CAPA 2007 Retreat

Earle Brown Heritage Center

August 17, 2007

Welcome We’re glad you’re here!

Goals for the day: To learn about CAPA To get to know one another better To understand our roles and responsibilities To have fun To become energized!

CAPA 2007 Retreat

Who Are P&As?

Summary of CAPA 2007 Survey

P&A Survey - Demographics Academic Professionals - 1198 responses (61%)

25% Coordinators 21% Researchers (associate, Sr. Associate, specialist, fellow,

Sr. Fellow) 16% Teachers (lecturer, Sr. Lecturer, Teaching specialist) did

not count professors – another 14%

Academic Administrator - 953 responses (49%) 25% Coordinators 44% Directors (Asst, Assoc, Regional, Executive, Program)

P&A Survey - Demographics Total Years a P&A Employed

47% Five years or less 24% more than 10 years 8% more than 20 years

Years in non-P&A position 52% None 23% less than 5 years

Other classifications (multiple response) 46% Civil Service 10% Bargaining Unit 12% Faculty (could be administrators with tenure) 33% Other – Mostly graduate teaching or research assistant

P&A Survey - Demographics Highest Degree

25% PhD 78% Masters or above

Teaching and Learning 1202 responses (61%) Multiple responses

allowed 60% present at local, state, and national forums. 31% Other/elaborate - 367 responses. Wide mix

of other teaching/advising activities, “none,” and details about the above answers. This includes a wealth of stories about the kind of things P&As do.

Research and Discovery Research Duties - 869 responses (44%)

Multiple responses allowed

10% Other/elaborate. 145 responses. Mostly additional details or “none.”

Research and Discovery Research Expenditures - 323 responses

(17%) People were confused by this question; some

took it as career totals, some for current activities.

Amounts presented ranged from $0 to “>$14 million since 1990” and more. The highest numbers were $8 million per year and $30 million.

Administration Administrative Duties - 1499 responses

(76%) Multiple responses allowed 69% Develop or coordinate projects or programs 10% Other/elaborate -155 responses. Wide

variation in response; some might not be considered administration (e.g. order supplies, workshop instructor).

Professional Groups Involvement in professional groups - 1081 responses

(55%)

University associations and professional organizations included:

CAPA, Senate, several fraternal organizations, Emerging Leaders, Women’s Leadership Institute, college committees, networks open to those working in a special area; e.g., Communicators Forum, Advisor’s Network.

Member of professional associations and organizations - 1000 responses (93% of those answering this question, 51% of those taking the survey!)

Professional Groups Leadership. 404 responses (38% of

those answering this question, 21% of those taking the survey!) Titles range from board member to

treasurer to chair of committee or organization.

Organizations range from state to national. Very few “none” answers

Grant Writing/Funds Grant Duties - 609 responses (31%) Multiple responses

allowed

79% contribute to or are responsible for sections. 14% Other/elaborate - 86 responses. Many are

simple elaborations. Others are new tasks like “teach grant writing” and “grant evaluator.” Many of P&As do grants management or assist in submission process.

Grant Writing/Funds Number of grants written per year - 389

answered this question (20%)

Hard to analyze - people could write in text such as “helped on 18 grants.”

2 appears to be the mode, with numbers ranging from 1 to 10.

One wrote, “My grants are all 5 year projects so not written on a yearly basis.) Very few “0.”

Grant Writing/Funds Total $ secured for - 302 responses (15%)

1/3 sample was analyzed - 13 were over $1 million. Highest were $7 million (2) and “5-10 million est.”

On some, it was clear the respondent was just one of many researchers or was the grant writer, not the researcher.

Total expenditures and non-sponsored carry-forward -120 responses (6%)

Grant & Contract proposals and awards - 187 responses (10%)

Consultation Consulting duties - 669 answered this

question (30%) Multiple responses allowed

66% consult within or to the UMN. Other Nice clear answers on other.

12% Other/elaborate. Mostly elaborations. Provides a nice range of topics where P&As provide assistance: e.g. consult with unions in other states, act as a state resource (Supercomputing Institute), consult for National Geographic TV show, etc.

