Student Academic Underpreparedness: Effects on Faculty

This qualitative study explored the impact of academically underprepared students on 14 liberal arts and sciences faculty at two open-admissions universities. In-depth interviews revealed that faculty face widespread, acute problems in teaching underprepared students. Further, they feel isolated, with little support from colleagues or administrators. To survive in an open-admission environment, many undergo a confusing, emotionally trying process of personal adaptation, role redefinition, and reassessment of college-level teaching and learning.