Tufts is already a great place to go to school and, by many indicators, it is getting better. Early decision numbers reported in yesterday's Daily seem to point in the right direction for the composition of the newest class of Jumbos, which is on track to break admissions records for academic excellence. These are great times to be on the Hill, and the University needs to make sure that facilities and faculty are funded adequately in order to remain competitive with peer institutions.
The University has taken a Jumbo step forward with facilities construction by finally expediting plans to break ground and construct both Sophia Gordon Hall and the new music building. The Trustees approved funding for the projects this past weekend, both of which should have a significant positive impact on life on the Hill. Sophia Gordon Hall will help to expand and modernize campus housing options: currently the newest hall, South, is over a decade old. The new music building will answer long-standing demands for increased classroom and rehearsal space for the music department. It will put a fresh face on an assortment of academic buildings that are generally old and showing it.
What truly makes Tufts a world-class institution, however, is its faculty. World-renowned experts in the classroom make this University what it is: a standout. With this in mind, it is disturbing that Tufts underpays its faculty relative to peer institutions. While it is true (and oft-mentioned by Ballou) that Tufts is the smallest Research I institution in the country, we should not let our size be a crutch when it comes to compensating faculty fairly. Tufts' endowment has seen tremendous growth under President Bacow: now it's time to see that some of it makes it around the academic quad.
The urgency of the faculty pay situation is underlined by the Kaleidoscope report, released last spring, which showed poor retention rates on The Hill for minority and female faculty. While it is true that money will not solve all the problems in this area, increased salaries will make Tufts a more accessible campus for women and minorities. The University has made some progress in adjusting to concerns of underrepresented faculty, such as establishing transitional housing in a former Medford school for junior faculty. What would really be elementary, however, is a bump up on payday.
President Bacow has provided exceptional financial leadership for Tufts. Now it is his job to ensure that faculty are compensated at levels appropriate for their experience and expertise. We are a small school, and that does limit our options, but this is nothing that big thinking cannot solve. Right now we should be thinking of bigger checks for faculty and brighter days ahead.
