Dear Editor,

"Is Research the Whole Enchilada?" Sadly, the answer seems to be yes.

A new emphasis on teaching is to be applauded. Yet quality teaching takes an enormous amount of time and energy. Graduate students and junior professors, however, are quite aware of the fact that the road to tenure and promotion is through scholarly articles and monographs. Indeed, at some institutions awards for teaching have become a "kiss of death."

What is really needed is some kind of signal that superb instruction—with a flexible definition of scholarly activity—can lead to a successful career in academia.

Stephen G. Weisner
Springfield Technical Community College
Springfield, Massachusetts