KPU moves closer to launching professor titles for instructors and academic administrators

Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s senate voted in favour of recommending the school’s board of governors approve a draft policy that introduces professor titles for faculty during a meeting on March 3.

Policy and Procedure AC16 Academic Title Awards outlines that “all regularized faculty” will be eligible to apply for academic title awards, including non-instructional faculty. The policy also applies to academic administrators with leadership responsibilities, such as the president, provost, deans and associate deans, associate vice-presidents academic, and research chairs, among others.

“After months of consultation — and now … 14 years talking about this around KPU — we finally arrived at an actual decision, a real moment in the university’s history,” Associate Vice-President Academic David Burns said.

“We’ve seen a shift from the initial argument we faced, which was that nobody or a very, very tiny number of people are interested in academic title at KPU. We saw quite a lot [from] town hall, committee meetings, and consultations that that’s not true [and] there’s tremendous interest all over the university for the right kind of policy.”

Each of the proposed titles aim to recognize levels of achievement in teaching; research, scholarship, and creative activities; and/or service, according to the meeting’s agenda.

“Any of those is sufficient,” Burns said. “So there’s no link to degree levels at all in the structure. For example, an exemplary teaching record is fully sufficient on its own.”

The first-level award is assistant professor or teaching professor, which acknowledges a “foundational level of achievement.” The second-level award is associate professor, which recognizes a “substantial level of achievement.” Professor, which can also be referred to as full professor, is the third level, recognizing a “distinguished level of achievement.”

Those eligible can apply for any title, regardless of whether they held a previous academic title, meaning an applicant can apply for a professor title without already holding an associate professor title, the meeting’s agenda read.

Instructors, directors of a teaching centre or institute, or research chairs temporarily visiting KPU for a defined period from another post-secondary institution can be visiting professors.

Senators shared several comments on the motion once it was brought to the floor, expressing different views on policy and procedure.

“[The] conclusion that I’ve come to from talking to colleagues and reading the policy blog is that moving ahead with this policy, at this time, would damage the relationship between KPU leadership and faculty,” physics instructor Fergal Callaghan said.

Callaghan added a colleague sent him an analysis of the comments on the policy blog about AC16, finding most were opposed to it.

“I think the dominant perception on faculties of the policy, that is, although it’s written for them, [it’s] still being moved forward despite the fact that most faculty seem to oppose it.”

KPU President Alan Davis said he challenges the assumption that most faculty do not want academic titles, instead finding a “substantial majority” are in favour of it from KPU’s policy consultations.

“Even if it’s a minority of faculty who [believe in] having academic title duly awarded through an appropriate process … it seems to me [that] it’s voluntary, and secondly, we should honour that minority voice,” he said. “That’s what we do at KPU.”

Nursing instructor Catherine Schwichtenberg said she believes this policy will change the culture of KPU.

“There is a lot to be said for having a title, and the common reason that gets used is the ability to apply for grants, to apply to be a thesis advisor, that kind of thing,” Schwichtenberg said.

“I do think that [KPU] is at a time when we can have professors with us. I hold us to account and I believe we are more than capable of ensuring that it doesn’t become a situation of the haves versus the have nots.”

Millwright instructor Bob Davis said while he is in support of academic titles, he is not supporting the policy at this time.

“We’re limiting it to the members of senate to make a decision on a policy that’s going to be implemented and run by senate, of which could change at any time without the approval of the thousand-plus faculty that work at KPU,” he said.

Product design instructor Lindsay Norris said that when KPU instructors go to other institutions when engaging in partnerships or are competing for research grants, they are not seen as at the same level.

“I think that’s a really hard way for our faculty to be viewed,” Norris said. “So I think on that side of it, I can really see their compassion and their empathy towards wanting this.”

Melville School of Business instructor Hannah Celinski said regardless of the policy, KPU continues to have the opportunity to make itself stand out in the future.

“If you are listing yourself as an associate or an assistant professor, and your name is up against someone who is from [the University of British Columbia] or a metropolitan university, your standing may still have an uphill battle,” Celinski said.

Provost and Vice-President Academic Diane Purvey said it is important for the senate to keep KPU students in mind as well.

“I hear a lot from students who say that having a faculty member write them a letter of reference — whether it’s for a teacher education program or grad school — [and] identifying themselves as a professor helps them,” Purvey said.

The senate also moved to establish a standing committee on academic title awards mandate and membership composition. The committee will make recommendations to the provost about awarding applicants associate professor and professor titles. The provost’s office will receive, review, and decide directly on whether to approve or deny applications for the title of assistant professor.

“Senate always makes good decisions because of the collective wisdom that you bring to the table — and I have full faith in senate always,” Alan Davis said.

“Sometimes, it’s a very difficult vote. They’ve made some very tough decisions, but the governance process we have is actually very solid. When senate makes its mark, it resonates, and I would trust it either way.”

For more information about KPU’s senate, visit www.kpu.ca/senate.