Personal Productivity For New Faculty

In some ways it's laughable to address faculty about personal productivity.  You've all been enormously productive to get this far and have found ways that work for you.  Nonetheless you're adding responsibilities as a faculty member that you probably didn't have before as a graduate student, business employee or adjunct:  Classes; Advising; Committees.

If you're tenure-track you have an entire research program to develop and maintain.  If you're teaching faculty you have a heavy load.  Staying productive is a continuing challenge.

Is there a "right answer"? - Of course not

I'll offer some strategies that may assist you, with emphasis on your new responsibilities.  Pick and choose - mix and match - ignore me.

Classes Productivity

• Prepare a good syllabus and do your best to stick to it - that will avoid many student questions and time wasting problems.  Students will particularly appreciate clear expectations about: grading policies; homework expectations; mid-term exam and project/paper submission dates - that will save you grief.
• Check your plan against the academic calendar.  Avoid problems with holidays.  Remember the "drop" and "add" dates.
• If you have Teaching Assistants or graders plan out the term for them and make clear what are your expectations. 
• Define the mechanics and timing of submissions and returns of student work.  It's my belief, not shared by all faculty, that prompt return (within a week maximum) of all student work promotes better learning and eases your own load.
• Use technology to help - but that's a separate topic.
• Lots, lots more - I welcome additions.

Advising Productivity

• Office Hours - It's university policy that you must have office hours.  My experience over 20 years is that specific office hours are often little-used by students - usually because of their very busy schedules.   My own approach is to have an open-door policy when at Drexel, to include my email in syllabi and to reply within 24 hours (usually much more rapidly) to student inquiries.  When teaching a large (200+) class I used an electronic newsletter to address student issues. 
• Hideaway - Those with strong research programs often have to limit the hours they're accessible to students in order to be productive at the research.  A separate, non-published, research hideaway may be beneficial so long as you make yourself predictably accessible in your "regular" office.
• Other Resources - It's worth investigating the many, many advising resources at the university, both academic and extra-academic.  An appropriate referral with an explanation of what to expect can save you and the student a lot of time.  I usually close with - "and if you don't find what you want there feel free to come back and see me."  If you're expected to do a significant amount of advising it might be worth your time to physically visit some of the important offices and get to know a few key people.

Committees Productivity

• Pick your committees carefully - here's my advice
• Feel free to ask what is the time commitment for any chore that comes up in a committee.  It's generally a lot better to decline up front than not perform it.
• Be prepared to leave at the end of the scheduled committee time - citing your prior appointment.  Too many run over.

Technology Tools

I'm an extremist in believing in the benefits of technology to help you be productive.  You don't have to be as far-out as I am to benefit greatly.  I'll address some of my favorites in a separate post.

 

Jim Mitchell