Media Credit: Courtesy of Kavita Daiya
Kavita Daiya, the director of the women’s, gender and sexuality studies program, said she received approval for one part-time faculty member this semester.
News By Isha Trivedi Feb 1, 2021 12:43 AM
Almost one year after administrators implemented a hiring freeze to offset the financial impacts of COVID-19, department chairs said they have struggled to offer enough classes without part-time faculty members.
Provost Brian Blake said he has still been approving certain hires during the freeze that officials had an “absolute need” for, but he won’t feel comfortable lifting the freeze until administrators have a better idea of the status of the fall semester. Department chairs said they often rely on part-time faculty members to teach lower-level courses and leave electives to full-time professors, but the hiring freeze has forced more full-time faculty into introductory courses, limiting elective offerings.