New Model of Prorating Faculty Loads for NOL to Begin Spring 2022
Last Spring, a Prorating Workgroup consisting of faculty nominated by the Senate, Academic Deans, NOVA Online (NOL) leadership and selected administrators was established to provide recommendations related to proration practices. The group met for several months and found that the main frustrations with proration centered around three areas:
- The assumption that NOL courses are less work than campus-based courses as a justification for pro-rating workloads was found to be incorrect and not substantiated.
- Current pro-ration formulas do not consider funding ratios of disciplines. Proration at NOL was based on a minimum of 24 students for full load, not considering the various funding ratios.
- Proration creates inconsistency in NOL and campus-based courses. On campus, if a course hits a set percentage of the discipline funding ratio (currently 60%), then it will run for full credit. At NOL, these courses are pro-rated.
The Workgroup assessed pro-ration practices of other large community colleges and the pros and cons of continuing pro-rating and researched the financial implications to the college should faculty receive full credit at the current funding ratio. It was noted that pro-rating below the discipline funding ratio should continue. Noted benefits to pro-rating include:
- Helping faculty make load.
- Some faculty would prefer to teach at a pro-rated rate rather than cancel the class.
- NOL can set class caps so adjuncts can get full load (such as 8 credits in the summer).
- It provides for fewer class cancellations.
- NOL courses are used as back-up when on-campus classes are cancelled which helps students continue their education.
Recommendations
Based on this research, the Workgroup made several recommendations that were approved by Dr. Kress:
- Employ consistent workload determination practices for NOL and campus-based courses.
- Base the pre-determined enrollment for a section to run for full credit on the discipline CFR.
- Faculty will receive full workload credit for a class that meets the established enrollment level as follows:
NOL Proration using % of CFR: Number of Students Needed for Full Load
|
|
85% of CFR |
75% of CFR |
60% of CFR |
|
Dates Implemented: |
Spring 2022 |
SU-FA-SP 2022-23 |
SU-FA-SP 2023-24 |
|
CFR 19.9 ACC, ADJ, ARA, ART, ASL, BIO, BUS, CHD, CHI, CHM, CON, CSC, EDE, EDU, ENV, FIN, FRE, GER, GOL, ITD, ITE, ITN, ITP, JPN, LGL, MKT, MUS, NAS, PHT, PHY, RUS, SPA, TRV |
17 students |
15 students |
12 students |
|
CFR 22.1 CST, ENG, MTH, PED, PHI, PSY, REL |
18 students |
17 students |
13 students |
|
CFR 26.5 ECO, GEO, HIS, HUM, PLS, SDV, SOC |
22 students |
20 students |
16 students |
|
CFR 14.5 EGR |
12 students |
11 students |
9 students |
|
CFR 11.0 DIT, HIM, HLT, VET |
9 students |
8 students |
7 students |
|
Proration below full load: |
By % of students below cut off, example: |
By % of students below cut off, example: |
By % of students below cut off, example: |
|
|
16/17=.94 x 3 credits = 2.80 for 16 students and so on. |
16/17=.94 x 3 credits = 2.80 for 16 students and so on. |
16/17=.94 x 3 credits = 2.80 for 16 students and so on. |
Cost
It was found that the cost to use 60% CFR as the threshold for full workload would cost the college an additional $900K – $1.2 million. This estimate was recently confirmed by the Budget office. A three-year step-down model was recommended to spread the budgetary impact over multiple years. The Budget office confirmed funds available to phase in a new pro-ration model beginning with 85% CFR for Spring 2022, 75% CFR Summer 2022-Spring 2023 and 60% CFR beginning Summer 2023 and beyond. For pro-ration below the full workload cut-off, it was determined that a per student rate would be more cost effective than the current range or whole numbers. For example, 16/17 = .94 x 3 credits = 2.80 pro-rated load for 85% of a 19.9 CFR. Charts have been created to show the per student rates.
Procedures
As is current practice, NOL enrollment will be tracked starting with the first day of classes through the census date and faculty load will be based on the highest enrollment achieved during that period. NOL staff will continue to update the loads in SIS and send faculty (and their Deans) an email noting the adjustment made if the course is pro-rated. As recommended by the Pro-ration workgroup, five (5) is the minimum number to run a course (although keep/cancel decisions will still be made between the Associate Deans and Director of Online Instruction pending need and availability of other sections.)
Informational Webinar
Faculty and Staff are invited to an Informational Webinar that will be held Monday, November 29th at 12:00 pm presented by Dr. Dawn Kolakoski, Director of Online Instruction and Dr. Cathleen Cogdill, Associate Dean of Math, Science, Technologies & Business. This will be an opportunity for questions and answers. Registration is required. Register here.
After registering you will receive a Zoom link via email. The webinar will be recorded for those who can’t attend. We hope to see you there!