Student Faculty Ratios

Student Faculty Ratios

Enrollment targets are based upon assigned student faculty ratios. For every full time equivalent faculty position provided to a department, the enrollment target (expressed as full time equivalent students) is increased by the respective ratio.

Note that student faculty ratio does not translate directly into class size for several reasons:

1. Full time equivalent students are based on 15 student credit units. Full time tenured and tenure track faculty members typically teach 12 units or less per full time position. Part-time faculty members typically teach 15 units per full time position. Thus, the mix of full and part-time faculty will affect the relationship between faculty positions and enrollments.
2. Many or most departments divert some instructional resources into advising or curriculum development activities that do not generate enrollment. These diversions must be balanced by higher enrollments in departmental classes.

Actual class size must average higher than the student faculty ratio for the department to achieve its target.

Assigned student faculty ratios are based upon departmental history, review by the college Budget Committee and periodic negotiations with departments within the framework of the college budget policy.

Because of a relatively favorable budget situation in 1999-2000 and 2000-2001, CLA has been able to reduce the enrollment targets generated by these ratios across the board by 4-5% and still achieve the overall college target.

Current CLA assigned Student Faculty Ratios

Updated 9/27/01