Workshop Summary: Reimagining Collegiality for Full-Time, Non-Tenure-Track Faculty

• In Event: Reimagining Collegiality for Full-Time, Non-Tenure-Track Faculty

Abstract

Objective
To share 5 years of research and engage attendees in the process of utilizing findings to advance practice and future research about collegiality and NTTF.
Theoretical Framework
Collegial experiences of NTTF (and all faculty) are shaped by cultivating interpersonal trust and respect (ITR), recognizing professional expertise (PE), and understanding and responding to the context in which colleagues behave and interact. ITR recognizes all faculty as human beings with aspirations, dignity, and talents who need trusting, pro-social interactions and relationships for successful faculty work. PE highlights the importance of recognizing NTTF as holders of specialized and valued knowledge. Context acknowledges the disciplinary, institutional, and departmental history, culture, habits, and purposes that shape collegiality.
Methods
95 faculty, chairs, deans, and university administrators from research and master’s universities were interviewed through 2 qualitative interview studies (2014, 2018). Analysis combined data sets and was conducted via Nvivo, using Structural and Provisional coding (Saldaña, 2014)
Evidence
2 journal articles, 1 monograph, 1 forthcoming book, and several peer-reviewed conference presentations resulted from this research.
Substantiated Conclusions
Built upon Gappa et al. (2007) and Bess (1992) this research generated a new model suggesting how collegiality is cultivated (Figure 1) and a new definition of collegiality:
• Shared Mission and Purpose: commitment to problem-solving based on awareness of common good and shared goals
• Sense of Team: cohesion and investment in individual colleagues, through interpersonal knowing and relationship building
• Good Neighbors: sense of familiarity, trust, and confidence that decision-making is based on shared mission not expectations of reciprocity
• Open Exchange of Information: equal access to information, consultation supersedes hierarchy, willingness and encouragement to name organizational problems
Participatory Decision-Making: deliberations occur in an atmosphere of support and inclusion, with focus on consensus-based, rational decisions
Scholarly Significance: Workshop Format
This workshop will engage attendees, through research findings, in assessment of the degree to which NTTF in their own institutions have access to healthy collegiality and suggest ways forward to improve practices and advance the body of extant research on this topic. Attendees will be asked to answer the following question related to each element of the definition through an advanced, interactive brainstorming activity:
• What facilitates or impedes collegiality?
After learning about the framework and model, attendees will be divided into pairs/small-groups for discussion via the following prompts:
• How does the framework and model...
o impact your perspective on supporting or researching collegiality?
o promote valuing diverse roles within an institution?
o promote changing policies and practices to cultivate collegiality?
• How could findings be used to devise research or practices that suit your professional context?
A final, full-group discussion will encourage attendees to consider discoveries in their institutional contexts and dig into areas that warrant further research such as:
• Pay equity for NTTF
• Ethics of concept that NTTF afford TTF time to conduct research
• Links between diversity, equity, and faculty rank
• Cultivating collegial environments, especially for NTTF

Authors

• Jenny Jacobs, Cypress College

• Nathan F. Alleman, Baylor University

• Cara Cliburn Allen, Baylor University

• Don Haviland, California State University - Long Beach