RESEARCHING RESEARCH: The University of Missouri-Columbia has appointed 11 of its finest researchers to research, what else, but research. In recent years, the university’s faculty have substantially increased the amount of their outside funding to help fuel the cutting-edge research going on across campus. But the university still lags behind other research institutions in the amount of federal dollars it pulls in. The research faculty has been charged with evaluating the incentives and disincentives affecting research productivity at the university—from leadership and hiring to tenure and promotion priorities—and to recommend policies on how research funds are spent.

REWARDS OF TEACHING: Faculty at the University of Michigan’s College of Literature, Science and Arts say that good teachers aren’t getting the notice they should. They’re feeling overworked and burned out, and they’ve told the administration something has to be changed. “Being an outstanding teacher should have the same visibility and rewards as being an outstanding researcher,” said Jaquelynne Eccles, professor of psychology, women’s studies and education. Eccles suggested the university look at the University of Colorado at Boulder. There a committee reviews promotion and tenure proposals and has the freedom to grant either based on excellence in research or teaching, not necessarily both.

STAY IN BETWEEN THE LIGHTS: This month Arizona State University East started offering the first airfield lighting course in the United States, outside if the Federal Aviation Administration. The five-day course is designed for consultants, contractors, airport managers, airport maintenance technicians, engineers and students. SERCO, an international company that offers a recognized aviation ground and approach lighting course in England, is teaming with ASU to provide the course. The new program offers increased knowledge and understanding of existing standards and up-and-coming technologies, which will help provide safer, more efficient airfield lighting systems. ¶