“Research and teaching go hand-in-hand. I think that if you don’t interact with students, you can’t be a good researcher.”- David Yu, Associate Dean of UWM’s College of Engineering and Applied Science

For years, studies conducted by the U.S. Department of Education and a multitude of independent researchers have explored the issue of research vs. teaching in higher education. Now that debate, thanks to a push for more research-related spending, has the potential to become an issue on the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee campus.

Chancellor Carlos E. Santiago and the campaign for UWM’s efforts to build on the school’s research and developmental goals clearly demonstrates UWM’s shift towards becoming Wisconsin’s second premier research university, next to the University of Wisconsin in Madison.

A primary focus of the UWM campaign is its Research Growth Initiative, or RGI, which seeks to “substantially expand UWM’s research enterprise”, according to the UWM website. This includes more investment in faculty and staff research endeavors, implement seed-funding for projects in beginning stages, and putting money into specific efforts that “lead to self-sustaining research programs.”

However, thus far there has been little to no opposition to Santiago’s vision for UWM’s expanding research activity. In fact, some faculty members see no reason for opposition at all.

“Of course [we agree with his vision],” said David Yu, associate dean of UWM’s College of Engineering and Applied Science. “I don’t see who wouldn’t want that.”

Although one would expect the College of Engineering and Applied Science to support research funding, many other departments feel the same way.

“We’re 100 percent behind it,” said G. Richard Meadows, dean of the UWM College of Letters and Science. “You could say 110 percent.”

Although studies show a clear correlation between research and development spending and the creation of many new jobs, the RGI may play a much larger role. Santiago has emphasized that not only Milwaukee, but the state of Wisconsin needs a second major research university in order to be economically healthy and sustainable.

Although the positives of increased research spending at UWM are clear, one potential problem exists: The dilemma on the part of undergraduate instructors, who may be having difficulty trying to balance their time between classroom preparation and significant progress in outside research.

When asked whether or not pressure to conduct more research would affect undergraduate lecturers, Meadows said that is not a problem in Letters and Science. Yu also insisted there would be no such conflict.

“Oh, no,” he said. “Instructors spend two semesters teaching and then they spend the remaining time on research.”

According to the website of WiSys Technology Foundation, an organization that supports UW System campuses with the exception of Madison in research efforts, UWM boasts an annual research budget of over $30 million. WiSys describes UWM’s technology transfer office as “proactively” searching for research opportunities for “the school’s chemistry, biology, engineering, and other science departments.”

While a few may be concerned with the possible lack of classroom preparation due to an increased focus on external research, it seems that more faculty and staff members have a tendency to focus on the positive relationship between research and teaching.

“Research and teaching go hand-in-hand,” said Yu. “I think that if you don’t interact with students, you can’t be a good researcher.”

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