HA letter; USM faculty are busy

Date: May 20, 2004

HA letter; USM faculty are busy

Date: May 20, 2004

USM faculty are 'busy scholars'

LETTERS

Since I came to USM in 1998, I have received grants worth over $1 million dollars, taught hundreds of students in the classroom and laboratory, published nine articles in scientific journals, presented at 35 conferences and served on numerous committees. I give this public account not to brag - surely there are faculty with better accomplishments - but to convince you, my extended family in the broader Hattiesburg community, that USM faculty are busy scholars, not a band of malcontents, whiners or mutineers, as some would like you to believe.

We take our job of educating you and your children very seriously and, may I add, we do it more efficiently than faculty at the other "big" universities because we are fewer and are paid less. I, therefore, do not understand the calls for greater efficiency or the use of the phrase "cleaning the house" pertaining to USM faculty.

We have been doing our work gladly and conscientiously, with no need for a "boss"! Although it is not generally appreciated, university faculty work almost as independent contractors. Indeed, we sign a new contract with the state College Board, tenure or no tenure. As "contractors" for teaching and research, we take orders from no one - within limits of academic rules and general laws. I decide how I teach a class, what research is conducted in my lab and how I secure funding for my students and personnel.

With respect, if any is due, Shelby Thames is not my "boss"; he is a university president.

You and I now know the difference, and I hope he knows it, too.

Peter Butko, associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry, USM, Hattiesburg

Date: May 20, 2004

Excellent! Thanks to the author for taking the time to write!

Date: May 20, 2004

Look what Google turns up:

Prof. Peter Butko's research team from the University of Southern Mississippi have now found a further, new mechanism of action of Ginkgo extract, which acts in an earlier stage of development of Morbus Alzheimer, and which may possibly be important in the prevention of this disease.

Busy indeed. Many thanks . . . on several levels.

Date: May 20, 2004

Great letter!

Peter Butko even supplies an interesting interpretation of the annual contracts.

Robert Campbell

Date: May 20, 2004

He also makes the point, which has not been clear enough in letters and columns, that the president of a university is not the "boss" of the faculty. I hope this is clear enough to the "run it like a business' group.

Wonderful letter.

Date: May 20, 2004

This letter will do your cause more harm than good with the "public".

You see, I know many of you can't, that the general public will not take this well. They can't relate to someone like Dr Burko who professes to answer to "no one" while drawing pay from the State of Mississippi. It won't fly well.

Just a friendly warning....

Share the blame....clean slate.

Date: May 20, 2004

Way to go, Peter! Bravo!

quote:
Originally posted by: ram
"USM faculty are 'busy scholars' LETTERS Since I came to USM in 1998, I have received grants worth over $1 million dollars, taught hundreds of students in the classroom and laboratory, published nine articles in scientific journals, presented at 35 conferences and served on numerous committees. I give this public account not to brag - surely there are faculty with better accomplishments - but to convince you, my extended family in the broader Hattiesburg community, that USM faculty are busy scholars, not a band of malcontents, whiners or mutineers, as some would like you to believe. We take our job of educating you and your children very seriously and, may I add, we do it more efficiently than faculty at the other "big" universities because we are fewer and are paid less. I, therefore, do not understand the calls for greater efficiency or the use of the phrase "cleaning the house" pertaining to USM faculty. We have been doing our work gladly and conscientiously, with no need for a "boss"! Although it is not generally appreciated, university faculty work almost as independent contractors. Indeed, we sign a new contract with the state College Board, tenure or no tenure. As "contractors" for teaching and research, we take orders from no one - within limits of academic rules and general laws. I decide how I teach a class, what research is conducted in my lab and how I secure funding for my students and personnel. With respect, if any is due, Shelby Thames is not my "boss"; he is a university president. You and I now know the difference, and I hope he knows it, too. Peter Butko, associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry, USM, Hattiesburg "

Date: May 20, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: noel polk
""

Well done indeed, Peter. Succinct, relevant, and authoritative. Thanks!

Date: May 20, 2004

This is a very telling letter and I believe that it's a perfect representation of many faculty members at Southern Miss.

You honestly believe that you are accountable to no one. For the twenty plus years that Lucas was president, he held you to zero accountability, that's why you love him. That's why you disliked Fleming, and why you hate Thames (he's given you plenty of reason aside from that).

This professor stated your entire true feelings to everyone. Lets just step back and see how the public reacts. I don't see this as being helpful to your cause.

Clean Slate.....Share the Blame.

