Don’t make us into CSU Davis

I am writing in response to Sterling Chaykin’s guest opinion, published Thursday. Chaykin argues that the major problem confronting UC Davis is diminished quality of instruction. He views the budget crisis as a fortunate opportunity to press for changes in instruction.

Among his solutions for improving instruction are to cut faculty salary. Chaykin acknowledges that this course likely would cost UCD prominent faculty and reduce the emphasis on research. He argues that this would lead to a more favorable budget situation and a healthier balance between teaching and research at UCD.

I take issue with many aspects of Chaykin’s proposal. First, I would like to see evidence that the quality of instruction at UCD has declined. Such claims are easily made when unconstrained by data. Second, the notion that instruction at UCD would improve by chasing off the most prominent faculty is curious.

Third, the claim that UCD’s budget would improve without all those researchers is clearly inaccurate. UCD received more than $684 million in research funds last year. Given what is likely to be an ongoing shortage of state funding for UC, intentionally shrinking research activity is a terrible idea.

In sum, it appears that Professor Chaykin would like to convert UCD into Cal State University Davis. Clearly, we cannot allow that to happen. For more than a century, students, faculty and administrators have been building UCD into the elite, world-class university that it has become. I am disturbed by the suggestion that we ought to view current budget difficulties as a fortuitous opportunity to diminish the mission, quality and ambitions of our great university.

Jeff Sherman
Davis

Short URL: http://www.davisenterprise.com/?p=114965

Posted by Letters to the Editor on Dec 12 2011.
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