A Web-Based Tool for Collecting Faculty “Non-Classroom” Productivity

Data

A Web-Based Tool for Collecting Faculty “Non-Classroom” Productivity

Data

Richard D. Howard (rhoward@montana.edu)James B. Rimpau (rimpau@montana.edu)Chris Fastnow (cfastnow@montana.edu)

Montana State University

Richard D. Howard (rhoward@montana.edu)James B. Rimpau (rimpau@montana.edu)Chris Fastnow (cfastnow@montana.edu)

Montana State University

OutlineOutline

Introduction: Why develop a Faculty Activity Database

Benefits for the Faculty Member Walkthrough data entry

Benefits for the University Sample Queries and Results

Challenges Future Steps Lessons Learned

Introduction: Why develop a Faculty Activity Database

Benefits for the Faculty Member Walkthrough data entry

Benefits for the University Sample Queries and Results

Challenges Future Steps Lessons Learned

AbstractAbstract

During the past decade the “Delaware Study” has become a primary source of comparative data for many colleges and universities. Recently, this study has been expanded to collect “non-classroom” faculty productivity data. Data are collected that document the scholarship activities of faculty in the areas of instruction, research, and service/outreach. Unlike the earlier data, these data must be collected each year directly from the faculty and then summarized in an institutional report. In this demonstration, a Web-based tool developed to collect these data from the faculty is presented. In addition, multiple institutional concerns that guided its development will be discussed.

During the past decade the “Delaware Study” has become a primary source of comparative data for many colleges and universities. Recently, this study has been expanded to collect “non-classroom” faculty productivity data. Data are collected that document the scholarship activities of faculty in the areas of instruction, research, and service/outreach. Unlike the earlier data, these data must be collected each year directly from the faculty and then summarized in an institutional report. In this demonstration, a Web-based tool developed to collect these data from the faculty is presented. In addition, multiple institutional concerns that guided its development will be discussed.

Introduction: Why Build a Faculty Activity DatabaseIntroduction: Why Build a Faculty Activity Database Why did we build it? What have we built?

Centrally housed, college-specific Access databases Web data entry screens Populated by Banner data (not automatic) and user inputs

What did we want? Accurate data Consistent formats Easy interface Secure interaction

Why did we build it? What have we built?

Centrally housed, college-specific Access databases Web data entry screens Populated by Banner data (not automatic) and user inputs

What did we want? Accurate data Consistent formats Easy interface Secure interaction

Benefits to FacultyBenefits to Faculty

Getting Buy-in Decrease burden on Faculty

Easy annual review reporting Avoids duplication of effort CV builder (eventually)

Decrease burden on department heads Single format for annual reviews Single request for information Eases reporting requirements to central administration

Getting Buy-in Decrease burden on Faculty

Easy annual review reporting Avoids duplication of effort CV builder (eventually)

Decrease burden on department heads Single format for annual reviews Single request for information Eases reporting requirements to central administration

Data Entry WalkthroughData Entry Walkthrough

Benefits to Administrators/IR TypesBenefits to Administrators/IR Types

Comprehensive database of faculty activity Use it at the College, University, statewide level

Standardized reporting across the campus Reduces analysts workload in our office

Easy tallies for Delaware Faculty Activity Study Data also used by Planning and Budget committee

On-the-fly responses to external queries Can respond with concrete data on research, service,

teaching, contributions to the state, etc. Consolidated requests to faculty and departments

We get to make things easier on everyone once in a while

Comprehensive database of faculty activity Use it at the College, University, statewide level

Standardized reporting across the campus Reduces analysts workload in our office

Easy tallies for Delaware Faculty Activity Study Data also used by Planning and Budget committee

On-the-fly responses to external queries Can respond with concrete data on research, service,

teaching, contributions to the state, etc. Consolidated requests to faculty and departments

We get to make things easier on everyone once in a while

Sample QueriesSample Queries

This year we used it primarily for reporting to the University of Delaware’s Faculty Activity survey

But we included campus and college specific questions too

And we have the ability to build customized queries to respond to requests for information

