Cape Fear Community College

Faculty and Staff Survey, Spring, 2004

Part-Time Faculty Comments

 

 

Resource Development (Foundation and Grants)

 

1.   I am aware that the Foundation raises money from the community.

 

2.   I am aware that the Foundation awards mini-grants to faculty and staff annually.

 

3.   I am aware that the Foundation exists primarily to provide student scholarships.

 

4.   I am aware that I can designate my Campus Fund Drive contribution for a particular purpose.

 

5.   I am aware that Foundation staff are available to assist with writing grant proposals.

 

 

Institutional Effectiveness (Planning, Assessment, Research)

 

6.   I am aware that CFCC has a Planning and Research Office.

 

7.   I have had contact and/or requested assistance from the planning and research office within the past year.

 

8.   My requests for services or information have been handled within a reasonable time.

 

9.   Products produced by this office are of good quality (CFCC FACT BOOK, website, reports, etc.). 

 

10. I have visited the college’s Institutional Effectiveness (IE) website.

 

11. I am aware that CFCC has an on-going Institutional Effectiveness (planning and assessment) process.

 

12. The Institutional Effectiveness process is effectively communicated.

 

13. I am given the opportunity and have participated in annual planning and assessment within my department or planning unit.  

 

317.  Some of the survey classes that are mandatory are very large and over crowded. I have difficulty managing classes with more than 25 or 30 students. I think these classes could be split and have two sections.

 

 

Public Information

 

14. CFCC publications are accurate, attractive and present a positive image of the college to the public.

 

317.  Compared to colleges in other cities, CFCC seems to have fewer billboards, handouts, TV commercials, and other info for the public. (registration dates and new course info) Billboards are a great way to educate the public about the school and its goals. I would know more about it myself.

 

15.  CFCC programs and services are effectively promoted to the public.

 

16. Requests for public information services are handled in a professional manner.

 

17. The Public Information Office provides the services you need. If not, what services would you suggest?

 

 

Printing Services

 

18. Printing Services staff is courteous and polite.

 

260.  #18-22-I’ve never been told what Printing Services are available to me or what could be provided.

 

19. Photocopy requests are processed in a timely manner.

 

20. Photocopy requests are processed correctly.

 

21. Publication requests are handled in a timely manner.

 

22. The Printing Services department provides all the services my department needs. If not, what services would you suggest?

 

278.  We need a copier that we can make unlimited copies (as long as they relate to our classes or school).

 

 

Business Office

 

23. Staff is courteous and helpful.

 

317.  I was told part-time people cannot use direct deposit. Is there a charge for this? This would be a nice service for people who take up the “extra” classes that full-time cannot handle. Especially during holidays, I would appreciate being paid like the “full-time” employees.

 

24. Quality of services provided by the cashier’s window is satisfactory.

 

25. The business office provides adequate and timely budget reports to departments. 

 

26. Final budget allocations are relayed to department-level personnel. 

 

27. Budget transfers are clear and made known to the programs involved.

 

28. Payroll services are adequate to meet my needs. 

 

260.  Direct deposit for part-time faculty.

 

278.  Checks for part-time personnel could also be drafted in our banks.

 

316.  Would like direct deposit made available to part-time faculty.

 

29. Services for parking are satisfactory for my needs.

 

258.  The parking lot for part-time faculty on Nutt Street is inadequate. Faculty arriving later than before 8:00 a.m. have to wait up to ¾ hour to get a parking slot when someone pulls out. It is ridiculous to subject part-time faculty to these conditions. This is not a new situation.

 

260.  Part-time faculty without offices carry the most materials to/from their autos each day, yet frequently have to park several blocks from their class buildings. Adjunct lot is overfilled and should be limited to part-time faculty.

 

277.  I have to park in the Auxiliary parking lot where there are 30 some spaces for approximately 150 parking permits. These permits are given to anyone who needs a space regardless of need. There should be a parking lot for part-time instructors so they would not have to come to work 2 hours early to get a parking space.

 

282. Parking is very inadequate. I do not believe the guard does an effective job of patrolling the auxiliary lot. Numerous times I find students and non-employee tagged cars in the auxiliary lot across from Coastline. Also, the lot is too small. It is very difficult to do an effective job of teaching when you have spent the morning hustling for a parking space.

