2008 Woodie Awards
English department faces office space shortage
Tyler Doyle ; Mass Communication Student
Issue date: 11/19/05 Section: News
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It's a math problem that English chair Terry Engebretson faces every semester-how to divide 40 offices by 90 faculty.
It isn't uncommon for faculty in the department to double, triple, or even have four people to an office. Despite the conditions, they make it work, Engebretson said.
It has been a problem for a long time, he said.
The department has between 80 to 90 people, said Engebretsen, but only about 40 offices.
At least eight of the offices are occupied by more than one person.
Engebretson said that everyone who teaches at ISU has an office. He said that each office is as adequate as the department can make it.
The department tries to have a desk for every office, and, if possible, a computer, Engebretson said.
He said that if conditions were ideal, everyone would have his own office.
But space is still an issue. Each faculty member needs time with students to conference and this can create a problem when faculty need to use their offices.
A problem occurs when one faculty member needs his office at the same time a conferencing faculty member needs it, Engebretson said.
Most faculty understand the department's situation, Engebretson said.
Engebretson said that office assignments are based on seniority. All tenure track faculty get an office, he said. Adjunct and graduate students who teach also get office space, but it is difficult to accommodate everyone, Engebretson said.
Instructor Bill Chalmers says that his office situation works, even though he shares an office with three other faculty.
Chalmers' office is 5 feet by 9 feet. It has room enough for four desks and chairs. No one in the office has a computer.
Although he doesn't have a computer, Chalmers said it isn't a problem. He said that he does most of his work at home.
Chalmers said that everyone in the office has office hours that fit well with the others' schedules.
Conferencing with a student isn't a problem, he said. His office hours allow him to be one-on-one with a student, Chalmers said.
It isn't uncommon for faculty in the department to double, triple, or even have four people to an office. Despite the conditions, they make it work, Engebretson said.
It has been a problem for a long time, he said.
The department has between 80 to 90 people, said Engebretsen, but only about 40 offices.
At least eight of the offices are occupied by more than one person.
Engebretson said that everyone who teaches at ISU has an office. He said that each office is as adequate as the department can make it.
The department tries to have a desk for every office, and, if possible, a computer, Engebretson said.
He said that if conditions were ideal, everyone would have his own office.
But space is still an issue. Each faculty member needs time with students to conference and this can create a problem when faculty need to use their offices.
A problem occurs when one faculty member needs his office at the same time a conferencing faculty member needs it, Engebretson said.
Most faculty understand the department's situation, Engebretson said.
Engebretson said that office assignments are based on seniority. All tenure track faculty get an office, he said. Adjunct and graduate students who teach also get office space, but it is difficult to accommodate everyone, Engebretson said.
Instructor Bill Chalmers says that his office situation works, even though he shares an office with three other faculty.
Chalmers' office is 5 feet by 9 feet. It has room enough for four desks and chairs. No one in the office has a computer.
Although he doesn't have a computer, Chalmers said it isn't a problem. He said that he does most of his work at home.
Chalmers said that everyone in the office has office hours that fit well with the others' schedules.
Conferencing with a student isn't a problem, he said. His office hours allow him to be one-on-one with a student, Chalmers said.