Faculty Teaching Loads
The difficulties encountered by administrators of music programs faced with the need for fair and equitable load distribution among staff members are unique. No other discipline offers the variety of instructional situations: individual and group applied instruction; straight lecture (as in music history); lecture with studio (as in music theory); methods courses and student teaching; large and small ensembles; coaching for chamber music or solo recital; master classes; workshops; thesis advisement; etc. No other discipline demands such a variety of professional activities beyond teaching: research; performance; composition; committee assignments; professional memberships; etc. No other discipline has so many problems in establishing a single criterion for determining normal faculty load: credit hours; contact or clock hours; number of students handled. Furthermore, it is quite common that an individual staff member will be assigned several different responsibilities and instructional situations within his load in one and the same semester.
The College Music Society, through its Committee on Faculty Workloads, has been interested in the problem for several years, desirous of surveying exactly what is happening in the field, and hopeful of establishing reasonable criteria as a point of reference for administrators and faculty in assigning workloads. A step in that direction has been taken through the statistical surveys conducted by the National Association of Schools of Music. The latest of these, compiled by Robby D. Gunstream, is herein printed.
NASM's approach, as Mr. Gunstream explains in his introduction, is to separate the components of a teaching load into several "duties," to ask specific questions regarding each duty (the questions are carefully enumerated by Mr. Gunstream), and to pose the question: what would a full-time load be if a faculty member were to perform only one of these duties in a given semester? The results, of necessity, are only hypothetical, telling us not "what is," but "what would be if." Nonetheless, the reader can draw several tentative conclusions from the study, among them the following:
- For lecture courses, loads would generally appear to be somewhat heavier as the number of majors decreases.
- For ensembles, loads would generally appear to be somewhat heavier as the number of majors increases.
- Credit hours and contact hours would appear to be high for applied instruction.
- No consistent differences seem to occur between private and public institutions in ensemble direction, though significant variation can be found between individual items in several categories.
- By and large, loads for applied instruction appear to be significantly heavier in public institutions, at least in terms of credit hours and students handled; on the other hand, there seems to be little significant variation in terms of contact hours.
- Student advisement also would appear to be higher in public institutions when reckoned in credit or contact hours.
- No formal load recognition for faculty solo recitals would appear to be available in private institutions; indeed, only the larger public institutions offer significant recognition in this area.
- In the supervision of student teaching, private institutions would appear to carry the heavier loads in terms of credit hours, public institutions in terms of contact hours.
- In thesis advisement, the loads in public institutions would appear to be far heavier.
As is clear, Mr. Gunstream's survey provides much useful data, though important information yet remains to be gathered and interpreted. For example, how many of Mr. Gunstream's hypothetical "duties" actually provide the basis for determining a faculty load? How much do significant differences in load assignment (see, for example, the statistics under Thesis Advisement) reflect student enrollment patterns? Finally, and perhaps most significant, what happens to a faculty load when duties are mixed?
N.A.S.M. SURVEY
The National Association of Schools of Music began its study of faculty teaching loads in 1969. At that time four generic concerns were addressed and the results were published in the 1969-70 edition of Music in Higher Education, the annual statistical report. This generated interest in the subject and by 1972 a system had been developed for the study of twelve duties most often considered as faculty responsibilities.
The purpose of the initial research was to determine national averages for full-time teaching loads. It was decided that the most accurate way to determine these figures would be to solicit each institution's response to a hypothetical case. The format of the study was based on the following questions for each specific faculty duty:
- Is this a required faculty duty?
- Is credit toward a full-time teaching load granted for the performance of this duty?
- If credit is granted, what method is used: credit hours, clock hours weekly, or number of students?
- If a faculty member were to perform only this duty, what would be the number of units cited in response to question three that would constitute a full-time teaching load?
The resulting national averages for all reporting institutions reveal the hypothetical full-time teaching load for each specific duty listed.
Reading the Faculty Teaching Loads Chart
Institutions were categorized by type of support, public or private, and further subdivided by size of music major enrollment.
Column one indicates the number of institutions reporting in each category.
Column two reveals the number of institutions reporting that this faculty duty is a required faculty responsibility.
Columns three through six indicate the credit granting policy of reporting institutions. Column three indicates the number of institutions at which the duty is required but for which no credit toward a full-time teaching load is granted. Columns four through six indicate the average number of credit hours, clock hours, and, where applicable, number of students receiving one hour of faculty time per week which would constitute a full-time teaching load if faculty members performed only that specific duty.
The National Association of Schools of Music welcomes inquiries concerning this and other statistical studies.