Date: May 20, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Seeker
"This letter will do your cause more harm than good with the "public". You see, I know many of you can't, that the general public will not take this well. They can't relate to someone like Dr Burko who professes to answer to "no one" while drawing pay from the State of Mississippi. It won't fly well. Just a friendly warning.... Share the blame....clean slate."

Unfortunately I must agree with Seeker. The public is concerned with accountability in education and Butko's letter provides no assurance that faculty feel accountable to anybody. This just reinforces the "bad behavior" stereotype of faculty. If Butko had stopped with the first part of his letter, it would have been great. I understand Butko grew up under a communist regime in Slovokia. Maybe his idea of a "boss" is different from the norm.

Date: May 20, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Seeker
"This letter will do your cause more harm than good with the "public". You see, I know many of you can't, that the general public will not take this well. They can't relate to someone like Dr Burko who professes to answer to "no one" while drawing pay from the State of Mississippi. It won't fly well. Just a friendly warning.... Share the blame....clean slate."

Unfortunately I must agree with Seeker. The public is concerned with accountability in education and Butko's letter provides no assurance that faculty feel accountable to anybody. This just reinforces the "bad behavior" stereotype of faculty. If Butko had stopped with the first part of his letter, it would have been great. I understand Butko grew up under a communist regime in Slovokia. Maybe his idea of a "boss" is different from the norm.

Date: May 20, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Seeker
"This is a very telling letter and I believe that it's a perfect representation of many faculty members at Southern Miss.

You honestly believe that you are accountable to no one. For the twenty plus years that Lucas was president, he held you to zero accountability, that's why you love him. That's why you disliked Fleming, and why you hate Thames (he's given you plenty of reason aside from that).

This professor stated your entire true feelings to everyone. Lets just step back and see how the public reacts. I don't see this as being helpful to your cause.

Clean Slate.....Share the Blame."

Seeker,
You have to read carefully and with critical thinking. Your summary "...zero accountability," is just not precise enough.

Peter said
"As "contractors" for teaching and research, we take orders from no one - within limits of academic rules and general laws. I decide how I teach a class, what research is conducted in my lab and how I secure funding for my students and personnel."

He is accountable to his departmental personnel committee and chair for his performance in teaching research and service, which is EVALUATED each year. He would also be accountable to departmental and College tenure and promotions committees. He is told by his chair WHAT COURSES to teach each semester, but NOT HOW to teach them.
He MUST conduct research, but is NOT told WHAT research or HOW to perform it.

However, I do agree with you that this is way over the head of the public, who I fear will make up simple short phases to summarize what they don't understand. Which is OK, just don't make public statements as if you do know what it means.

I wonder do you also have an opinion of how the surgeons are performing their jobs at Forrest General?

Date: May 20, 2004

Otherside, would you be willing to take this over the thread I just started, which should read "Independent" not "Independend" -- can't see.

Date: May 20, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: LVN
"Otherside, would you be willing to take this over the thread I just started, which should read "Independent" not "Independend" -- can't see."

Sure LVN. However I have some duties to perform and will be in and out. I do hope Seeker responds so that this misunderstanding the public has can be cleared up.

Date: May 20, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Seeker
"This letter will do your cause more harm than good with the "public".

You see, I know many of you can't, that the general public will not take this well. They can't relate to someone like Dr Burko who professes to answer to "no one" ..."

Actually, a good number out there may identify with the effective "independent contractor" analogy. There are a lot of small business owners and trades-people out there who work under similar arrangements.

NO QUARTER.

Date: May 20, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Seeker
"This is a very telling letter ...

You honestly believe that you are accountable to no one. "

You letter is very telling as well: Seeker, read the letter again--that clearly is not what is being said.

Look, do you want a university to hire people who are so inexperienced, untrained and/or uncertain in their fields that they need someone looking over their shoulder to tell them what is important in their disciplines, and what and how to teach? The level of mastery needed to teach an esoteric field must be so high that, frankly, there shouldn't be an officeful administrators who can presume to tell these experts how to manage their expertise! For example, if I go to a hospital administered by a cardiologist, I wouldn't want him or her telling my opthalmologist or neurologist how to do their jobs. A university, like a hospital, aspires (...or SHOULD...) to attract the best and brightest because of the benefit from that expertise--it's pointless not to let the experts BE experts.

Please get over this need to treat a university as if it's a manufacturing plant or a convenience store. If you are not intimately familiar with what is available--or should be--at a "normal" university beyond the football stadium, it might be wise to check it out before deciding that the whole team needs to be sacked.

Just some friendly advice...