Psychology continues faculty search
Department grants one full-time position, seeks adjunct professors
David Steffen
Issue date: 4/24/08 Section: News
The Hillsdale College psychology department is preparing for Professor Donald Ernst's retirement this semester by granting his full-time position to Lecturer Kari McArthur and hiring adjunct faculty to teach his courses.
Psychology Department Chairman Fritz Tsao said it is important to find quality adjunct faculty to teach Ernst's courses.
"He teaches very important courses for us, so it's a concern of ours that these very important courses continue to be taught well with the best quality instructors we can find," Tsao said.
The Collegian reported in February that Ernst will retire to the Phillipines, and his position could be in a transition phase as administrators discuss the needs of the psychology department and of the college. Associate Provost David Whalen said in February there were no plans to eliminate the psychology or sociology majors.
The psychology department is not considering hiring full-time faculty to teach Ernst's courses because of administrative limitations, Tsao said.
"We are not green-lighted to do any new tenure-track hiring," Tsao said.
Tsao said McArthur will take over Ernst's full-time position, but she will not teach Ernst's courses. He said the psychology department is searching for an adjunct professor or two, depending on a candidate's qualifications to teach both courses Ernst leaves behind. Tsao said he expects the department will have new adjunct faculty by next semester.
"It will be three full-time and two adjunct [professors in the department]," Tsao said. "Our present adjunct instructor plus someone who can be hired to teach Dr. Ernst's courses."
But at a time when filling Ernst's position remains uncertain, students are hopeful that interest in the department could strengthen it.
Psi Chi President Tory Moul, a senior, said she hoped the Psi Chi psychology honorary's third annual open house April 1 attracted more students to the major.
"We had a couple people who had been thinking about majoring in psychology, and I hope we convinced them to major in it," Moul said.
Forty to 50 students attended, but no tally was taken, Moul said. She said attendance was about the same or a little better than the previous two years.
Tsao said he does not know how many psychology majors will graduate this year, nor can he speculate how many may graduate in the years to come.
The Psi Chi psychology honorary welcomed six new members this semester, bringing total membership to 15 students and four faculty members.
Moul said she hopes increased psychology majors will benefit the department.
"With [Ernst] leaving, it makes me think, 'The bigger the major can get, the better for everyone involved,'" Moul said. "I think right now we have something that's really high quality. I just think the more majors you have, the better. It's like a family. The more, the merrier."
Psychology Department Chairman Fritz Tsao said it is important to find quality adjunct faculty to teach Ernst's courses.
"He teaches very important courses for us, so it's a concern of ours that these very important courses continue to be taught well with the best quality instructors we can find," Tsao said.
The Collegian reported in February that Ernst will retire to the Phillipines, and his position could be in a transition phase as administrators discuss the needs of the psychology department and of the college. Associate Provost David Whalen said in February there were no plans to eliminate the psychology or sociology majors.
The psychology department is not considering hiring full-time faculty to teach Ernst's courses because of administrative limitations, Tsao said.
"We are not green-lighted to do any new tenure-track hiring," Tsao said.
Tsao said McArthur will take over Ernst's full-time position, but she will not teach Ernst's courses. He said the psychology department is searching for an adjunct professor or two, depending on a candidate's qualifications to teach both courses Ernst leaves behind. Tsao said he expects the department will have new adjunct faculty by next semester.
"It will be three full-time and two adjunct [professors in the department]," Tsao said. "Our present adjunct instructor plus someone who can be hired to teach Dr. Ernst's courses."
But at a time when filling Ernst's position remains uncertain, students are hopeful that interest in the department could strengthen it.
Psi Chi President Tory Moul, a senior, said she hoped the Psi Chi psychology honorary's third annual open house April 1 attracted more students to the major.
"We had a couple people who had been thinking about majoring in psychology, and I hope we convinced them to major in it," Moul said.
Forty to 50 students attended, but no tally was taken, Moul said. She said attendance was about the same or a little better than the previous two years.
Tsao said he does not know how many psychology majors will graduate this year, nor can he speculate how many may graduate in the years to come.
The Psi Chi psychology honorary welcomed six new members this semester, bringing total membership to 15 students and four faculty members.
Moul said she hopes increased psychology majors will benefit the department.
"With [Ernst] leaving, it makes me think, 'The bigger the major can get, the better for everyone involved,'" Moul said. "I think right now we have something that's really high quality. I just think the more majors you have, the better. It's like a family. The more, the merrier."
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