26, no. 2 (Winter 1995): 45-46
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Highlights of the MLA's Survey of PhD-Granting Modern Language
Departments: Changes in Faculty Size from 1990 to 1994
IN AN effort to collect systematic data on the degree to which modern language departments have been losing faculty lines during the first years of the 1990s, the MLA undertook telephone surveys of stratified, systematic random samples of English and foreign language departments granting PhDs. All departments included in the samples provided the information requested. Analysis revealed that the weighted samples used for data analysis are representative of the larger universe of institutions with PhD-granting programs in English and foreign languages.
Full-Time Tenure-Track Faculty Size
- During the 1990–94 period the size of full-time tenure-track faculties remained unchanged in 38% of the PhD-granting foreign language departments and in 51% of the English departments; faculty size decreased in 38% of the foreign language departments and 28% of the English departments.
- English and foreign language departments that had large full-time tenure-track faculties in 1989–90 are more likely than those that had small faculties to have experienced a decline in faculty size during the 1990–94 period and less likely to have experienced an increase in size.
Vacancies
- During the 1990–94 period, faculty positions became vacant in at least three-quarters of the PhD-granting English and foreign language departments because of retirements or other reasons (e.g., denial of tenure, resignations, deaths).
- Just over two-fifths of the foreign language departments and just over half of the English departments were allocated entirely new positions during the 1990–94 period.
- Close to 9 in 10 foreign language departments and almost all English departments were authorized to fill one or more positions during the 1990–94 period; 42% of the foreign language departments and 60% of the English departments were authorized to fill all available positions.
- Large English and foreign language departments in public institutions were often not authorized to fill all available positions, while small departments in private institutions were frequently authorized to do so.
Enrollments and Majors
- During the 1990–94 period, lower-division enrollments increased in half of the PhD-granting foreign language and in three-fifths of the PhD-granting English departments, while the number of majors increased in half of the foreign language departments and in seven-tenths of the English departments.
- Foreign language departments with the smallest faculties are less likely than those with larger faculties to have experienced an increase in the number of majors, while English departments with the largest regular fulltime faculties are less likely than those with smaller faculties to have experienced an increase in the number of majors.
Changes in Staffing and Course Offerings
- During the 1990–94 period, half of all doctorate-granting foreign language departments increased the number of part-time faculty members and TAs teaching classes. Among English departments, close to two-thirds increased the number of TAs, while a quarter increased the number of part-timers hired annually.
- During the 1990–94 period, 51% of foreign language departments and 38% of English departments offered fewer sections of some multisection courses. Further, 35% of foreign language departments and 58% of English departments offered some upper-division courses less frequently.
- Relatively few English and foreign language departments changed average class sizes during the 1990–94 period. Between 18% and 38% increased the average size of upper-division courses or introductory composition and language classes.
- Approximately half of the foreign language departments and three-fifths of the English departments made changes in staffing and course offerings because of faculty shortages.
- During the 1990–94 period PhD-granting modern language departments were most likely to cope with a shortage of full-time faculty members by offering fewer courses.
- Growth in lower-division enrollments in associated with the employment of larger numbers of TAs and part-timers and a greater ability to maintain class sizes and number of courses offered.
- Modern language departments that did not increase the number of temporary staff members hired during the 1990–94 period were generally unable to maintain their course offerings. A decline in faculty size during the 1990–94 period is also linked to an inability to maintain course offerings.
- Foreign language departments unable to increase the number of TAs and part-timers hired during the 1990–94 period were more likely than other foreign language departments to offer fewer courses or sections of courses. English departments that did not increase the number of temporary faculty members hired were more likely than other English departments to increase average class sizes.
How Typical Are Changes Adopted by Modern Language Departments?
- Seven in ten of the English and foreign language departments included in the response samples said their experiences during the 1990–94 period were typical of at least some of the other humanities departments on their campuses.
- Between 50% and 70% of the respondents in PhD-granting modern language departments agreed with the statement that humanities departments on their campuses have been more severely affected by recent budget cuts than departments in the social and natural sciences have. English respondents in large institutions and foreign language respondents in large departments are especially likely to believe that the humanities have been harder hit by recent budget cuts.
Changes in Faculty Size during the 1980–94 Period
- Although PhD-granting foreign language departments enjoyed modest growth in average faculty size during the 1985–90 period, they tended to lose faculty lines during the 1980–85 and 1990–94 periods.
© 1995 by the Association of Departments of Foreign Languages. All Rights Reserved.
ADFL Bulletin 26, no. 2 (Winter 1995): 45-46 |
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