North Carolina Senator Tom McInnis has recently proposed a bill – SENATE DRS25152-MM-56 – to “improve professor quality.” He proposes to “require all professors teach a minimum of eight class courses per academic year,” which would probably end up four courses a semester. Full time professors at Appalachian State University are currently required to teach three courses a semester.
McInnis claims that professors’ first priority is to teach, but it seems he also believes it ought to be their only priority. Mandating eight courses a year disregards and belittles the work that professors already do. Professors prepare lectures, teach classes, grade assignments, mentor students and, somehow, find time to work on their own research. The latter two are the most susceptible to being forgotten if professors are forced to take on more courses a semester.
McInnis claims that professors’ first priority is to teach, but it seems he also believes it ought to be their only priority. Mandating eight courses a year disregards and belittles the work that professors already do. Professors prepare lectures, teach classes, grade assignments, mentor students and, somehow, find time to work on their own research. The latter two are the most susceptible to being forgotten if professors are forced to take on more courses a semester.