Professors have more to worry about than teaching classes these days.
Even at traditional teaching schools like Ball State University, professors nationwide are facing pressure from administration to apply for research grants.
A statewide budget crunch that's causing decreases in state funding to public universities is making grants a place to turn for additional money. This increased emphasis on grants may be an attempt to solve a financial crunch, but some critics are raising concerns about increasing workloads.
John Curtis, director of research at the American Association of University Professors, said he has seen the concerns nationwide.
"I think research as a function of what a university does is just taking on increasing importance," he said. "Even at institutions that formerly would have considered themselves primarily teaching institutions."
While those in the field of higher education say universities are focusing on research for multiple reasons, most agree the main reason is a need for increased revenue. According to a report released Wednesday by State Higher Education Executive Officers, public colleges or universities received 64 percent of their budgets from state or local government in 2005, down from 80 percent in 1981.
James Pyle, assistant vice president for research at Ball State, said two options, besides raising tuition, exist when the university is trying to raise its revenue: increase grants or private gifts.
"I certainly think that as people have seen the potential from state appropriations and student tuition fees to be limiting, then they have looked more to the grants and gift areas for support," Pyle said.
During the fiscal year ending in 2001, Ball State University received $13.9 million in grants that helped raise money for university research and programs. Last year that number reached a record $25.8 million.
Those involved in research at other Mid-American Conference schools are also seeing increased pressure on faculty to apply for grants.
Leonard Ginsberg, associate vice president for research at Western Michigan University, said he has seen more than one reason for the number of grants increasing.
"There's pressure from administration for faculty to get funding," he said. "There's availability of funds out there in various forms and faculty expertise has increased."
Richard Orem, director of the Office of Research, Evaluation and Policy Studies at Northern Illinois University, said he recently has seen an increase among faculty to pursue money as a supplement to their duties.
"We're getting more and more demand for our services," he said, "but fewer and fewer dollars from the state to do it."
Pyle said he does not consider Ball State an institution that places large amounts of pressure on its faculty to apply for external grants, but he does think that is changing to some extent.
"I would say that over the last 10 years, there's been a gradual increase in the expectation in the hope that faculty would be successful in bringing some grant dollars in," he said.
Whether the pressure exists or not, an increase in research grants leads to an increase in what professors have to do in addition to teaching. Professors typically focus on three areas: teaching, research and service.
Curtis said increases in research grants can push the teaching function to a secondary emphasis.
"If we aren't giving strong emphasis to teaching then where can we expect the next generation of scientists and inventors and faculty members to come from?" he said.
At Ball State, Joe Losco, treasurer for the Ball State chapter of American Association of University Professors, said the nationwide push to increase external support through grants has forced professors to reallocate time away from teaching to research.
"The emphasis on increased funding here, I don't think has resulted in neglect on teaching," Losco said. "What it has done is to dramatically increase the workload of professors at a time when compensation has not followed."
Joseph Bilello, dean of the College of Architecture and Planning at Ball State, said Ball State is shifting from its strong reputation as a teaching college. Though he said teaching would always remain here, it's not enough anymore.
"The demands of being a faculty member today have gone way up," he said.
Bilello, who joined Ball State in 2001 after serving as associate dean for research at Texas Tech University, said deans at Ball State are playing a large role in encouraging faculty to apply for grants.
"I think that has been reinforced by the current administration," he said. "Dr. [Jo Ann] Gora has a great interest in that part of us. Although I think she's also mindful that we want to be a premier undergrad institution."
Marion Tangum, director of grants resource center at American Association of State Colleges and Universities, said she hasn't seen any drawbacks to additional research. Although writing grant proposals can put pressure on faculty, she said, that pressure doesn't have to extend once the proposal is granted.
Tracy Cross, associate dean for graduate studies, research and assessment for the Teachers College, said grant research is a nice complement to a university like Ball State.
"I suppose you can overdo it," he said. "I don't see us taxing our resources yet. I'm hoping we can shoot for $50 million soon and reach that."
In solving the balancing act of the three areas, Curtis said faculty need to have discussions about how important research should be.
"It really is a matter of making sure whatever is happening is a conscious decision," he said. "A lot of these developments have not been conscious decisions, or they're decisions that are made by only a few people and then that gets translated into the mission or the financing of the university."
The increasing dollar amounts of grants pose not only a financial effect on the university but an effect on society surrounding Ball State. Pyle said that while extending knowledge is one of the purposes of grants, another large purpose is to help solve societal problems such as disease, environmental equality or business development.
Tangum, who has visited Ball State's campus, said grants do nothing but enrich the curriculum because students can become involved in many opportunities they otherwise wouldn't be able to have.
Pyle said it's too early to tell if another increase in grant dollars will happen this fiscal year because so many grant proposals have not been answered yet.
If most of those are awarded, he said Ball State would see another record. If not, he still believes that Ball State will be breaking through to $30 million in the next few years.
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