There has been a lot of emphasis on change at Arizona State University lately.
We've been surrounded by construction, seen new ideas like mandatory meal plans, and events like the Academic Bowl show a commitment to transforming the University from a party school into a respected academic institution.
The University has also placed more pressure on students for their academic success by instituting the plus/minus grading system and overhauling the entire curriculum in some disciplines.
Indeed, it seems like ASU is expecting much more out of students. But education is not a one-way street. If ASU really wants to improve the educational experience, then expectations for professors should be set higher as well.
To be fair, professors have to put up with a lot already. They have to balance research, grant procurement, departmental politics, teaching and their personal lives.
With all that they have to juggle, many professors choose to focus on their research. After all, that is what most people become college professors to do, and that is what the University wants them to do. After all, research brings more funds and a level of prestige.
The quality of teaching varies widely among professors. Some are outstanding and some are better suited for the laboratory. Some truly enjoy teaching, and others see it as something they have to do to keep their jobs.
This is so because professors are hired based on their knowledge of their field, not on their teaching ability. Nevertheless, to the student, the most important thing for a professor to be able to do is to teach.
As important as academic freedom is in terms of subject matter and presentation, it is very frustrating for a student to take a class with a professor who doesn't really want to be there, or have the skills to run a class appropriately.
Ask any student about their college experience and you're bound to hear at least one horror story about a professor, and many times it is not that the professor is too hard - common complaints include disorganization, poor voices and inefficient use of resources.
The current mechanism for dealing with such problems is reactive. Teacher evaluations comprise the main mechanism for students to address their concerns and for the University to deal with issues.
But everyone knows that a reactive mechanism is much less effective than a proactive mechanism for dealing with issues - many times students wonder if their voice is even being heard, as the same issues come up over and over again with different professors.
But how can the University handle this problem proactively? The answer is quite simple - train professors!
The University should emphasize how important it is for professors to learn about different learning styles, educational tools and organizational structures.
This requirement shouldn't be excessive, but it is more than fair to ask a professor to take at least one class on teaching before they are allowed to teach, along with an occasional refresher course.
University President Michael Crow places "A Focus on the Individual" as No. 5 in his design goals for the New American University. Part of that goal reads, "ASU is focusing on teaching quality, incorporating new research findings into learning processes, and developing new creative teaching and learning environments."
Implementing a training program for current and prospective professors would be highly in-line with this design goal, and display a true commitment to achieving it.
Nick Vaidyanathan is a computer science and engineering senior. Share your horror stories about professors at: nicholas.vaidyanathan@asu.edu.
