Standard Number 3.8.3: The institution provides a sufficient number of qualified staff – with appropriate education or experiences in library and/or other learning/information resources – to accomplish the mission of the institution.

Full Compliance

Georgia Southern University complies fully with this standard, providing a sufficient number of highly qualified staff to accomplish the mission of the institution. Central to Georgia Southern University's mission is its strong commitment to be a “university devoted to academic distinction in teaching, scholarship, and service.” ⁶² The University seeks to extend the learning environment not only beyond the classroom, but also beyond campus borders reaching areas throughout southeast Georgia , and furthermore beyond a student's formal education to optimize life-long learning. Georgia Southern sets high expectations for its faculty as teacher-scholars, but also promotes a student-centered environment enhanced by technology. The qualifications of the University's faculty and staff are instrumental in allowing the University to successfully achieve its mission.

Consistent with the Board of Regents policies and with the Association of College and Research Libraries' (ACRL) statement on the “Terminal Professional Degree for Academic Librarians,” Henderson Library operates with sixteen full-time faculty librarians of whom ten are tenured and six are on tenure-track. ⁶³ Another 31 full-time staff complement the professional librarians. In addition, the library employs one temporary librarian and seven part-time staff members. All of the professional librarians—who, at Georgia Southern, also hold faculty rank—have an American Library Association (ALA) accredited master's degree in library science. Four librarians are doctorally-prepared, and three librarians hold graduate faculty status. Qualifications of all the faculty librarians are maintained on file in the Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. Other information pertaining to the library's faculty are found in the library's 2001 and 2002 Annual Reports (see Appendix IV—Faculty Research and Accomplishments; Appendix V—Presentation of Papers or Invited Speeches; Appendix VI—Consulting and Advisory Services; and Appendix VII—Professional Organizations, Boards and Agencies).

The qualifications of library staff include experience and level of education or training commensurate with each position's level of responsibility. All library faculty and staff receive annual performance evaluations as outlined in the University's Faculty Handbook (§ 205, p. 28) and the Human Resources Classified Employee Handbook , as well as supplemented by library policies. Library faculty also undergo pre- and post-tenure review according to University policies (see Faculty Handbook , § 211, p. 33; § 212, pp. 34-35). The pre- and post-tenure review reports are available on file in the Provost's Office. The remaining evaluations are maintained on file in Henderson Library.

Staffing at the Distance Learning Center consists of four full-time personnel and one part-time person. These personnel are sufficient in number and have the requisite education, expertise and skills to achieve the objectives of the Center to provide and support GSAMS videoconferencing and WebCT. Students who serve as GSAMS facilitators and work the WebCT Help Desk are trained and supervised by distance-learning staff. The director of the facility, Ms. Pamela Deal, has an M.Ed. in Instructional Technology and holds adjunct faculty status. She has served as the director of the Distance Learning Center since 1995. Prior to holding this position, she was the University's coordinator for distance learning, and before that, served for seven years as the coordinator of the Instructional Media Center .

Georgia Southern University recently hired a new full-time director for the Center for Excellence in Teaching (CET). Dr. Eric Hobson holds a full-time, administrative title; he was also granted professorial rank in the University's Department of Writing and Linguistics. As a member of the University's faculty ranks, Dr. Hobson conforms to all of the qualifications required by the Board of Regents regarding faculty credentials as defined in the Board of Regents Policy Manual , § 803.0102 . Dr. Hobson is doctorally-prepared, having received his Ph.D. in a relevant academic discipline (English). Furthermore, Dr. Hobson has six years of experience running the Teaching and Learning Specialist unit at the Albany College of Pharmacy. Additionally, he has another five years of professional experience directing writing centers at two other midwest institutions of higher education. His credentials are maintained on file in the Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Mr. Steven Bonham directs the CET's Faculty Development Lab and also holds adjunct faculty status in the Department of Leadership, Technology, and Human Development. Mr. Bonham earned his M.Ed. degree and has also completed all of the course work toward his Ed.D. in Instructional Technology at the University of Georgia. Additionally, Mr. Bonham has maintained active membership in two professional organizations devoted to instructional technology and virtually all of his scholarship and publications have been in the field. Prior to directing the Faculty Technology Development Lab, Mr. Bonham worked full-time in the Distance Learning Center. Before that, he was employed as an assistant professor at Georgia Southern University and does meet all of the qualifications required by the Board of Regents regarding faculty credentials as defined in the Board of Regents Policy Manual , § 803.0102 . His credentials are also maintained on file in the Provost's Office.

The Academic Success Center provides critical intervention services to students which enable them to succeed academically in the University's demanding courses. The Center achieves its objectives through student workshops; tutoring, testing, offering learning support activities (remedial instruction), and organizing auxiliary instruction classes (led by student peers who have been successful in historically difficult classes and who share strategies for success with other students). Nine staff members, who also hold adjunct faculty status, are responsible for providing these services and instructional activities. Eight of these staff members hold master's level degrees and one is doctorally-prepared. This staffing support is sufficient both in number and quality to provide students with excellent service. (For additional information on staff qualifications, please see Standard 3.9.3).

Information Technology Services employs 37 full-time staff and is directed by Ms. Lisa Spence, who also holds adjunct faculty status and serves as the University's Chief Information Officer. Ms. Spence has a master's level degree, but is currently pursing doctoral-level studies at the University. She also has 16 years of relevant information technology experience (prior to present position). Her staff are sufficient in number and have the requisite education, expertise and skills to achieve the objectives of the unit.

Staffing at the Georgia Southern Museum consists of four full-time personnel. These personnel are sufficient in number and have the requisite education, expertise, and skills to achieve the objectives of the Museum—especially as it relates to the University's educational and public service roles. The Museum is overseen by Dr. Brent Tharp who holds his Ph.D. in American Studies from the College of William and Mary. Prior to coming to Georgia Southern, Dr. Tharp served for 13 years in museum-related positions including two years as the executive director of the North Carolina Pottery Center . Dr. Tharp also holds an adjunct assistant professorship in the Department of History. Recently, he was asked to serve as the Interim Dean of the Division of Continuing Education and Public Service.

Student media is served by one full-time staff member. Mr. William Neville has a master's degree as well as the relevant experience necessary to successfully conclude this unit's objectives. Additional information on Mr. Neville's qualifications are found in the response to Standard 3.9.3.

⁶² Georgia Southern University Mission Statement, adopted June 30, 1994 .

⁶³ The Association of College and Research Libraries' statement on the “Terminal Professional Degree for Academic Librarians” reads: “The master's degree in library science from a library school program accredited by the American Library Association is the appropriate terminal professional degree for academic librarians.”