WSU Students,
don’t settle for less.
The university administration recently decided to substantially increase faculty workload by issuing an “emergency” policy. This policy will hurt Wright State students. Our professors will have more courses to teach and, as a result, less time to attend to our individual educational needs and professional aspirations. We’re asking the university administration to suspend this “emergency” policy and to work closely with faculty to craft a workload policy that clearly articulates how the new policy will enhance the student learning experience. If you care about your education and want your professors to have the freedom to provide high-quality instruction and mentorship, add your voice to this letter and tell the administration we won’t settle for less.
An open letter to Wright State University from the Committee for Academic Excellence:
Introduction:
As stakeholders invested in the academic environment of Wright State University, it is imperative to critically examine the ramifications of Policy 2020. The proposed changes will directly, negatively impact the student experience. Faculty maintain a delicate balance between teaching, mentorship, and scholarship. Such an abrupt and substantial increase in workload will force faculty to make difficult decisions about the amount and quality of one-on-one attention they can provide to students. These changes will also disrupt the upcoming Fall semester, especially student schedules and may disincentivize many students from continuing at Wright State University.
Impact on Students:
We, the undersigned, require flexibility in our schedules due to our jobs, partners, children, and other obligations. Finalizing our schedules months before the semester begins is crucial. The sudden cancellation of many 4000/6000 level courses that we need for our programs of study has directly impacted us. The university’s decision to announce an increase in faculty workload without a clear commitment to offering higher level courses, even when enrollment is low, is perplexing. It can only be that the university is unaware of or indifferent to the challenges faced by students who need to schedule courses around their already busy lives.
A professor’s time represents a zero-sum-game– There are only so many hours in a day. Forcing faculty to teach more classes will likely decrease their ability to provide quality, focused mentorship and one-on-one guidance to students. This materially affects the student experience at Wright State University and diminishes the value that we, the students, receive from the university. While some faculty will learn to do more with less, but it will be the students who suffer the consequences. Ultimately, we believe this policy change will unnecessarily inconvenience students and undermine their diligence. This outcome will result in fewer program completions and, eventually, an exodus of students and faculty.
Understanding the concerns of WSU:
We understand that the university must consider factors beyond the student experience when crafting policy. However, the proposed change favors short-term gain over long-term institutional health. We rely on the university to provide faculty with the latitude to make decisions about how best to distribute their time and effort and we depend on the judgment and experience of faculty to guide students. Faculty cannot fulfill this vital role if the university overburdens them. We will not continue to patronize a university that disregards the needs of the student body. We insist that you reconsider these changes and reaffirm your commitment to academic excellence and student success.
In full awareness of the urgent need to provide feedback on the policy revision to increase faculty workload (Policy 2020), we, the undersigned, call on Wright State University to:
Abandon the changes to Policy 2020 created/revised on January 31, 2024.
Delay any changes to the Faculty Workload policy until faculty can be formally consulted about how such changes ought to be implemented.
Commit to withhold any changes to the faculty workload policy until at least Fall 2026 in the interest of allowing both faculty and the registrar’s office adequate time to prepare for the changes.