The fact is some faculty members are better at research, and some are much better at teaching. Those who do manage to do both well are certainly exceptional. I think it is unfortunate when Mississippi State University officials ask great teachers to compromise their work with students in order to get published, which while a meaningful endeavor, perhaps is not always the best use of a teacher's time or talents. Some say that research helps teachers stay current and promotes lifelong learning. But I say daily interaction with young people who face current issues keeps teachers on their toes.
Students help teachers continue to learn with their questions and problems.
Good teachers don't have an answer for everything. But they are willing to learn with their students. In fact, the teachers who do this are the very best of all. They realize they can't teach a student everything he or she will ever need to know, but they can help them learn how to be resourceful enough to solve even the most unexpected problems they may face in the future. Administrators like President Malcolm Portera and Provost David Cole seem to prefer faculty members who contribute through service, research and learning adequately instead of those who may be utterly outstanding in one of these areas.