University President Pat Long is excited about the possibility of five new faculty members walking around campus next fall.
“It feels really good,” she said. “ … knowing the workload (some faculty) took on, especially during our crisis, I think quite frankly the workload some have taken on for years and years and years, and how hard they work, that if we can find any relief for them, (this would be the answer).”
Rand Ziegler, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, said requests for faculty in the mass media, English, chemistry, exercise science and religion subjects were approved.
While requests for other positions were made, Ziegler and Long stressed it doesn’t mean those positions are not important or that they will be forgotten about.
“There may be a little float with that list,” Long said. “There were 11 positions (requested) that are valid positions that the (department) chairs put forward. And they are positions that we need for Baker, but of course, there are limited resources.”
The English, chemistry and religion positions are all replacements due to the retirements of Virginia Fambrough, adjunct associate professor of English, Professor of Chemistry Gary Giachino and Professor of Religion George Wiley.
“We want to make sure that … our students’ needs are met,” Long said.
The exercise science position is a replacement for Mark Stutz, former assistant professor of health, sport and human performance, who left Baker to teach at Nebraska Wesleyan University.
Because of the four replacement positions, Ziegler said the funding for the positions is not an issue.
“It’s savings because new people are less expensive than old people,” he said.
The media department is the only department at this time approved to hire a new, full-time faculty member.
The job description, located on the Baker website, states the department is looking to hire an assistant professor who is “qualified to teach in at least one of the following areas of specialization: public relations, sports information, broadcasting (TV or radio). The colleague also will participate in the department’s academic advising program, perform university service, and maintain an ongoing program of scholarship or professional development.”
“Over two or three years, we’ve been increasing the offerings and (Joe Watson, associate professor of mass media) has been teaching overload, and we have enrollments,” Ziegler said. “So, finally the plan, over two or three years building, was that if we got enough students and got enough enrollments, and staff with it adjuncts and overload, that (Long) would consider adding that position. That’s how that one came about.”
Long said there is a possibility that announcements about more hirings could be made before the end of the semester or early next semester.
