Book Signing Displays Professors’ Work
Written by Cody Summer
On February 18, the college held a book signing for several of our professors who have recently published books. This event enabled students to see what their professors are working on to benefit the academic community outside the classroom.
Hillsdale is unique in that it neither requires publications from its professors, nor gives them heavy class loads. While most other liberal arts schools of our size require their professors to teach five or even six classes, Hillsdale only requires its professors to lecture for three or four classes.
Despite the lack of publishing requirements, the college facilitates research and publication whenever it can. Dr. Richard Gamble—who recently produced his third book, “In Search of the City on a Hill: The Making and Unmaking of an American Myth”—explained how Hillsdale makes it possible for its professors to write: “Hillsdale takes the idea of the sabbatical seriously. Professors are given one semester off every seven years, and they can take a whole year off if they are able to acquire outside funding.”
This, in addition to the lighter teaching load, grants professors the time to research and write even when they are teaching. Dr. Darryl Hart, who has authored or coauthored almost twenty books, described his writing process. “I try to wake up and write a page of a book each day,” he said. “The College and the History department are very generous in allowing us to teach classes in our special interests and on topics that we are researching.”
Yet, while a majority of Hillsdale professors research and publish, the strongest emphasis has always been on teaching students. Dr. Ivan Pongracic, a professor of Economics who recently published an expanded version of his PhD thesis, explained that Hillsdale’s primary goal is to educate students, while writing always comes second. Still, all the professors agree with Dr. Pongracic’s assessment that “research is an important component of effective teaching.” A professor must remain well-read in important current literature if he or she wishes to continue engaging the academic world.
Hillsdale’s unique belief that teachers should have light class loads and no teaching requirements results in benefits for both the students and faculty. Teachers are given the time to research and write on whatever topics interest them while allowing their classes to be enriched by their current research and new discoveries. However, their main focus remains on education. Without the pressure of publication, the faculty can complete all of their own grading without teaching assistants and thus devote the majority of their time to educating undergraduates.
Cody Sommer will graduate this spring with a degree in Mathematics and minors in English and Economics. Cody is a member of the Honors Program, participates in the Kappa Mu Epsilon Math Honorary, organizes the Orthodox Christian Fellowship, and enjoys playing Swedish folk music.