>From: jkalb@mailer.fsu.edu (John Kalb)
>
>As a member of the administration characterized by Martin Needels as being
>fascinated wtih portfolios, planning documents, and vita building activities
>dumped on increasingly less influential faculty, I would like to direct that
>finger, whichever one it is, toward the legislative staffs, legislators, and
>taxpayers who are demanding accountability and proof of activity from a body
>who has historically resisted proving their competence and dedication. THIS
>IS NOT SAY THAT THEY AREN'T, only that they have been, and are reluctant, if
>not resistant to proving they work more than six hours a week teaching only
>two courses and spending the rest of the time on the golf course, or working
>in their yard because they are seen there on occasion during normal working
>hours. (Who is seeing them there, and what are their normal working hours?
>This does not seem to be asked.)
>
>We have an increasingly burdensome workload imposed on us (vile
>administrators) by coordinating boards, accrediting agencies, government
>auditors, state auditors, and especially legislators wanting more and more
>accountability. There is no other way to respond than to impose on the
>faculty the burden of proof since they are the only ones that have that
>proof if it isn't in already collected data files. I solemnly swear that the
>institutional research office (data collection agency) of this university
>has never imposed one single reporting requirement, portfolio, or document
>on the faculty that has not been imposed on us by people who hold purse
>strings or accreditation strings. Them that has the gold makes the rules,
>and them must have more gold lately, cuz they sure have been making more rules.
>
>Hard times are ahead for faculty, and all public employees it looks like,
>since people simply do not want to pay more money for anything, a quality
>product or not. If educators were in charge of the educational system, I
>would venture to guarantee a better product, but educators can't fund the
>product, so the people who can, make the rules, and the best way to attack
>(cut) something that can't be quantified, is to try and quantify it.
>
>The above written by a history PhD who found work in a university when no
>jobs in history were available, then finished the doctorate and kept working
>in the administration side because that was where his experience was, and,
>because he needed the money.
>
>John M. Kalb, Phone (904) 644-1786
>Director of Institutional Research
>Budget & Analysis Department - 1044
>Florida State University Fax: (904) 644-9622
>Tallahassee, Fl 32306-1044 e-mail: jkalb@mailer.fsu.edu
>
>" DON'T ASSUME ! "
>
>