University of Virginia Library

Squeeze Effects

Now that the student
enrollment has reached 12,060 with
5,436 in the College of Arts and
Sciences alone, the majority of
people in this academical city are
beginning to feel the effects of the
expansion squeeze. And why not?
With approximately 1100 faculty
members, (when asked for the
precise number the Comptroller's
Office characteristically referred
enquiries to the Student Affairs
Office, while the Provost's Office
stated that faculty come and go so
quickly that it's impossible to keep
track), and approximately 12,000
students we should have a ratio of
roughly one faculty member to
every twelve students. Right? And
giving the faculty the same course
load as the student, (in order to
ensure the best educational
opportunities), if a student is
required to study five courses on a
ratio of 12:1, then a faculty
member should be required to
teach five courses on a ratio of
1:12. Right? And when a faculty
member has more than 12 students
in one class, he should be given a
reduction in the number of courses
he must teach; always bearing in
mind that each student must study
under five faculty members and
each faculty member must teach 60
students. No more. No less.
Equitable treatment in pursuit of
the highest standards of education,
across the board. Right?

Dead wrong! Most faculty
members teach three courses per
semester and are charged with the
instruction of about 3 students
per course. A technical overload of
50 per cent above the ideal.
However, it doesn't just stop there.
Some students have five classes
where minimum daily attendance is
over fifty students. That represents
sometimes a technical overload of
400 per cent. Where is the personal
attention necessary for higher
education in that situation?