It's is very common for certain core multi-section classes to be coordinated or standardized in some way. For example, the textbook and sections covered are fixed, or there is a single final exam for all sections. Such arrangements apply to all instructors in that class, no matter what their title. Often there is a "course coordinator" who has some of the responsibility of enacting these department policies. It is not unusual for the coordinator to be tenure-stream research faculty and the other instructors not to be, but it's also not unusual for experienced lecturers or clinical professors to coordinate. (It would be quite unusual for a postdoc or other less experienced person to coordinate.). The level of micromanaging varies by course and department, but usually applies equally to all instructors regardless of title.
manpreet
Best Answer
2 years ago
Do tenured faculty get to micromanage clinical professors and other non-tenured instructors with respect to the classroom?
Shouldn't clinical professors be allowed control of their own classrooms and operate with intellectual freedom (in general)? Let us just assume for the sake of simplicity that we are talking about a clinical professor who has done a good job in the classroom (good student evaluations, good DWF rate, hard working, dynamic, puts in a lot of effort, meets course description, etc.).
"Micromanage" includes things like forcing someone to adapt a communal exam format, removing the ability to emphasize/de-emphasize certain topics in the classroom, etc.
Also, do lecturers, adjuncts, and teaching post-docs (all with PhDs) get the same (or similar) set of rights? Let us assume the same set of circumstances as I listed above for clinical people. What would be the potential consequences of simply saying "No, I won't participate in being micromanaged." and fighting for your right to intellectual freedom?