It also generates an appreciation of the field and the value of an understanding of economics in post-school life. Good teaching is both evaluated in terms of the syllabus, attention to deadlines and preparation by the faculty member, classroom observations and student evaluations. Excellent teaching includes extraordinary course content and student involvement in addition to technical mastery of course organization and student satisfaction. We have tentatively accepted the current language of the scholarship of teaching to describe the content of such courses. Such demonstrated excellence beyond the high quality of teaching required of everyone will be rewarded by the salary committee.
Research is an essential part of being a historian.
It not only contributes to the advancement of knowledge within the profession, but it invigorates and enriches our graduate and undergraduate teaching. It helps to create an atmosphere in which intellectual endeavor is held as serious and exciting. This scholarly climate is important for the maintenance of faculty morale, as well as being crucial in getting students to value our collective enterprise. Active involvement in research adds to our effectiveness as teachers and advisors of graduate students in particular, as it keeps us abreast of new research areas and materials, grants and fellowship opportunities. Thus, the department expects research to be an ongoing activity throughout the professional life of a faculty member.