USC is spending money again — this time on new faculty members so desperately needed.
With $3.4 million set aside, the University is in the process of a faculty replenishment plan, hopefully hiring 27 new employees by Feb. 15.
But we also have a couple of expectations for the University during this recruitment process.
First, we don’t just want more professors — we want good professors. And by good professors, we mean professors with top degrees who also teach well.
In the 2005 school year, 90.6 percent of the professors at USC had terminal degrees, the highest degrees in their fields. But by 2009, only 79.9 percent had terminal degrees, a drop of more than 10 percent in just four years.
If USC is going to pay $150,000 a year per senior faculty member, it needs to be selective.
We want the best. For that amount, we deserve it.
Second, we would rather not have our tuitions hiked again in order for the University to pay for 27 new faculty members. Our educational gain is a priority, but if USC is resourceful enough, it can hire better quality professors without digging deeper into our pockets.
As the deadline approaches, we eagerly await the arrival of our new instructors. Hopefully, we won’t be disappointed by how the money is spent this time around.
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