WNCC 2010 Self-Study Report - Western Nebraska Community ...

Consistent with good planning and guided educational growth, the courses taken by a faculty
member proposed to be submitted for salary advancement are required to be pre-approved by the
Division Chair and the Dean of Educational Services. As mentioned elsewhere, if the College
requires or requests that a faculty member take a course or attain certifications, all expenses are
paid by WNCC, and in many cases salary advancement is also allowed. This policy includes
degree enhancement. For instance, nursing faculty members who previously did not possess a
master’s degree were fully supported in attaining one—including payment of tuition, fees, and
books. Additionally, the coursework was counted toward advancement on the salary scale
The VSET survey found that 100% of the 26 responding full-time faculty to be aware of the policy
for movement on the salary scale based upon educational achievement. Just over 92% (24 of 26)
also report use of professional development funds for continuing education. The following table
demonstrates the rise in the number of full-time faculty members taking advantage of the salary
movement (blue scale) linked to continuing education during the previous three years:
Figure 7-36 Faculty Salary Movement per Year Based on Continuing Education
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
51 50
60
21
23
12
16% 29% 31.5%
2005‐2006 2006‐2007 2007‐2008
No Move for Cont. Ed.
Salary Move for Cont. Ed.
Job Descriptions
Faculty members come to know the expectations for excellence in instruction through the job
description, which they get in the packet when they interview for a position. The faculty member
job description signals the College’s priorities by the Definition section at the head of the document,
which details both teaching and service obligations related to teaching, as follows:
A WNCC Instructor is directly responsible for teaching courses, course design and
preparation, preparing course outlines, counseling and advising students, assisting in the
development of the official course syllabus, regulating student conduct, instituting a
consistent testing program, maintaining accurate student records, serving actively on
committees, and sponsoring student activities under the supervision of the Division Chair,
Dean of Instruction, and Vice President of Educational and Student Services. Related
responsibilities include keeping current in the teaching field, recommending pertinent library
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