PSU Magazine Spring 1993

of new research, soon becomes stale and outdated. "There is a misunderstanding about what research is and what it means to the classroom," says Tinnin. "A lot of people feel that research is hidden away in a library or the lab, but it is the way faculty learn and shape our changing curriculum. "Do people want electronic engineers to teach what they taught 10 years ago? If they did, they would be so badly out of date it would be pitiful." Before the mid-20th century, the mission of universities leaned much more toward teaching than it does today. A report by the University of California showed that universities shifted during World War II away from a mostly undergraduate teaching mission to one of increasing research. The federal government turned to academia "as a partner in pursuit of the war effort," the report states. After the war, with the establishment of the National Science Foundation, federal agencies expanded their support for research and graduate study, further shifting emphasis away from classroom instruction. Faced with the dual expec– tations of research and instruction, faculty in the University of California report displayed frustration about being able to do both-or at least do them well. A survey of 900 faculty at five UC campuses showed 38 percent thought that research interferes with teaching but that 92 percent thought that research is a very high priority. "Further, 97 percent rate being a teacher as very important, but only 7 percent stated that UC faculty are rewarded for good teaching." The Association of American Col– leges, in a 1985 study titled "Integrity in the College Curriculum," sharply criticized the extent to which research is emphasized over teaching, stating that graduate programs leading to Ph.D. degrees concentrate almost exclusively on research. "During the long years of work toward the doctoral degree, the can– didate is rarely, if ever, introduced to any of the ingredients that make up the art, the science and the special respon– sibilities of teaching. Yet, the major career option for most holders of the Ph.D. degree is full-time teaching in a college or university," the report states. What other states are doing-and what Oregon is doing as well-is assess– ing the balance between research and instruction. "It is a legitimate concern," says Tinnin. "It' important to main– tain a balance." Correcting the balance in Oregon's colleges-if that is needed-will be only one option out of many that the Legislature may use in improving the ability of the state's colleges to teach more students. Ed Net, a new video and computer system that can be used to teach classes over long distances, has great potential for cutting duplication between universities. Shirley C lark says 65 higher education classes and multiple conferences and workshops are being offered this year through Ed Net, and she expects it to grow exponentially. Creative solutions are necessary, because in addition to facing tight budgets, the state is also faced with the fact that, before the decade is out, at least one third more high school graduates will enter the higher educa– tion system. Some of the slack can be taken up by community colleges. In fact, Clark says that students already are being forced to go to community colleges because they can't afford the tuition increases at the four-year institutions. But they can't stay there if they want to earn a degree. And baccalaureate degrees will be essential to fill the jobs of the 21st century, Clark says. That throws the ball back into the court of the four-year colleges. Like any other institution connected with state money in Oregon, they'll ju t have to learn to do more with less. D (John R. Kirkland, a Portland freelance writer, is a regular contributor to PSU Magazine.) PSU9