Getting Started with Faculty Workload Equity

Many faculty members and administrators think that making faculty workloads more fair isn't possible, suggesting it is a can of worms best left closed. Given the autonomy many faculty members have over their work, some see workload equity as an individual-level problem, explained by poor choices and/or time management. Yet, workload reflects structural patterns of exclusion in the kinds of academic work that are valued. As such, workload should be viewed as a matter of equity, since seemingly neutral processes (like how workload is assigned) contribute to persistent inequalities. Workload equity, moreover, must be viewed not as a single destination, but as a designed and supported set of expectations. This tool is the first in a series designed to help departments create more equitable workloads.