 

316.  Part-time faculty have to arrive an hour early to fight for a decent parking space.

 

317.  The part-time parking is very small! My car has been hit 2 or 3 times there (with no notes). I teach 7 classes now (yes, I am part-time) and am sad about my car.

 

30. My travel requests are processed within a reasonable time.

 

 

Purchasing/Receiving, Inventory, Mailroom

 

31. Staff is courteous and helpful.

 

32. My purchase requisitions are processed within a reasonable time.

 

33. Purchasing policies and procedures are communicated and easy to follow.

 

34. Inventory procedures are effectively communicated and easy to follow.

 

35. Mailroom services are satisfactory.

 

 

Computer Services

 

36. Staff is courteous and helpful.

 

37. HELP desk calls/requests for services are handled within a reasonable time.

 

38. Technical support provided by computer services is adequate for my needs. 

 

39. Training for the use of computers and software meets my needs.

 

260.  I’ve frequently noticed staff who have not been trained in the basic office packages. All should be required to go through training so they can most effectively uses their resources. I hate to see someone spend lots of extra time, when a program could make the task effortless.

 

 

Information Technology

 

40. Information technology available at CFCC is adequate to meet the needs of the college.

 

260.  Too many virus programs are getting past the Command Software Virus program. Either the tool is inadequate or the installation has not been set up for maximum protection. For example, scan every incoming file and pre-check all floppy disks and other removable media before allowing access to the network.

 

41. Replacement of college computers and software is consistent with current technology.

 

260.  We’re teaching MS Office programs released 5 years ago.

 

277.  #41-45-Computers as well as office space is an after thought for part-time instructors even though some of us are teaching more than full-time instructors. I am dropped from “GroupWise” every semester and must trace down and get back on the system. My computer is an old has been and will not do what is needed to keep up with the process of making out test and other processes needed for the classes I teach. P.S. I don’t even have an office.

 

42. Computer equipment in my work area is adequate for my needs.

 

260. 42&43-The computers part-time faculty use downtown is so old that it cannot run some of the programs that we’re teaching. This makes it very difficult to prepare and test lesson plans.

 

43. Computer software in my work area is up-to-date and adequate for my needs.

 

 

Bookstore

 

44. Staff is courteous and helpful.

 

45. Required texts and materials are available for students and classroom use in a reasonable time.

 

316.  Not in this universe.

 

46. The hours of operation are satisfactory.

 

 

Food Services

 

47. Staff is courteous and helpful.

 

48. The quality and variety of food selections are satisfactory.

 

49. Hours of operation are satisfactory.

 

50. Maintenance and cleanliness of the food services area are satisfactory.

 

 

Housekeeping Services

 

51. Staff is courteous and helpful.

 

52. Variety and types of housekeeping services provided are adequate.

 

53. Buildings and classrooms are clean and well kept.

 

261. Buildings are kept clean except floors of 6th floor of McLeod building. They are consistently dirty and there seems to be no effort to clean them.

 

54. Bathrooms are clean and stocked adequately.

 

260.  Some waste cans in each stall downtown would be helpful as would shelves and/or hooks on the wall. It’s quite hard to wash hands with a pile of books in arms. North Campus also needs shelves/hooks and the towel dispenser moved so it doesn’t activate the closest sink’s water. As a design thought for future bathrooms, no one likes turning a handle to get out due to some people not washing hands. Push doors would be preferred.

 

316.  Sometimes run out of paper and towels by early afternoon.

 

55. Overall, housekeeping services are satisfactory.

 

 

Facilities Maintenance

 

56. Staff is courteous and helpful.

 

57. Staff responds to requests for services within a 5-day timeframe.

 

58.  Procedures for requesting services are effectively communicated.

 

59. The buildings and grounds are maintained in good functional order.

 

60. The general appearance of the college landscape is attractive and neat.

 

61. Maintenance and upkeep of college facilities are satisfactory.

 

317.  I do not know who to call about broken things. In the past, people I have notified have said “ok”, yet the water fountain in McLeod is still broken 2 years later, (3rd floor), missing tile on the way to library (upstairs) (downtown). Broken Smartcart in S324. (w/falling down cabinet on wall). Bathrooms without locks on floor 2 in McLeod. It is depressing to feel that no one maintains our school. Some of the classroom downtown are dry mopped but never cleaned. There is years of gunk in corners. Compared to the North Campus, the downtown needs some real cleaning (or someone to supervise it).