CLASS LECTURE (SINGLE SECTION)
| Credit Granting Policy |
No. Music Majors |
No. Rptg. |
No. Rptg. Applicable |
No Credit Granted |
Credit Hours (Avg.) |
Clock Hours (Avg.) |
| PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS |
| 1 - 50 | 69 | 69 | 1 | 14.0 | 13.8 | |
| 51-100 | 59 | 58 | 0 | 12.6 | 13.6 | |
| 101-200 | 45 | 45 | 0 | 12.9 | 14.0 | |
| 201 + | 39 | 39 | 0 | 12.5 | 11.4 |
| PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS |
| 1 - 100 | 40 | 40 | 0 | 13.2 | 14.0 | |
| 101-200 | 65 | 65 | 0 | 12.9 | 12.7 | |
| 201-400 | 58 | 58 | 0 | 12.2 | 13.5 | |
| 401 + | 47 | 47 | 0 | 12.1 | 11.8 |
CLASS LECTURE (MULTIPLE SECTIONS)
| Credit Granting Policy |
No. Music Majors |
No. Rptg. |
No. Rptg. Applicable |
No Credit Granted |
Credit Hours (Avg.) |
Clock Hours (Avg.) |
| PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS |
| 1 - 50 | 69 | 48 | 1 | 13.6 | 13.2 | |
| 51-100 | 59 | 51 | 2 | 13.3 | 14.1 | |
| 101-200 | 45 | 41 | 0 | 13.4 | 14.5 | |
| 201 + | 39 | 37 | 0 | 12.8 | 13.0 |
| PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS |
| 1 - 100 | 40 | 33 | 0 | 13.6 | 14.9 | |
| 101-200 | 65 | 56 | 0 | 13.1 | 13.0 | |
| 201-400 | 58 | 53 | 0 | 12.3 | 13.8 | |
| 401 + | 47 | 47 | 0 | 12.3 | 12.2 |
CONDUCTING LARGE ENSEMBLE
| Credit Granting Policy |
No. Music Majors |
No. Rptg. |
No. Rptg. Applicable |
No Credit Granted |
Credit Hours (Avg.) |
Clock Hours (Avg.) |
| PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS |
| 1 - 50 | 69 | 61 | 0 | 9.9 | 19.1 | |
| 51-100 | 59 | 57 | 3 | 11.3 | 16.7 | |
| 101-200 | 45 | 41 | 0 | 11.1 | 15.3 | |
| 201 + | 39 | 36 | 1 | 11.6 | 15.3 |
| PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS |
| 1 - 100 | 40 | 39 | 2 | 11.6 | 14.9 | |
| 101-200 | 65 | 65 | 0 | 11.4 | 15.8 | |
| 201-400 | 58 | 58 | 0 | 12.4 | 15.0 | |
| 401 + | 47 | 47 | 0 | 10.2 | 15.5 |
FACULTY RESEARCH PROJECTS
| Credit Granting Policy |
No. Music Majors |
No. Rptg. |
No. Rptg. Applicable |
No Credit Granted |
Credit Hours (Avg.) |
Clock Hours (Avg.) |
| PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS |
| 1 - 50 | 69 | 56 | 46 | 9.0 | 20.3 | |
| 51-100 | 59 | 51 | 45 | 12.5 | 0.0 | |
| 101-200 | 45 | 44 | 33 | 14.0 | 31.6 | |
| 201 + | 39 | 38 | 31 | 0.0 | 19.3 |
| PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS |
| 1 - 100 | 40 | 39 | 32 | 0.0 | 34.0 | |
| 101-200 | 65 | 60 | 51 | 13.0 | 27.0 | |
| 201-400 | 58 | 54 | 43 | 12.0 | 27.6 | |
| 401 + | 47 | 46 | 31 | 12.0 | 31.3 |
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSIGNMENTS
| Credit Granting Policy |
No. Music Majors |
No. Rptg. |
No. Rptg. Applicable |
No Credit Granted |
Credit Hours (Avg.) |
Clock Hours (Avg.) |
| PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS |
| 1 - 50 | 69 | 55 | 30 | 9.4 | 31.3 | |
| 51-100 | 59 | 53 | 28 | 0.0 | 33.4 | |
| 101-200 | 45 | 39 | 23 | 11.0 | 29.9 | |
| 201 + | 39 | 37 | 14 | 11.5 | 30.1 |
| PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS |
| 1 - 100 | 40 | 34 | 21 | 12.0 | 33.4 | |
| 101-200 | 65 | 54 | 36 | 10.7 | 36.3 | |
| 201-400 | 58 | 54 | 24 | 12.0 | 35.0 | |
| 401 + | 47 | 45 | 38 | 11.6 | 40.9 |
COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS
| Credit Granting Policy |
No. Music Majors |
No. Rptg. |
No. Rptg. Applicable |
No Credit Granted |
Credit Hours (Avg.) |
