Editorial
Ban on classified
research not feasible
The University Senate today will consider whether to
ban classified research at the proposed Riverfront Research
Park.
Although the proposed park will be a beneficial adjunct
to the University, it is nonetheless not part of the University
— and must operate under different standards. It is not feasi
ble to even have the park with a classified research ban.
Although government classified research will be only a
small portion of research at the park, whether companies
can undertake this tyj e of research is crucial to their deci
sions to locate in the park.
The currently planned ban on weapons research will be
enforceable with classified research going on; while details
of classified research are unobtainable, the general thrust of
the research is obtainable. Moreover, any University
representative with government clearance could review the
research.
Concerns over Star Wars research at the park also are
unfounded; much Star Wars research is not, per se,
distinguishable from other basic research, including
research funded by organizations such as the National
Science Foundation.
As much as we oppose Star Wars, the emphasis only can
be on the type of research — not that Star Wars sponsors it.
The motion to ban classified research tries to force na
tional defense issues through the University onto the pro
posed park. Neither place is an appropriate ground for settl
ing national policy disputes.
In any case, the motion undoubtedly will go on to the
University Assembly for final resolution, where we hope it
will be defeated. Stopping classified research at the park is
tantamount to stopping the park itself.
Changing no-pass to f'
detrimental to students
Effective fall term 1987. the University will begin to
compute students’ grade-point averages as the primary
reference for undergraduates of satisfactory progress toward
graduation.
The University Senate today will consider whether the
University should grade all no-pass grades, or N’s, as F’s —
rather than as currently planned, that tin; first 15 hours of
N’s not be computed in a student's CiPA.
Why. then, have pass/no-pass grades at all? Pass/no
pass grading is supposed to be distinct from letter grading,
since a pass/no-pass grade does not allow for GPA-boosting
A’s.
Under the motion’s provision, students would not only
be penalized by losing credits for courses in which they
receive N’s. but by damaging their CPA as well —
significantly altering the meaning of an N to the detriment of
students.
Moreover, students who have been going to school for
several years under the current system would suddenly find
the meaning of any N’s on their transcripts changed
drastically — even if they have only one or two.
The motion changes the whole balance provided in the
pass/no-pass system. Hopefully, the senate will have some
empathy for students and vote the measure down.
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Commentary
Top-quality faculty generate grants
for research; boost Oregon's economy
When you hire winners, you
can count on a payoff as surely
as when you buy a winning lot
tery ticket.
Recently. I saw an analysis
that illustrates how hiring and
keeping the best college and
university faculty can pay off
even l>etter than that.
In a nationwide study of
university chemistry depart
ments, the 23-member Universi
ty department ranked 11th in
outside research dollars
generated per faculty member.
This may surprise you: the
University chemistry depart
ment won an average of
$185,000 per faculty member in
outside research support, more
than prestigious schools such as
Yale. UCLA. Northwestern,
Purdue and UC-Berkelev.
That and other money is be
ing added to the Oregon
economy because we hired
outstanding faculty with ex
cellent reputations.
But Oregon, long at the top of
the salary pack, is struggling
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just to stay even.
The need to hire and retain
excellent faculty is the reason
the Oregon State Board of
Higher Education established
faculty salaries as its number
one general-fund priority in the
1987 Oregon Legislature.
Nearly everyone understands
that to attract the best people,
we must be competitive. After
years of neglect, Oregon is
beginning to do that.
By William Davis
In 1985, the Oregon
Legislature voted $400 million
for higher-education salaries.
This money was used not only
for across-the-board raises, but
also to recognize top professors
and to pay more in highly com
petitive disciplines such as
business and the sciences.
As a result, faculty salaries at
Oregon’s three major public
universities are expected to rise
to 76th out of 108 comparable
institutions. This is good news
for Oregonians who want their
public colleges and universities
to deliver the best not only in
education, research and public
service, but also economic
recovery.
As recently as last year, facul
ty salaries at Oregon’s research
universities were a disgrace,
ranking near the bottom among
comparable schools.
The State Board has asked for
6.5 percent faculty salary in
creases to keep up with average
raises at colleges and univer
sities across the nation, plus
1.85 pi rcent to move Oregon
forward.
The State Board’s goal is to
pay salaries comparable to those
in states of similar size and
resources such as Colorado,
Kansas. Arizona, Nevada. Iowa
and Wyoming.
Reaching this goal will help
our public, four-year colleges
and universities do even more
to stimulate the Oregon
economy.
Oregon State University
figures probably 50 faculty
members on the Corvallis cam
pus bring in $100,000 or more
annually in grants and
contracts.
For example, a biochemistry
professor brought in an average
of $377,000 a year over a five
year period, while a geophysics
professor averaged $375,000 an
nually for five years.
At the University, four recent
ly hired science faculty together
have attracted more than $4
million in grants.
Unfortunately, we also have
dozens of examples of good
people who have left Oregon —
and who have refused job offers
from Oregon schools — for bet
ter salaries elsewhere. At the
University, for example, two
assistant professors of
marketing left to earn $5,000
and $0,500 more at the Univer
sity of Tennessee and Universi
ty of Alabama. At Oregon In
stitute of Technology in
Klamath Falls, a computer
systems instructor left a $25,600
job to earn $45,000 (with a
reduced teaching load) at the
University of Iowa.
Top-flight professors attract
research dollars to their states,
which economists tell us turn
over several times more in every
sector of the economy.
Moreover, first rate professors
deliver excellence in the
classroom.
No doubt about it: Attracting
the best college and university
teachers and researchers into
our state colleges and univer
sities is a sure bet for Oregon.
William Davis is chancellor of
the Oregon State System of
Higher Education.