 

 

Safety and Security 

 

62.      Emergency and evacuation procedures are adequate.  

273.  #62-65-Security needs to be worked on. When I taught in the L building, a student in class was harassing me and saying threatening things to me. I was terrified to leave the class alone and always tried to leave with the class. When I confided in my chair, she told me I was too “cute” and should stop “smiling so much.” When I turned to the dean and asked if I could initiate a violence committee to discuss how to deal with these students, she said there were already procedures in place, but there aren’t. This student continued to harass me until he was killed in a car accident as he was fleeing the police. Another student used to put notes in my mailbox about how he was looking for my house. Fellow teachers have had students write them pornographic poetry. Many of us are threatened on the last day when final grades are handed out. On my evaluations one student wrote obscene things, and still my chair laughed it off. I hate to be sexist, but it’s very hard to be a young female teacher here. It’s also scary. At the very least, we should have intercoms in all classrooms. We also need to have set guidelines in dealing with these students. A colleague of mine had to sit on a committee to decide what to do with a student who tried to run over a teacher with his truck after a grade dispute. This is ridiculous. Teachers need more support in this area.

63. CFCC has a safety plan that is updated periodically and available on the CFCC Intranet.

 

64. I know where to go for first aid services.

 

316.  What first aid services?

 

65. Prompt action is taken when a security or safety problem arises.

 

66. Campus security is satisfactory.

 

316.  Has anyone had stolen property recovered?

 

67. Lighting in parking areas is adequate.

 

260.  Very dark walking to parking lots allowed for part-time faculty in the winter, even at 5:00 p.m.

 

275.  Lights on back walkway at North Campus are out by the time night classes are over. If we could have these on al late as the night classes are scheduled that would make all who are exited that way feel comfortable. Thank you.

 

 

Personnel Office

 

68. Staff is knowledgeable about policies and procedures.

 

260.  #68-90-Part-time faculty aren’t included in these activities. I would like to understand a bit more so I can help my students.

 

69. Staff follows policies and procedures and administers them accordingly.

 

260.  It seems that part-time faculty may be used to avoid paying full-time salary and benefits. While I love my job, it’s hard to teach 5, 6, 7 classes and be paid for less than 21 hours per week, when the actual workload far exceeds a 40-hour week full-time position. I had thought that to ensure quality, consistent instruction, part-time faculty was to be used for temporary needs or when the workload required the addition of a less than full-time instructor. My understanding of the policy was that part-time faculty couldn’t be used to fill long-term full-time needs. I hope I’m not shooting myself in the foot here, but I do feel that well-educated students come from knowledgeable, consistent, long-term faculty who contrive to improve their methods and processes, than instruction from a variety of faculty who have differing teaching skills and technical knowledge.

 

70. Personnel policies are communicated effectively.

 

71. Personnel office staff provides valuable services to the college.

 

260.  It would be so wonderful if part-time faculty teaching 3 or more classes could sign up for medical insurance (at our won expense). This would be a great benefit to help a population, who don’t have access to group healthcare, with no cost to CFCC. Three classes = 9 paid hours a week = an average of 22-27 work hours when including lesson plans, class prep, grading, assignment/exam development, schedule syllabus development, one-on-one student meetings, etc.

 

272.  Need orientation for new part-time instructors. New instructors have to find out all information on their own.

 

72. Benefit information is provided and explained in a manner that is easily understood.

 

73. Benefit enrollments are handled properly.

 

317.  Can part-time people pay to be part of the “group plan” here? In many states, part-time employees have right to insurance. (even teacher unions)

 

74. I am aware that an open enrollment period is held annually for employees to change their benefit elections.

 

75. Personnel recruitment process is handled in an organized, consistent manner in accordance with college policies.

 

 

Student Development

 

76. Staff is courteous and helpful with students, faculty and staff. 

   

77. Policies and procedures accommodate students, faculty, and staff.

 

78. Student access to counselors is adequate.