Faculty Productivity

What is it?

This measure calculates the number of student credit hours per full-time instructional faculty member during the 2005-06 academic year. Typically, one credit hour equals roughly 15 contact hours and represents 50 minutes of instruction per week over a 15-week semester. 

Why does it matter?

It is important to measure and track the productivity of instructional faculty members, expressed in terms of the number of student credit hours taught (a typical course enrollment is three credit hours). A credit hour is a unit of measurement representing progress made toward completion of the requirement of a degree, diploma, certificate or other formal award. Typically, full-time faculty at PASSHE universities teach an average of eight courses per year (fall and spring semesters), but the number of students enrolled in those sections varies widely.

How are we doing?  

The most recent six-year change in the number of credit hours taught has increased faster than the increase in faculty. This has resulted in a 6.6% increase in faculty productivity. The improved efficiency has not led to significant increases in class sizes. All students at PASSHE universities are taught by professors or instructors, not graduate assistants. 

 <<Return to Performance Funding home