CSU | AS-2551-01/FA | Resolutions

Faculty Office Space in the California State University

AS-2551-01/FA - November 1-2, 2001

RESOLVED: That the Academic Senate of the California State University urge the Chancellor to work closely with campus presidents to seek solutions to the problem of overcrowded faculty offices; and be it further

RESOLVED: That the Academic Senate CSU urge the Chancellor and campus presidents, when determining and allocating faculty office space needs, to take into consideration factors such as the function for which any faculty office space will be used, new technologies, specialized equipment needs, and discipline-specific pedagogies; and be it further

RESOLVED: That the Academic Senate CSU urge the Chancellor to continue to implement the new, more flexible system policy on assignable square footage (ASF) and to ensure that the new policy provide for the expansion, as appropriate, of faculty office space; and be it further

RESOLVED: That the Academic Senate CSU urge campus presidents, in consultation with faculty, to take advantage of the system's interest in providing campuses with greater flexibility in the assignment of new or remodeled space; and be it further

RESOLVED: That the Academic Senate CSU urge the Chancellor, campus senates, and campus presidents to keep high on their list of budget priorities the development of single station faculty office space as recommended in trustee policy (RCPBG 05-86-17).

RATIONALE: Faculty productivity and student-faculty interactions suffer when inadequate and/or inappropriate office space is provided for faculty. As the 21st Century report notes, "measures of the quality of teaching and the effectiveness of learning emphasize contact between teachers and learners." Some of the most valuable time spent with students is outside the classroom when students seek clarification of issues, academic advising, discussion of research endeavors, career advice, etc. Without appropriate office space these interactions are diminished or non-existent. The 21st Century report also highlights that "Chancellor Reynolds made a commitment to end multiple person faculty offices." In addition, trustee policy clearly supports single station offices for full-time faculty. Nearly two decades later, many full-time CSU faculty still share offices, and failure to build more faculty offices has produced serious crowding. The formula (110/FTEF) for faculty office space is dated 1966 and in need not only of an increase, but of revision in the context of our unprecedented growth as a system. With the CSU moving in the direction of year-round operation the problems will only be exacerbated. The time to address the need for more faculty office space is past due and the concerted effort of all will be needed to meet the challenge.

APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY - January 24-25, 2002