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News, Page 1A
Jan. 30, 2015
Professors say Walker remarks reflect lack of
understanding
By Eric Lindquist and Pamela Powers
Leader-Telegram staff
Faculty at UW-Eau Claire and UW-Stout bristled Thursday at Gov. Scott Walker's suggestion the day
before that they could teach more classes and work harder to help state universities deal with a
proposed $300 million cut in state aid.
The local professors said the governor's comments show a lack of understanding about what their jobs
entail and how hard they already work.
“Our work is not just in the classroom,” UW-Stout Faculty Senate Chairman Petre “Nelu” Ghenciu
said, noting that he doesn’t know a faculty or instructional staff member who isn’t already working at
least 60 hours a week.
Professors mentioned several other duties that go along with the Ghenciu job: advising students,
grading, office hours, research, serving on committees, administrative duties, class preparation,
curriculum revision and laboratory work.
Walker, in discussing the major cut in aid to the UW System he will propose as part of the 2015-17
state budget plan he unveils next week, struck a nerve with faculty Wednesday with this comment to
host Charlie Sykes on Milwaukee radio station WTMJ-AM:
“Maybe it’s time for faculty and staff to start thinking about teaching more classes and doing more
work.”
The governor also told reporters such steps could help the system continue to offer a high-quality,
affordable education despite budget cuts.
Paul Kaldjian, chairman of UW-Eau Claire’s geography and anthropology department, said the
governors comments perpetuate the myth among some residents that universities are more concerned
about the interests of the faculty and the institution than the interests of students.
“Those people dont see the truly hard work we do every day on behalf of students,” said Kaldjian,
adding that his typical workday starts at 7:30 a.m. and ends at 6 p.m., with many evenings and
weekends spent doing additional preparation and responding to emails. “We’re constantly helping
students to get jobs that pay more than we make.”
To bridge that gap between perception and reality, he invited legislators who have to vote on UW
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System budget cuts, for instance, to visit UW-Eau Claire to see all that faculty and staff are doing on
campus to help students. Kaldjian hopes legislators, after gaining that appreciation, will stick up for
UW institutions and their faculty when they come under unwarranted attack.
Geoff Peterson, chairman of UW-Eau Claire’s political science department and the university’s
faculty representative to the UW System, said Walker’s comments don’t recognize the complexities of
what faculty and academic staff do.
“It’s frustrating because a lot of what we do is abstract,” said Peterson, adding that he rarely works
less than 60 hours in a week. “We’re building character and we’re building lives, and that’s a lot
different than building houses. It’s hard to show a finished product.”
Instructional employees teach an average of 24.8 credits and 223 students per year, according to UWEau Claire.
Kathleen Deery, a professor vocational rehabilitation and counseling at UW-Stout, found the
governor’s comments “demoralizing” and reiterated the point that the job of a college professor is
about more than just teaching.
“We are physically and emotionally exhausted,” Deery said. “So when someone suggests that we
should do more with less, it’s no surprise that we bristle in response. I encourage the governor to walk
a day in our shoes. The image of a college professor sitting in his or her office, thinking deep thoughts
in between a few hours of lecture, is just absurd.”
Ghenciu, a mathematics professor, said more hours teaching for faculty would result in less time
available for other important duties, including staying up to date with developments in their fields.
“That’s our responsibility to understand what’s happening to teach students,” he said. “We have to
teach what is going to happen in five years. They have to know what is happening in the future. In
order to do that, I have to stay current. That is an important part of the job.”
Deery added that faculty and staff work hard to meet the needs of a diverse group of learners and
accommodate their busy schedules.
“In our technology-driven world, educators are expected to be available on demand,” Deery said. “We
already do more with less, and to somehow suggest that we need to increase our workload while
reducing our resources just adds insult to injury.
“If our state leaders truly want a strong and capable workforce, then they need to recognize that
education is the means to that end. Cutting funding for education and expecting a stronger economy is
like turning off a sprinkler to save water and expecting the flowers to grow.”
In a special presentation about the budget cuts Thursday to UW-Eau Claire faculty and staff,
Chancellor James Schmidt acknowledged that he understands the negative reaction about workload
and assured employees that he appreciates all they do.
“I want you to know that I know that you work hard,” Schmidt said.
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UW-Stout Chancellor Bob Meyer said the governor’s statements diminish the accomplishments of
faculty and instructional staff. He added that their hard work is reflected in the 97 percent employment
placement rate for graduates and record enrollment at the university.
“There is a lot going on under the hood many people don’t see at first glance,” Meyer said.