Teaching and Research at UC
President David Gardner of the UC system is correct about the proposal that UC professors should conduct class more than the present six hours per week. It certainly would “fundamentally change the character of the institution,” as he says (“UC Chief Blasts Call to Increase Teaching Load,” March 3).
Professors’ promotion and tenure would be based more on teaching than on research. The enormous glut of useless articles in academic journals would decrease. The money saved could go to needy students. Time-wasting committee work could be lessened. The overproduction of Ph.D.s, for which there are no appropriate jobs available, would be curtailed. Students would profit from courses taught by genuine professors rather than graduate students. The UC system would become the paragon of reform as other universities follow its lead. And so on.
PATRICK GROFF, Professor Emeritus, San Diego State University
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