For many undergraduates, spending four years on the Hill does not always lead to a clear career choice. Econ majors wonder whether to go off to Wall Street or to apply for law school. Physics students may question if a career in research is really what fires up their rockets. Although academic advisors are a good resource for students struggling with these questions, they cannot always give a "real world perspective."
It is for this reason, among others, that we welcome discussion of a new faculty position, professor of the practice, and we encourage the Arts and Sciences faculty to vote in favor of this proposition during its April 4 meeting. Allowing individuals with outstanding accomplishments in their fields to bring expertise to Tufts will only enrich our academic environment. We anticipate enthusiastic student demand for courses taught by researchers at NASA or politicians who have a past career in Congress.
Because such men and women can currently reach out to Tufts students in the capacity of a guest lecturer position, the title "professor of the practice" perhaps lends them the prestige they deserve. In the same vein, we are lucky enough to have the Experimental College at Tufts, where students, Broadway producers and savvy entrepreneurs can all take a turn in the front of the classroom. Hopefully, the professor of the practice position will carve out a different academic niche that will lure even more professionals. Giving these individuals a continuous five-year opportunity will allow them to develop and refine a curriculum.
The five-year term limit for a professor of the practice would ensure that the visiting professionals do not usurp full-time Tufts professors. They are certainly not on track to become tenured professors or even part of the faculty, but offering accomplished individuals this position would allow them to share knowledge without becoming part of the culture of academia. The difficult barriers to entry in academia exist for a reason. As an elite university, Tufts has a standard to maintain. More importantly, the university must recruit only the best and brightest, since professors have such potential influence over their students.
Cultivating an outstanding faculty is one aim of the tenure track, a process which ensures that full-time professors at any college or university are at the top of their field.
But the rigorous Ph.D. path, while maintaining prestige in academia, can also contribute to a static atmosphere. Many undergraduates do not plan on staying in the university environment, so exposure to the "outside world" can be immensely helpful in their four year development at Tufts.
Tufts has a tradition of fostering diverse learning environments. From the Ex College to the Tisch School, our undergraduates have multiple opportunities to learn outside and inside the classroom. We hope that the school of Arts and Sciences votes to welcome some more of the "outside" element to the Hill.
