Community Faculty in the university without walls at the University of Minnesota: A preliminary description

Abstract

The results of a questionnaire survey of 67 persons from the nonacademic community who served as Community Faculty in the University of Minnesota's nontraditional program, University Without Walls (UWW) are detailed. The origins of the Community Faculty concept are considered along with the need for increased relationships between the academic and nonacademic sectors of society. Readers will find a description of the demographic characteristics of the Community Faculty, respondents' general orientations toward and special concerns about postsecondary education, and respondents' experiences in and feelings about the UWW program. Included are data describing the Community Faculty's relationship to students, feelings about students, attitudes on granting credit for life experience, attitudes on remuneration for services, their perceived role definition, and their overall feelings about their participation in the UWW program. The majority of the Community Faculty responded favorably in each of the categories. Limitations of the study are considered along with the need for further research on the topic.