Bridging the gap between policies and perceptions: Evaluating faculty service in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences

In the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences (PLSC) at the University of Delaware, faculty members have a strong tradition of distinguished scholarship, research, and teaching, which is grounded in a commitment to increase scientific, humanistic, and social knowledge for the enrichment of the larger society. The faculty members' work is usually divided into three specific areas: teaching, research and service. Faculty evaluations are used to determine if faculty members' have been fulfilling their commitments to the specific areas. While the evaluations measure the quality of teaching through student evaluations, and the quality of research through refereed publications, they offer no way to measure the quality of service. In addition to a lack of quality evaluation of service, the view that research, teaching and service are separate and distinct components of a faculty member's work perpetuates a problem that one may be more valued over the other. So what could explain why service activities are undervalued compared to research and teaching activities?;Initially, a fundamental understanding of why service is important and what activities constitute service was needed. Therefore, the first objective of this study was to look at the history of higher education and what role service played. A further review of how much time faculty members are committing to service activities and other areas of faculty work was also needed.;A second objective was to determine how faculty service is evaluated in PLSC and the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR). What criteria are used to document service activities and what evidence demonstrates service and do administrators have the tools to adequately assess the work that is done?;A third objective was to look at how service counts in promotion and tenure decisions as well as faculty workload decisions. Is the rating for faculty service a "make or break" factor in a promotion and tenure decision and has anyone ever not been promoted because of lack of service activities?;A review of promotion and tenure and workload policies in CANR was conducted to determine what defines service and how is it considered. A survey was conducted to assess tenure and tenure-track faculty members' opinions and perceptions of service activities in CANR. Interviews with department chairman were conducted to further investigate the value of service. PLSC, CANR and Faculty Senate minutes and decisions were reviewed to determine the quality of work by committees. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)...