The contract offer made by SIUC’s administration last December outlines a view of the future of our University that should concern all the members of our community. In page 14 it states:The maximum assigned time for research will be one-third of the faculty assignment…

This terse statement emasculates research at our institution.

Research now occupies, in rough terms, about one half of the normal workload of the faculty; teaching occupies the other half with a small component for service. This distribution is consistent with our status as a comprehensive research university.

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Why should we care about research? Research produces new knowledge; it is one of the central duties of any university. Research keeps faculty on the cutting edge of the scientific, technological, and creative process. Research helps educators update and render more meaningful instruction and training they impart. In turn, this results in the production of graduates that are better prepared and trained and that will be better able to make contributions to their communities, state and nation.

In ultimate analysis, the existence of academic research is what makes a university different from other institutions of post-secondary education (such as 4-year colleges or community colleges). The limited and limiting vision for SIUC institution contained in the administration contract proposal will go great strides toward turning SIUC into the biggest, and most expensive, community college in the state.

Sadly, but not surprisingly, such a dramatic proposal for changing the essence of SIUC on the part of the administration, has taken place with no consultation nor input and precious little if any discussion.

Whoever came up with the idea of crippling research at SIUC betrays a profound lack of understanding of the major role that a comprehensive research university plays in this part of the state. If this change does in fact occur it will not only devalue future academic degrees from SIUC, it will also have a major negative impact on the economy of the region.