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Creating a Faculty Activity Database: Three Practical Solutions and a Wish List
Creating a Faculty Activity Database: Three Practical Solutions and a Wish List
Chris Fastnow ([email protected])Montana State University
Chris Fastnow ([email protected])Montana State University
AbstractAbstractFaculty activity and productivity are gaining attention as calls for accountability in higher education get louder. A central database with information on faculty instructional, research, creative, and service activities offers decision makers and those who support them access to quick, accurate, and consistent information on faculty activity. However, collecting and reporting that information presents a logistical hurdle that most central data management systems have not yet addressed. I will discuss a wish list for a faculty activity database tool and our campus's experiences with three methods that we have used to collect and access information on faculty activity: a simple Excel-based survey, an Access database with a web interface developed by our IT professionals, and a hierarchical database system with a web-based or desktop user interface developed by members of our faculty. Each has benefits and drawbacks for both the faculty member and the IR office, but all provide workable solutions to a difficult data collection task.
Faculty activity and productivity are gaining attention as calls for accountability in higher education get louder. A central database with information on faculty instructional, research, creative, and service activities offers decision makers and those who support them access to quick, accurate, and consistent information on faculty activity. However, collecting and reporting that information presents a logistical hurdle that most central data management systems have not yet addressed. I will discuss a wish list for a faculty activity database tool and our campus's experiences with three methods that we have used to collect and access information on faculty activity: a simple Excel-based survey, an Access database with a web interface developed by our IT professionals, and a hierarchical database system with a web-based or desktop user interface developed by members of our faculty. Each has benefits and drawbacks for both the faculty member and the IR office, but all provide workable solutions to a difficult data collection task.
Shameless Plug Alert
Downer Alert
Shameless Plug Alert
Downer Alert
Content WarningContent Warning
Why develop a Faculty Activity Database
Wish List Three approaches to
collecting the data Conclusion
Why develop a Faculty Activity Database
Wish List Three approaches to
collecting the data Conclusion
Requisite Road MapRequisite Road Map
Why Develop a Faculty Activity Database
Why Develop a Faculty Activity Database
Accountability Decision support Benchmarking Annual reviews Centralized response capacity Expertise list Marketing
Accountability Decision support Benchmarking Annual reviews Centralized response capacity Expertise list Marketing
Why Develop a Faculty Activity Database
Why Develop a Faculty Activity Database
Benefits of centralized collection Common definitions Credible data Single intrusion
Drawbacks Faculty resistance Getting the right tool
Benefits of centralized collection Common definitions Credible data Single intrusion
Drawbacks Faculty resistance Getting the right tool
Why Develop a Faculty Activity Database
Why Develop a Faculty Activity Database
Convincing Faculty Decrease burden on Faculty
Easy annual review reporting Avoids duplication of effort
Decrease burden on department heads Single format for annual reviews Single request for information Eases reporting requirements to central
administration
Convincing Faculty Decrease burden on Faculty
Easy annual review reporting Avoids duplication of effort
Decrease burden on department heads Single format for annual reviews Single request for information Eases reporting requirements to central
administration
Wish ListWish List
Data Collection Tool Web based Flexible survey design/modification Error checks and easy interface Secure login Detailed data Rollover of some data from year to year
Data Collection Tool Web based Flexible survey design/modification Error checks and easy interface Secure login Detailed data Rollover of some data from year to year
Wish ListWish List
Analysis/Reporting Tool Web based Secure login with differential access to data Dynamic querying Keyword searching Canned reports – individual annual review
report, discipline Delaware Survey report
Analysis/Reporting Tool Web based Secure login with differential access to data Dynamic querying Keyword searching Canned reports – individual annual review
report, discipline Delaware Survey report
Three Tools Three Tools
1. University of Delaware’s FIPSE-funded Faculty Out-of-Classroom Activity Study Excel-based questionnaire
2. Access database with web interface
3. NeuroSys hierarchical database with web interface
1. University of Delaware’s FIPSE-funded Faculty Out-of-Classroom Activity Study Excel-based questionnaire
2. Access database with web interface
3. NeuroSys hierarchical database with web interface
1. Excel Questionnaire 1. Excel Questionnaire
Faculty Questionnaire
1. Excel Questionnaire 1. Excel Questionnaire
Department Summary
1. Excel Questionnaire 1. Excel Questionnaire
U Del IR Office sends file to us
We edit file, send to Deans (annual review
cycle)
Deans send to department heads
Department heads send to faculty
Faculty respond, return to department
heads
Department heads tally responses, send
to us (and Deans)
We create reports
1. Excel Questionnaire 1. Excel Questionnaire
Benefits Easy for end users Standardized Flexible across units Conforms to U Del’s protocol Simple to tally across the university
Benefits Easy for end users Standardized Flexible across units Conforms to U Del’s protocol Simple to tally across the university
1. Excel Questionnaire 1. Excel Questionnaire
Drawbacks Too many steps Extra work for department head Uneven interpretation Loss of specific information
Drawbacks Too many steps Extra work for department head Uneven interpretation Loss of specific information
2. Access Database - Collection 2. Access Database - Collection
2. Access Database - Collection 2. Access Database - Collection
2. Access Database - Reporting2. Access Database - Reporting
2. Access Database - Reporting2. Access Database - Reporting
Delaware question asks for total undergraduate advisees by
department…
…but we want to know whom faculty advised. No other central source for
this information.
