In this article, I assert that the work of colleges and universities forms a social action system. I array the critical positions represented in this issue according to the four functional imperatives of social action systems: adaptation, goal attainment, integration, and pattern maintenance. I discuss the role of normative structures for these…

In his influential book "Scholarship Reconsidered: Priorities of the Professoriate," Ernest Boyer (1990) proposed that the definition of scholarship be broadened beyond the emphasis on discovery to encompass the scholarships of integration, application, and teaching. A report by the Association for the Study of Higher Education and the…

In his influential book "Scholarship Reconsidered: Priorities of the Professoriate," Ernest Boyer (1990) proposed that the definition of scholarship be broadened beyond the predominant emphasis on the scholarship of discovery to encompass the scholarships of integration, application, and teaching. The scholarly discussion related to…

Measurement of faculty research performance is multidimensional, and no single type of measure can assess the full range of professional role performance. A variety of subjective and quantitative measures and weighting systems should be used together to minimize bias. (MSE)

A summary of articles on the relationship between faculty research and college teaching finds that faculty scholarship does not adversely affect teaching norms, teacher effectiveness, student cognitive development, or currency of course content. However, research activity affects two teaching dimensions detrimentally: rigor of course examinations…

Three perspectives on the link between college faculty research and teaching effectiveness (null, conflict, and complementarily) are discussed, and empirical support for each is examined. Both null and complementarily perspectives receive modest affirmation, whereas the conflict perspective garners little support. (Author/MSE)

Empirical research on aspects of teaching role performance in which disciplinary differences have been observed (teaching goals, teaching practices, course examination questions, and the relationship between teaching and research) is summarized, and implications for faculty and development, academic affairs administration, and improvement of…

This book addresses issues of impropriety and misconduct in the postsecondary teaching role. It reports on three surveys of faculty members conducted over 6 years at research universities, liberal arts colleges, and two-year community, junior, and technical colleges. In each survey an equal number of faculty members were selected from each of four…