University of Iowa Ombuds Says Professors are Being Overloaded

The UI campus newspaper says that the current financial crisis is forcing faculty to increase their teaching load and cut back on research. UI Ombuds Lois Cox told The Daily Iowan that she has seen this balance threatened as classes grow and the number of teachers shrink — meaning professors must teach more classes with more students. Cox said ideally, faculty should devote 40 percent of their time to teaching, 40 percent to service on UI and national committees, and 20 percent to research in their field. Susan Johnson, the UI associate provost for faculty, said the administration is watching the issue closely. (Daily Iowan.)