By: Ellie Heider
All full-time professors at Dominican will gain an extra class for the fall 2023 or spring 2024 semesters.
Jennifer Dunn, professor of communication and faculty senate president, and Carrielynn Reinhard, professor of communication, said professors will teach 21 credit hours in total this year, nine credit hours one semester and 12 for the other semester. Lecturers will teach 24 hours between both semesters.
Dunn said these changes have been discussed since 2021. The board of trustees made the final decision and professors were informed of the extra classes in May of 2023. This occurred because Dominican is spending more money than what’s available.
The freshmen class, being the largest it has ever been, both helps and hinders spending. They bring in more revenue with tuition, but costs rise to accommodate the size of the class, said Dunn.
Dunn said other changes that could have been made are increasing class sizes, lowering faculty salaries, or laying off faculty.
If any professors gained a class right before the semester began, then it was due to the higher freshmen class. It is a separate issue from this.
Theresa “Nacho” Montiel, graphic design lecturer, said it was stressful preparing for a new class she hasn’t taught before, but she also feels she will learn a lot from it.
Reinhard said, “I agree with looking at such cost reduction opportunities, as long as they are coupled with revenue generation exploration, such as the AA degrees.”
She continued with, “Where I disagree is with the processes and strategies used throughout these past two years to arrive where we currently are, in a situation that will take time to resolve.”
Dunn said that these changes will be more difficult for some professors than others, but if students do not notice the increased workload, then they are doing their jobs.
lheider@my.dom.edu
