The gist:
• Dawn Elmore-McCrary, an English professor at San Antonio College, wants to see in-person office hour requirements reduced as Skype and email communication becomes more prevalent.
• She and other faculty members at the community college backed the proposal at a College Council meeting this month.
• Their problem frames a larger debate going on right now in academia.
Dawn Elmore-McCrary's situation as the faculty senate chair and an English professor at San Antonio College is not unique. She finds herself dealing with students via Skype and email on a regular basis, and she would like to see the school's office hours requirements changed to reflect the time she spends communicating with students while she is away from her desk. Faculty members throughout academia are taking a similar stance on the online office hours issue, and Mitch Smith's report at Inside Hired Ed looks at why that is.