Some examples of each…

This year we used it primarily for reporting to the University of Delaware’s Faculty Activity survey

But we included campus and college specific questions too

And we have the ability to build customized queries to respond to requests for information

Some examples of each…

Delaware Reporting Queries Question on Grants and ContractsDelaware Reporting Queries Question on Grants and Contracts

College of Engineering’s total grants awarded and the amount awarded in 2004, by

department – asked in Delaware Survey

Amended Delaware Reporting Queries Question on Federal Grants and ContractsAmended Delaware Reporting Queries Question on Federal Grants and Contracts

We have an on-campus need to split out grants by source. This shows College of Engineering’s

FEDERAL grants awarded (“qpart” a)

Delaware Reporting Queries Question on Undergraduate AdviseesDelaware Reporting Queries Question on Undergraduate Advisees

Delaware question asks for total undergraduate advisees by

department…

Delaware Reporting Queries Additional Detail on AdviseesDelaware Reporting Queries Additional Detail on Advisees

…but we want to know WHOM faculty advised. No other central

source for this information.

On Campus Reporting Queries Question on Teaching AwardsOn Campus Reporting Queries Question on Teaching Awards

We want to know about awards received. No question on this in Delaware Survey and no other place to find it centrally.

On Campus Reporting Queries Question on Teaching AwardsOn Campus Reporting Queries Question on Teaching Awards

Are all those awards legit? We can generate details to find out!

On-the-fly Subject Matter Queries – Design View Math TeacherOn-the-fly Subject Matter Queries – Design View Math Teacher

Want to know who has papers, articles, books, or grants on math

teachers?

On-the-fly Subject Matter Queries – Results Math TeacherOn-the-fly Subject Matter Queries – Results Math Teacher

Details, by type of research output, within the College of Education,

Health, and Human Development

On-the-fly Subject Matter Queries – Design View Rural HealthOn-the-fly Subject Matter Queries – Design View Rural Health

Maybe research on rural health is more interesting…

On-the-fly Subject Matter Queries – Results Rural HealthOn-the-fly Subject Matter Queries – Results Rural Health

Refereed articles, non-refereed articles, works in progress, etc., in

the department of Health and Human Development

Data on Faculty by TYPE of FacultyData on Faculty by TYPE of Faculty

Everything so far has been Tenure/Tenure-Track. But we can add and compare

non-TT.2 indicates non-TT; many UG

theses chaired by non-TT

Future StepsFuture Steps

Converting to MySQL from Access More easily handles multiple users Adapts to question changes better

Developing web interface for queries Levels of access determined by role in university More flexible for non-database types

Expansion to all colleges

Converting to MySQL from Access More easily handles multiple users Adapts to question changes better

Developing web interface for queries Levels of access determined by role in university More flexible for non-database types

Expansion to all colleges

ChallengesChallenges

Error checking at the department level (for those who don’t follow instructions well)

Keeping up with new/changed questions Creating a culture/expectation where faculty

update data regularly rather than just before annual reviews

Distribution of responsibility for hosting, funding – colleges, ITC, central administration

Error checking at the department level (for those who don’t follow instructions well)

Keeping up with new/changed questions Creating a culture/expectation where faculty

update data regularly rather than just before annual reviews

Distribution of responsibility for hosting, funding – colleges, ITC, central administration

ConclusionsConclusions

Very positive feedback from the two pilot colleges (and maybe more importantly, lack of negative feedback!)

Customizable across colleges while maintaining consistency for central reports, especially Delaware

Greater confidence in and ease of reporting compared to the Excel-based faculty activity survey

Very positive feedback from the two pilot colleges (and maybe more importantly, lack of negative feedback!)

Customizable across colleges while maintaining consistency for central reports, especially Delaware

Greater confidence in and ease of reporting compared to the Excel-based faculty activity survey

Want to see more?Want to see more?

URL for demo database =

http://www2.montana.edu/ehhd/demo ID = msudelaware Password = workload

URL for demo database =

http://www2.montana.edu/ehhd/demo ID = msudelaware Password = workload