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Idaho's lifeblood
Research supplements. enhances classroom teaching
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Tbe axe has fallen, the budgets have
been trimmed to the bone and now administrators
are considering raising lees
and limiting enrollment. Rarely, however, do
administrators think 01 increasing a
professor's class load to eliminate some of
their Iree-time.
The reason is academic. The "free-time" is
not used lor teaching, it is spent by professors
researching their fields to keep them and their
students well informed.
Although a research clause is included in
many job descriptions, most teachers do it out
01 personal and professional pride.
"U you don't research, you die-research is
the lifeblood 01 the university:' said Jean'ne
Shreeve, professor of Chemistry.
Most professors at this university teach an
average of three courses per semester, which
is a very high percentage of class time when
compared to other major universities.
Although many professors are heavily involved
in research, most enjoy teaching as well.
"The change from teaching to research helps relieve the tedium.
If 1 were just teaching, 1 would find it difficult:' said Bob
Blank, professor oj Political Science.
"I wouldn't take the job purely as research, and 1 wouldn't
want to stay here if 1wasn't allowed to do researcb." said Rodney
Mead, professor of Zoology.
"We all enjoy teaching, but teaching three
different courses per semester prevents us
from staying current-that's short.changing
the students. To provide. Jor a quality education
I have tostay current:' said Mead.
"I can't separate teaching and research, because
working with grad students is doing reo
search. This is a field school, research is involved
in teaching," said Roderick Sprague, professor
of Anthropology.
The faculty's dedication to research and excellence
is also reflected in their teaching.
"We've trained students very well who are
malting contributions to the scientific community.
We educate them well and they per·
form damn good in the real world," said
Shreeve.
As an added by·product of their research,
many faculty members' work has been acknowledged
in national journals.
Without a doubt, research is a vital part 01
education. It keeps a professor current in his
field, stimulates his interest and increases his knowledge.
And according to those involved, it is the professors and
their research that make the University of Idaho an institution
of excellence. Without them we'd be just another university.
JuUeReaganO
Research 107