USD Teaching Load

I am writing with reference to the article written by David Smollar on Author Hughes, the president of the University of San Diego (“USD President Provides Lesson in Excellence,” April 14).

Mr. Smollar states that the heavy teaching load at USD is “a sore point--though not a defining one--with some in the faculty.”

On the contrary, the heavy teaching load is the single defining issue (along with low salaries) among virtually all the faculty. Most of us serve a total of over 100 students each semester (without readers or teaching assistants) in four classes.

This 12-unit load seriously impedes research projects and prevents the kind of professional growth (of which publications is only a part) we increasingly expect of ourselves.

BEN NYCE

Professor of Literature and Film

University of San Diego