2. Access Database - Reporting2. Access Database - Reporting
Want to know who has papers, articles, books, or grants on math
teachers?
2. Access Database - Reporting2. Access Database - Reporting
Details, by type of research output, within the College of Education,
Health, and Human Development
2. Access Database - Reporting2. Access Database - Reporting
2. Access Database 2. Access Database
Benefits Fairly easy web interface Definitions readily available → more
consistent data More detail Query capacity
Benefits Fairly easy web interface Definitions readily available → more
consistent data More detail Query capacity
2. Access Database 2. Access Database
Drawbacks User error Difficult to modify for subgroups Scalability over time and users Separate databases (security) Querying limited to Access users
Drawbacks User error Difficult to modify for subgroups Scalability over time and users Separate databases (security) Querying limited to Access users
3. NeuroSys - Design 3. NeuroSys - Design
3. NeuroSys - Collection 3. NeuroSys - Collection
3. NeuroSys - Reporting 3. NeuroSys - Reporting
3. NeuroSys 3. NeuroSys
Benefits Web interface Flexible, customizable Secure “Ground floor opportunity”
Benefits Web interface Flexible, customizable Secure “Ground floor opportunity”
3. NeuroSys 3. NeuroSys
Drawbacks Still developing Faculty resistance User error Labor intensive Lacks on-the-fly reporting
Drawbacks Still developing Faculty resistance User error Labor intensive Lacks on-the-fly reporting
Wish List: CollectionWish List: Collection
Excel Access NeuroSys
Web based entry √ √Flexible √ √Dummy-proof
Secure login √ √ √Detailed data √ √Rollover data √
Wish List: Reporting Wish List: Reporting
Excel Access NeuroSys
Web-based reporting
Secure/differential access
√ √ √
Dynamic querying √Keyword searching √ √Canned reports √ √
Next Steps for UsNext Steps for Us
Limited NeuroSys build-up
RFP with my wish list
Limited NeuroSys build-up
RFP with my wish list
Challenges Across MethodsChallenges Across Methods Developing useful questionnaires
Creating a culture where faculty update data regularly
Distribution of responsibility for hosting, funding – colleges, ITC, central administration
Benchmark data
Developing useful questionnaires
Creating a culture where faculty update data regularly
Distribution of responsibility for hosting, funding – colleges, ITC, central administration
Benchmark data
Want to see more?Want to see more? University of Delaware’s Institutional Research and
Planningwww.udel.edu/IR/fipse/index.html
Access-Based Demo Sitewww2.montana.edu/ehhd/demoID = msudelawarePassword = workload
NeuroSys Demo Siteneurosys.cns.montana.eduID = guestPassword = guest
Nth-Degree Analytics survey/reporting tool demowww.nth-degree.com/demo
University of Delaware’s Institutional Research and Planningwww.udel.edu/IR/fipse/index.html
Access-Based Demo Sitewww2.montana.edu/ehhd/demoID = msudelawarePassword = workload
NeuroSys Demo Siteneurosys.cns.montana.eduID = guestPassword = guest
Nth-Degree Analytics survey/reporting tool demowww.nth-degree.com/demo