Workload Relief Plans

Following is an excerpt from Interim Provost Tony Roark’s 11/9/2020 Monday memo…

I asked the Deans and Department Chairs to identify tasks that can be eliminated, deferred, streamlined, or given additional support.  Each college will be implementing a number of locally-defined tactics toward this end, but I’m pleased to highlight common themes that emerged from the college reports:

• Streamline annual performance reviews (additional guidance forthcoming)
• Reduce the number and length of meetings
  • See Electronic or Face-to-Face Meetings? Connect Decision-Making Approach to Meeting Format
• Prioritize non-elective work
  • See What’s Essential and What’s Not? Prioritizing Responsibilities During the Pandemic and Possible Strategies for Reducing Workload
• Emphasize support and wellbeing for campus community members
  • See Faculty, Staff, and Student Well-being: Recommended Strategies for Academic Leaders
  • Accept that, at this time, satisficing (versus optimizing) is a fully-acceptable benchmark for most tasks
• Review accreditation efforts and focus on what must be done now; defer items that can wait for next year
• Re-evaluate expectations for events (e.g., student organizations, lectures, faculty events)

Assistant Provost Michelle Payne has generously offered to meet with departments or other groups to discuss tactics in this area.