In many STEM-related fields, graduating doctoral students are often expected to assume a postdoctoral position as a prerequisite to a faculty position, yet there is no such expectation in mathematics education. This phenomenon is likely due in large part to an abundance of faculty positions; however, it may also result from the field's…

This article describes the feelings of faculty members required to annually design an assessment project for each semester and report to the director of assessment the objectives and results of that project on a standardized form. What is misunderstood is that true assessment is part of the very "fiber of being" for many faculty members.…

Ethical issues in the professional life of faculty are discussed briefly: conduct of research, intellectual property rights, bias in instruction, student-teacher relationships, student assessment, responsibility to the institution and to colleagues, and responsibility to the community outside the institution. (MSE)

Four strategies that deans and vice-presidents can use to enhance teaching are suggested. The first strategy is to seek out and fund teaching support activities that are the state of the art in each discipline. The second is to reward professors for excellence in teaching more than for excellence in research. Third, administrators should develop…

The health of arts and sciences programs on U.S. campuses is addressed in this open letter to President Reagan by the director of the Council for Liberal Learning of the Association of American Colleges (AAC). Concern is expressed that the proposed federal budget cuts will exacerbate the erosion of resources available for teaching and research. At…

An expert in medical education discusses the need for change in aspects of that field, including curriculum content, training sites, faculty roles, and collaborative research and teaching, and notes trends and issues in general health occupations education that may have implications for pharmaceutical education as well. (MSE)

A project to examine the relationship between the ideological traditions and national policies governing teacher education and the professional perspectives and practices of teachers looked at these issues in two areas, one in Britain and one in France. The project's objectives, methodology, and results are summarized. (MSE)

The current knowledge about what distinguishes productive and vital faculty members from their less dynamic peers is considered, along with additional information needs. Most empirical evidence on faculty productivity concerns only research and publication. Information is inadequate about other forms of faculty achievement and vitality, including…

Perspectives on good teaching at the college level are offered. Some evidence exists that students' retention of lecture material is poor. One promising approach is the Personalized System of Instruction, which emphasizes student involvement, high expectations, and assessment and feedback. Some faculty members now focus on recall and comprehension…

Ways that teacher educators can provide opportunities for novice teachers to develop their beliefs about teaching and learning and their teaching practices are discussed. It is suggested that practical teaching experience is essential to teacher development, but that teachers must also be able to process their experiences in ways that allow time…

A meeting of the World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe was convened to examine the organization and scope of research in education for health manpower development (HMD). As a prerequisite for the formulation of recommendations, the participants considered the following points: the need for developmental research, the definition of…

Issues pertinent to faculty development are considered in six papers. In "The Work Experience of American College Professors: Some Data and an Argument," Everett Carll Ladd, Jr. provides background information on the teaching, research, and other professional activities of college faculty, based on his research. In "Adult and Career Development:…