Clock Hours (Avg.) |
| PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS |
| 1 - 50 | 69 | 63 | 56 | 9.0 | 0.0 | |
| 51-100 | 59 | 55 | 55 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| 101-200 | 45 | 43 | 23 | 11.0 | 29.9 | |
| 201 + | 39 | 37 | 14 | 11.5 | 30.1 |
| PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS |
| 1 - 100 | 40 | 38 | 35 | 0.0 | 40.0 | |
| 101-200 | 65 | 63 | 55 | 11.8 | 40.0 | |
| 201-400 | 58 | 55 | 50 | 13.5 | 26.0 | |
| 401 + | 47 | 45 | 35 | 11.0 | 37.0 |
COACHING SMALL ENSEMBLE
| Credit Granting Policy |
No. Music Majors |
No. Rptg. |
No. Rptg. Applicable |
No Credit Granted |
Credit Hours (Avg.) |
Clock Hours (Avg.) |
| PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS |
| 1 - 50 | 69 | 59 | 21 | 10.6 | 21.6 | |
| 51-100 | 59 | 50 | 16 | 10.6 | 17.7 | |
| 101-200 | 45 | 39 | 9 | 12.3 | 21.8 | |
| 201 + | 39 | 34 | 2 | 13.5 | 19.0 |
| PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS |
| 1 - 100 | 40 | 37 | 9 | 13.2 | 18.8 | |
| 101-200 | 65 | 59 | 4 | 14.3 | 19.3 | |
| 201-400 | 58 | 55 | 5 | 12.9 | 17.4 | |
| 401 + | 47 | 46 | 3 | 14.2 | 19.0 |
PRIVATE OR SMALL GROUP PERFORMANCE INSTRUCTION
| Credit Granting Policy |
No. Music Majors |
No. Rptg. |
No. Rptg. Applicable |
No Credit Granted |
Credit Hours (Avg.) |
Clock Hours (Avg.) |
No. of Students |
| PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS |
| 1 - 50 | 69 | 67 | 4 | 25.2 | 21.6 | 21.8 | |
| 51-100 | 59 | 58 | 2 | 19.8 | 20.0 | 19.5 | |
| 101-200 | 45 | 43 | 1 | 16.0 | 21.9 | 12.7 | |
| 201 + | 39 | 39 | 2 | 15.0 | 19.8 | 11.0 |
| PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS |
| 1 - 100 | 40 | 38 | 2 | 30.5 | 19.3 | 24.4 | |
| 101-200 | 65 | 59 | 1 | 23.6 | 21.7 | 20.6 | |
| 201-400 | 58 | 57 | 1 | 20.0 | 19.1 | 28.2 | |
| 401 + | 47 | 47 | 0 | 30.7 | 19.7 | 14.8 |
PREPARING STUDENT FOR SOLO RECITAL
| Credit Granting Policy |
No. Music Majors |
No. Rptg. |
No. Rptg. Applicable |
No Credit Granted |
Credit Hours (Avg.) |
Clock Hours (Avg.) |
| PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS |
| 1 - 50 | 69 | 48 | 8 | 11.7 | 18.1 | |
| 51-100 | 59 | 43 | 4 | 14.6 | 17.0 | |
| 101-200 | 45 | 34 | 2 | 12.6 | 18.3 | |
| 201 + | 39 | 33 | 0 | 13.1 | 16.7 |
| PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS |
| 1 - 100 | 40 | 34 | 3 | 13.4 | 17.7 | |
| 101-200 | 65 | 56 | 3 | 14.8 | 17.7 | |
| 201-400 | 58 | 57 | 3 | 12.1 | 17.7 | |
| 401 + | 47 | 45 | 2 | 12.5 | 17.4 |
STUDENT ADVISEMENT
| Credit Granting Policy |
No. Music Majors |
No. Rptg. |
No. Rptg. Applicable |
No Credit Granted |
Credit Hours (Avg.) |
Clock Hours (Avg.) |
No. of Students |
| PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS |
| 1 - 50 | 69 | 50 | 29 | 10.0 | 18.5 | 0.0 | |
| 51-100 | 59 | 33 | 26 | 12.0 | 18.0 | 0.0 | |
| 101-200 | 45 | 36 | 25 | 11.0 | 26.3 | 38.3 | |
| 201 + | 39 | 35 | 25 | 0.0 | 14.0 | 24.7 |
| PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS |
| 1 - 100 | 40 | 24 | 14 | 12.0 | 23.3 | 0.0 | |
| 101-200 | 65 | 56 | 35 | 13.5 | 21.8 | 23.8 | |
| 201-400 | 58 | 52 | 28 | 0.0 | 26.6 | 31.4 | |
| 401 + | 47 | 46 | 23 | 13.5 | 26.5 | 0.0 |
FACULTY SOLO RECITAL PREPARATION
| Credit Granting Policy |
No. Music Majors |
No. Rptg. |
No. Rptg. Applicable |
No Credit Granted |
Credit Hours (Avg.) |
Clock Hours (Avg.) |
| PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS |
| 1 - 50 | 69 | 43 | 37 | 0.0 | 40.0 | |
| 51-100 | 59 | 22 | 22 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| 101-200 | 45 | 34 | 29 | 0.0 | 31.5 | |
| 201 + | 39 | 24 | 21 | 0.0 | 18.0 |
| PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS |
| 1 - 100 | 40 | 28 | 24 | 0.0 | 34.7 | |
| 101-200 | 65 | 59 | 53 | 0.0 | 25.3 | |
| 201-400 | 58 | 49 | 40 | 10.3 | 38.0 | |
| 401 + | 47 | 46 | 28 | 12.5 | 32.9 |
FACULTY ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE PREPARATION
| Credit Granting Policy |
No. Music Majors |
No. Rptg. |
No. Rptg. Applicable |
No Credit Granted |
Credit Hours (Avg.) |
Clock Hours (Avg.) |
| PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS |
| 1 - 50 | 69 | 48 | 39 | 0.0 | 20.7 | |
| 51-100 | 59 | 45 | 39 | 12.5 | 0.0 | |
| 101-200 | 45 | 39 | 30 | 12.0 | 33.1 | |
| 201 + | 39 | 34 | 25 | 12.0 | 26.7 |
| PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS |
| 1 - 100 | 40 | 36 | 27 | 0.0 | 29.9 | |
| 101-200 | 65 | 57 | 43 | 18.0 | 30.8 | |
| 201-400 | 58 | 56 | 31 | 12.0 | 25.7 | |
| 401 + | 47 | 43 | 19 | 12.0 | 27.4 |
CLASS PERFORMANCE INSTRUCTION
| Credit Granting Policy |
No. Music Majors |
No. Rptg. |
No. Rptg. Applicable |
No Credit Granted |
Credit Hours (Avg.) |
Clock Hours (Avg.) |
No. of Students |
| PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS |
| 1 - 50 | 69 | 64 | 53 | 9.0 | 19.0 | 0.0 | |
| 51-100 | 59 | 56 | 46 | 15.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| 101-200 | 45 | 43 | 36 | 18.0 | 23.6 | 0.0 | |
| 201 + | 39 | 39 | 31 | 0.0 | 25.4 | 0.0 |
| PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS |
| 1 - 100 | 40 | 39 | 32 | 12.0 | 23.3 | 0.0 | |
| 101-200 | 65 | 63 | 50 | 25.5 | 20.1 | 0.0 | |
| 201-400 | 58 | 56 | 40 | 20.7 | 20.2 | 34.8 | |
| 401 + | 47 | 45 | 31 | 13.5 | 24.7 | 0.0 |
SUPERVISION OF STUDENT TEACHING
| Credit Granting Policy |
No. Music Majors |
No. Rptg. |
No. Rptg. Applicable |
No Credit Granted |
Credit Hours (Avg.) |
Clock Hours (Avg.) |
No. of Students |
| PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS |
| 1 - 50 | 69 | 51 | 24 | 12.4 | 24.0 | 19.1 | |
| 51-100 | 59 | 50 | 11 | 8.7 | 26.6 | 27.8 | |
| 101-200 | 45 | 39 | 5 | 24.0 | 27.8 | 24.5 | |
| 201 + | 39 | 35 | 2 | 14.5 | 21.6 | 23.3 |
| PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS |
| 1 - 100 | 40 | 26 | 6 | 0.0 | 18.3 | 17.5 | |
| 101-200 | 65 | 52 | 11 | 11.6 | 26.0 | 21.8 | |
| 201-400 | 58 | 51 | 4 | 12.7 | 24.2 | 24.3 | |
| 401 + | 47 | 39 | 2 | 12.8 | 26.3 | 25.0 |
THESIS ADVISEMENT AND INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS
| Credit Granting Policy |
No. Music Majors |
No. Rptg. |
No. Rptg. Applicable |
No Credit Granted |
Credit Hours (Avg.) |
Clock Hours (Avg.) |
No. of Students |
| PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS |
| 1 - 50 | 69 | 63 | 55 | 0.0 | 14.0 | 0.0 | |
| 51-100 | 59 | 56 | 50 | 10.0 | 0.0 | 40.0 | |
| 101-200 | 45 | 44 | 40 | 0.0 | 28.0 | 26.7 | |
| 201 + | 39 | 32 | 32 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS |
| 1 - 100 | 40 | 38 | 34 | 0.0 | 40.0 | 26.7 | |
| 101-200 | 65 | 62 | 54 | 15.0 | 40.0 | 0.0 | |
| 201-400 | 58 | 56 | 48 | 12.0 | 40.0 | 0.0 | |
| 401 + | 47 | 41 | 27 | 15.0 | 30.3 | 0.0 |
Last modified on Monday, 12/11/2018