paleo at small colleges

[cmtang@xxxxxxx (Carol Tang)]

A week or so ago, Bill Shear asked for a response from Mark Wilson about
teaching paleo at a small college.  Mark is not on PaleoNet but I forwarded
the request to him.  Here is his response.
(Please address responses to Mark Wilson at <mwilson@acs.wooster.edu>)

Bill Shear wrote:

>
>I'd like to add a footnote to the biology-affiliation thread and suggest
>that new graduates in paleontology consider positions in small liberal
arts
>colleges like Hampden-Sydney.  Paleontological research is ideal for this
>setting in that it usually requires minimal expensive equipment and may
not
>(except for field work) require vast stretches of contiguous time.  The
>much closer contact with undergraduate students and with colleagues whose
>interests and fields are far from your own can be very stimulating.  I
>think too many of us in academe are sold on the research-university model
>as the only acceptable environment.
>
>If Mark Wilson is listening in, maybe he can add something to this last
>paragraph.  He works at a small college that requires a large commitment
to
>undergraduate research.

RESPONSE from Mark Wilson:  Thank you to Bill Shear for asking me to
briefly comment on the issue of teaching paleontology and doing research
at a small college (and thanks to Carol Tang for forwarding the message).
I've taught geology at The College of Wooster for over 16 years.  It is a
superb place to be a geologist, especially a paleontologist.  The College
requires an extensive year-long independent study thesis project of all
its graduates, so research is built into the curriculum.  Faculty members
are expected to not only be current within their fields, but also to be
publishing scholars.  Science faculty, at least, are rarely tenured if
they have not produced an average of a paper a year, although there is no
set number.  To support this level of research combined with a relatively
heavy teaching load (usually two lecture courses, a laboratory section,
and 5-6 independent study students per semester), Wooster has a generous
leaves program.  Full professors may receive one out of every five years
as leave, or one out of every five semesters.  These leaves are at full
pay and benefits.  We also have heavy institutional support for our
research programs.  For paleontologists, as Bill says, our low overheads
mean that we can get maximum use out of such programs offered by many
liberal arts colleges.  And, as Bill again states, it is combined with
marvelously rich interaction with students and other colleagues in a
diverse and stimulating atmosphere.  Teaching and research blend so
thoroughly that we no longer say one aids the other, but that they are two
aspects of the same pursuit.  It's a wonderful life, and I highly
recommend it.

I doubt, however, that very many paleontology graduate students have
overlooked the world of small college teaching and research.  When the job
market tightened in the 80s, there was strong competition for all
available positions in paleontology.  I recall, though, my graduate
advisor's response to my statement that I was applying for the Wooster
job:  "No.  We train university professors here."  He came around, though.
I doubt any paleontology advisors say the same now.



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Carol M. Tang
Assistant Professor
Department of Geology
Arizona State University
Tempe, AZ  85287-1404

602-965-9878
602-965-8102 (FAX)
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