Board of Trustees / Faculty Shadowing Program
- Program Overview
- Questions for Trustees
- Questions for Faculty Members
- Sample Timeline
- Feedback Form
Program Overview
The Board of Trustees Faculty Shadowing Program has been developed to foster a mutual appreciation and understanding of the work of a member of the Board of Trustees as well as a member of the Faculty. Beyond the quarterly Academic Affairs Committee meetings, there are few opportunities for Board Members and Faculty to interact with each other.
The Faculty’s challenges and rewards of teaching, research, and student service, as well as the Board Member’s time, and energy required in service are not immediately apparent through the limited interaction at quarterly Committee Meetings. Simply put, the main goal of the Faculty Shadowing Program is to allow Board and Faculty Members to get to know each other better.
This will be accomplished through the one-on-one experience of a Trustee shadowing a Faculty Member for a day. This program will be offered during the fall and spring semesters of every year.
Questions for Trustees
- Why did you choose academia as a career?
- How did you choose to teach at the College and how long have you been teaching here?
- Is there anything unique about teaching at the College?
- What are some of the changes you’ve witnessed at the College and how has your role changed over the years?
- What are some of the challenges you’ve witnessed at the College?
- What are your biggest challenges as a Faculty Member?
- Do you serve on any boards/committees or have any leadership roles professionally or in the community?
- What is your typical workload?
- What is the difference between the various types of professors? (Adjunct, Senior Instructor, Assistant, Associate and Professor)
- What is involved in achieving tenure?
- What is the research and publication process?
- How do you maintain a work/life balance? (grading, class preparation time, research, outside commitments)
- What do you enjoy most and least about being a Faculty Member?
- What is your personal background? (hometown, education, professional experience, hobbies, interests)
- What are three things you would like to see the College change or improve in the future?
Questions for Faculty Members
- How do you become a Board Member?
- Why were you interested in serving on the Board?
- How long have you been serving on the Board?
- Are there term limits to serving on the Board?
- What are your yearly Board Member commitments?
- What is the minimum number of Board Meetings you must attend?
- How do you prepare for Board Meetings?
- What are your Board of Trustess member commitments outside of attending Board and Committee Meetings?
- How do you balance your professional life and your work as a member of the Board of Trustees?
- How has your role as a Board member changed recently and over time?
- What do you enjoy most and least about being on the Board?
- What are some of the challenges you’ve witnessed at the College and in serving on the Board?
- When was the last time you were in a classroom as a student? Or as a teacher or speaker?
- What is your personal background? (hometown, education, professional experience, hobbies, interests)
- What are three things you would like to see the College change or improve in the future?
Sample Program Timeline
September
- Deadline for interested Board Members to sign up for the Program
- Program Directors (Executive Secretary to the Board of Trustees and Speaker of the Faculty) meet to match Board Members and Faculty
October
- Board and Faculty Members are informed of their match and encouraged to contact each other to schedule the shadowing date
- Board and Faculty Members are invited to attend the Legislative Oyster Roast, 6 Glebe Street
- Deadline for Board and Faculty Members to confirm shadowing date with Program Directors
- Shadowing occurs (one day chosen in accordance with individuals’ October and November schedules)
December
- Feedback forms sent to participating Board and Faculty Members
- Deadline for feedback forms to be submitted to Program Directors
- Program Directors and Chair of the Academic Affairs Committee meet to debrief and review feedback forms
January
- Program Directors finalize program review to be delivered by the Chair of the Student Affairs Committee at the January Committee and Board Meetings
- Chair of the Student Affairs Committee delivers program review at the January Committee and Board Meetings
Program Feedback Form
- What were the top three benefits of the Board of Trustees/Faculty Shadowing Program?
- Was the length of time (one day) for shadowing appropriate?
- What are the top two things you were surprised to learn about the Board Member/Faculty’s work?
- What are three ways you would amend the program for the future?
This information is confidential and will only be shared with the Program Directors. Thank you for your participation.
Board Member /Faculty _______________________________________________ Date _____________