After reading Tim Birkhead’s commentary (CAUT Bulletin, April 2010) and the response from Ismet Ugursal, I am compelled to respond as well. I agree with professor Ugursal that we are incredibly lucky on many fronts due to our job autonomy, flexibility and the varied and creative nature of our work.

However, I see the cautionary point in professor Birkhead’s article and agree that as we move more toward a business model in the management of the systems of higher education professors will see much of the same pressures as other workers to “do more with less.” Many are already experiencing this.

I disagree with professor Ugursal’s assumption that all academics make wide use of teaching assistants and markers, recycle exam and assignment questions, primarily use multiple choice methods and rely on test banks. I work hard each term to bring new and up-to-date content into my classes. I write my own test, exam and assignment questions to reflect the material I’m teaching, I make my own audio visual to accompany my lecture, and I incorporate as much writing into tests and assignments as I can manage. I also mark the majority of students’ work myself. I suspect many professors follow similar pedagogical practices. It is these professors and the quality of their work who are in the most danger under the increased pressure of rising class sizes, stricter marking deadlines, etc.

I also doubt that many professors recycle reference letters for students. I certainly hope not. Employers would be able to sniff out a form letter a mile away. If this is your approach, best to decline your students’ requests so they can obtain references tailored to them and the jobs they are seeking.

Johanna Weststar
Management
Saint Mary’s University