improved communications working group: lura joseph, william maher, scott walter, and david ward
TRANSCRIPT
Improved Communications
Working Group: Lura Joseph, William Maher, Scott Walter, and David Ward
Communication between the EC and the faculty
Have been improved communications, especially through use of the EC web site
Vs.EC unresponsive and does not
adequately consider both sides of issues
Concerns: not sufficiently detailed, timely, or informative
Communication between the EC and the faculty
Suggestions and Requests: more direct communication from EC
members more opportunities to their opinions
considered as part of EC discussions more time to provide feedback eliminate short deadlines that suggest that
faculty input was perfunctory acknowledge feedback when it has been
received.
Communication between administration & faculty
Anecdotal insights only. Ranging from satisfied to: one-sided & echo chamber Satisified: LIBNEWS, State of Library, Faculty
Meetings Need to generate more debate at faculty
meetings Administrative Council structure not always
most efficient way of communicating to units. Divergence on whether should make EC more
representative based on Divisions, but regardless, need for improving communications between EC and divisions
Communication between administration & faculty (contd.)
Sense that there is a timidity among faculty, or even self-censorship
This concern came from untenured, senior faculty, and some with administrative responsibility
Must work to set fears at rest perhaps through “point|counterpoint” presentations.
Communication within the faculty
E-mail, LIBNEWS-L, and LIBFAC-L useful for sharing, but not as discussion forums
Some concern re “dysfunctional” communication, e.g., gossip
More concern re general lack of real discussion of substantive issues in public forums, disagreements should be possible without concern for repercussions
Variance among divisions in terms of extent of discussion and exchange
Recommendations: Communication
between EC & faculty
Continue to improve by:Post EC agenda and documents on the website
sooner; provide a mechanism for feedback (e.g. wiki, email, etc.) on agenda items prior to EC meetings;
Email EC minutes to LIBFAC-L or announce posting of minutes via RSS feed
Provide mechanism to suggest EC agenda items
Post EC minutes sooner; provide more details
Recommendations: Communication between EC & faculty (contd.)
Anonymous feedback form on the EC website similar to the NSM website
Set a deadline for all calls for feedbackAcknowledge all feedback received from
faculty (OTRS-like system?) Have one open EC meeting per semester*Schedule a timed discussion time for
agenda topics before some EC meetingsHave an EC member visit each division at
least once a semester
Recommendations: Communication between EC & faculty (contd.)
Provide time at faculty meetings for a more robust discussion on EC’s topics
Provide an opportunity for suggesting possible EC agenda items
Discuss upcoming EC agenda items at faculty meetings
Recommendations: communication
between administration & faculty
Achieve greater inclusiveness of faculty in determining strategic directions
University Librarian should meet regularly with each Division
Increase day-to-day, two-way communication between administration and faculty
Associate Librarians should develop more regular communication practices
Recommendations: communication between administration & faculty (contd.)
The minutes and agenda of some of the key groups need to be distributed by e-mailing links, including for: Budget Group, Services Advisory Committee, Executive Committee, and Administrative Council
Administration should issue more focused communications that clearly lay out what decisions have been made, why, and with what consultation
Recommendations for improved communications within the faculty
Clarify understanding of shared governance, its process, and extent
Provide guidelines for faculty meeting procedure and etiquette to encourage participation
Attempt to change the organizational culture to encourage debate, discussion, and participation
Create one online, library-wide bulletin board which can be constantly updated by faculty
Recommendations for improved communications within faculty (contd.)
Create more opportunities for casual interactions.
Provide more means of across-unit/across-division communication re whole Library
Reduce the amount of unexplained acronyms in e-mails and documents.
Provide training, perhaps by outside specialists, on effective communication
Make more effective use of technology and build people skills