Publications Types of publications - 1113 answered

this question (57%) Multiple responses allowed

Mostly reports and brochures, but 36% in peer reviewed journal articles

22% Other/elaborate. Lots of details: websites, newsletter articles, handbooks, blogs, fact sheets, bood chapters, etc.

Publications Number of Scholarly publications - About 20 people said

“0” (about 22% have published somewhere) Average is 13, mode is 5, maximum may be 750 (but more than

one person said something like “too numerous to count.). Many indicated they were new in their careers and expect this

number to grow. Several were clear that they were co-authors, not the lead.

Name of Journal 89% listed at least one journal 72% of those listing journal publications have published in two

or more

Community Engagement Volunteer service and/or outreach – on non-

work time - 804 answered this question (41%) Multiple responses allowed

Nice distribution of responses, starting with 42% develop and provided opportunities for UMN students

17% Other/elaborations. Interesting details: e.g. refugee mentoring, volunteer at MN Historical Society, teach art classes, etc.

Community Engagement Inside UMN service

316 serve on unit or departmental committee or groups (16%)

259 serve on college level committees or groups (13%)

255 serve on University level committees or groups (13%)

Community Engagement Information or other outreach from U position.

363 - info to general public (18%) 191 - professional consultation to general public (10%) 76 - lead field trips for school groups (4%) 82 - work with youth groups in schools (4%) 51 - advise or teach summer school camps (3%) 113 - editorial or manuscript reviews to professional

societies (6%) 64 - serve on government panels (3%) 262 - direct service to community (13%) 22 - commercialize intellectual property (1%)

Awards & Nominations 209 nominated/elected to U, college, or

departmental governing body (11%) 306 received award from U, college, or

dept. (16%) 99 received community-based award (5%) 166 received national or international award

(8%) 47 Other (2%)

Final Comments 209 provided comments (11%). Each of these was mentioned more than

once.

Thank you for asking. And thanks to CAPA. It’s nice to know someone cares. Concern over unequal implementation of University policy, (e.g. sick time) Relatively low wages for my tasks. Some compared themselves with faculty or across

campuses. One person said s/he was hired with the promise of a significant increase after 1-year, only to be told this was against University policy. Another griped about average increases given within his/her unit, when his/her performance was well above average.

Your survey didn’t cover the things I do. Multiple mentions on this topic from Extension Educators and student advisors.

Many pointed out the vast range of their jobs – something that CAPA tries to illustrate when we highlight individuals in our newsletter.

Concern about continuity for those on soft money. One person has been hired multiple times, only to be let go during dry periods.

Great need to build and foster community. Many feel isolated in their position.

CAPA 2007 RetreatCommon Duties and

Responsibilities

Common Duties and Responsibilities

Learn about CAPA.

Common Duties and Responsibilities

Read the Constitution, By-laws, and Policy Manual.

"Do you ever have one of those days when everything seems

unconstitutional?"

Common Duties and Responsibilities

Attend CAPA meetings.

Common Duties and Responsibilities

Send an alternate if you can’t attend.

Common Duties and Responsibilities

Join a committee and attend committee meetings.

Common Duties and Responsibilities

Ask questions when you don’t understand.

Common Duties and Responsibilities

Be prepared to participate.

Common Duties and Responsibilities

Prepare for meetings ahead of time.

Common Duties and Responsibilities

Volunteer on a University Senate committee.

CAPA 2007 Retreat

Governance Duties

Governance

Communicate with your constituents and understand their concerns.

Governance

Find out if you have a unit level group.

Governance

Familiarize yourself with what your constituents think about the issues.

Governance – CAPA Senators Understand what

senators do: Attend U Senate

meetings. Understand the issues

before the meeting and be prepared to participate.

Voice opinions on behalf of CAPA or your unit.

25 CAPA senators are on the University Senate.

Governance - CICUnderstand the Committee onInstitutional Cooperation (CIC)of Professional Staff Councils:

Addresses challenges and works toward solutions for employees represented by the participating staff advisory/governing bodies of 12 member universities

Share information and best practices for staff personnel and governance

Serve as a resource to one another

Attend yearly conference in Chicago

Governance – P&A Volunteers

Ask P&A constituents to volunteer on CAPA and other governance committees.