams said Thursday. "But it's still our goal to get back where we were before."
He said the University hired more than 20 faculty members last year, and is receiving fewer complaints about class availability.
Vice President for Instruction Jere Morehead echoed Adams' comments.
"In the last few years, a significant effort has been made to add back to the faculty," Morehead said Friday in a telephone interview.
He also said to accommodate demands for classes, the class sizes have increased.
Two professors in the School of Public and International Affairs said they agree.
"I am not teaching more classes ... but the enrollments in my classes have grown," Charles Bullock, a political science professor, wrote Friday in an e-mail.
"That, I believe, has been the experience of most, if not all, faculty in the School of Public and International Affairs."
Bullock said he teaches upper division political science electives. He said five years ago, he would have taught about 65 students. Now, his classes draw between 85 and 95 students.
"My enrollments have skyrocketed," Loch Johnson, an international affairs professor, wrote Friday in an e-mail.
"When I first came to UGA in 1979, I usually had about 25 students in a class; now that figure is closer to 48 - a less effective number for good teaching."
Adams said administrators will discuss the amount of faculty members. He said administration faces whether to hire more faculty or pay those who are already teaching more.
"We're leaning toward the latter," Adams said.
The size of the administration has increased over Adams' tenure.
Adams created the office of vice president for instruction, held by Morehead and the vice president for academic affairs and provost, held by Arnett Mace, Morehead said.
Morehead wrote in an e-mail the provost allows Adams "to focus more energy and time on fund raising, alumni development, and external relations."
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Charles
posted 10/01/07 @ 1:51 PM EST
President Adams Legacy is Disgrace:
Despite the mammoth increase in funding for the University Adams has steered UGA down the academic tubes. Drastic reductions in the faculty, upper level classes being taught by Grad' students and all of the money wasted on meaningless monuments to himself. (Continued…)
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