Departments sending the same message
While teaching is great, its been a continuous problem with all departments sending the same message across the institutions entire spectrum. Notable, many of the students are annoyed with these signals but in some instances, its hard to clarify. Ultimately, I feel like the enemy.
I agree, Dearbria, and I can't really understand a situation where there would be differences. Does anyone have any examples of where it would make sense to have a programmatic policy that varies from the overall institution's.
I have worked at different schools, and the more consistency with faculty, staff, and administration, the better relationship students will have. Having programmatic policies sometimes confuses students because they don't know which one to follow...the institution or the program.
Good - and important - question, EmmiE. Any thoughts on how to get an answer?
Erin, departmental presentations can be very productive. A short presentation at a staff meeting can educate others about what happens within a department.
Students getting the same message helps students know that they are on the right track. But is the same message being taught?
I agree. However, I feel that most of this occurs due to a lack of knowledge of how other departments work and function. For instance how can someone explain another department/ class unless they see first hand how it works or talk to a knowlegeable person regarding the issue/ question.
This seems like it should be an easy problem to fix. Active leadership of the organization should be able to identify conflicting messages and work proactively to rectify the situation. Right?
Students find the message annoying because there is very little consistency from department to department. When a student gets conflicting information between departments they tend to shut down and not pay attention to the message any longer. Departments work in silo's sometimes so they are not seeing the entire picture or dealing with student appropriately.
Good point, Catherine. Consistency achieve through written policies is very important. Frequent staff development sessions can be very effective in communicating policies.
I can understand your frustration, Carla. Have you talked about your perceptions to the other departments?
Ah, one of my hot topics, indeed. Faculty has to be on the same page. It is not uncommon for a change in directives to be disseminated by word of mouth in a random fashion. There will always be folks that did not receive the new directive.
It seems that written information, intentionally distributed to all staff would cut down on differences in interpreting policy between terms.
Students crave consistency. When the teachers can't agree on structure, students are left wondering who they can believe and trust.
No one wins in that scenario.
Some times it gets frustrating when faculty are supposed to keep students in the program and other departments are more focused on meeting their quota than who is a good fit for the program.
Joan, I don't think you would find much disagreement but who crafts the message and is responsible for disseminating it? What happens when the message should be changed?
I agree all departments need to send the same message, on the same page, that's the only way it will work.
Dahlia, what are the messages being sent? Do they reflect a formal point of view or policy? Why do the students find them annoying?
Sounds like a problem that requires careful review.
