The Manship School of Mass Communication currently is takingapplications for new faculty members.
The school is searching for instructors — that is, peoplewithout a doctorate or plans to earn their doctorate.
Since these statistics were published, the University has beenworking through the Flagship Agenda to increase the number ofprofessors with higher degrees.
Although the University’s Flagship Agenda calls for hiring moretenure-track faculty members instead of instructors, MargaretDeFleur, associate dean of the Manship School, said she thinks theschool is representing the Flagship Agenda well.
DeFleur said the school is looking for instructors because thosepositions are open, but in the past months three Ph.D faculty inaddition to herself have been hired.
Some students would prefer the University to take on facultywith higher degrees.
“I think that if the budget allows it, the Manship School shouldhire doctorates to teach instead of masters students or people withlower degrees,” said Jeff Forbes, a mass communication graduatestudent.
Some students disagree with the viewpoint that those with higherdegrees are better qualified.
“I don’t think it necessarily makes a difference,” said ArianneFrazier, a mass communication graduate student. “A lot ofinstructors actually have more experience than Ph.Ds.”
The school is looking for a tenure-track assistant professor andtwo instructors to teach entry-level courses.
The school needs new faculty members to fill a provost positionand an instructor position which were left open at the end of lastsemester, said John Hamilton, dean of the Manship School.
“We had already decided to hire another instructor a while back,which accounts for the other instructor position,” Hamiltonsaid.
The two instructors are needed to teach Media Writing and VisualCommunication. They must both have a master’s degree and at leasttwo years of professional experience.
“I think that instructors would relate better to the students,”said Kristin Chignizola, a mass communication graduate student.”They are often not as far removed from actually being astudent.”