<p>In looking for an undergraduate environment in which to spend 4 (or more) years, an important consideration is how the institution and its faculty manages the conflict between the professorial duties of excellent classroom teaching and excellent research work. </p>
<p>While acknowledging that some gifted professors are able to deliver a high-level performance in both categories, many, many others end up dedicating more of their energy to one activity over the other
with predictable consequences (bad and good) for undergraduate students. </p>
<p>For students who are interested in the quality of classroom teaching and how this will affect their undergraduate academic experience, how should a student go about investigating the quality of teaching at ABC College? Furthermore, how would you recommend that one contrast and consider this with how the professorial staff manages their research responsibilities?</p>
<p>When you visit a campus, look inside the general classroom buildings. Notice the number and size of lecture halls as well as the number and size of the seminar rooms.</p>
<p>Look in your academic department’s buildings. Notice classrooms in those buildings. Try to determine whether undergraduate courses are taught there or whether only graduate courses are taught in proximity to the professors’ offices.</p>
<p>The school’s physical plant will be a concrete indication of the school’s dedication to undergraduate education.</p>
<p>[ul][<em>]Are tenured professors teaching graduate, upper-level undergraduate, or survey courses?
[</em>]What percentage of courses are taught by TT faculty?
[<em>]How does the mentoring/advising system work?
[</em>]Does the college require a thesis?
[<em>]Do faculty have set office hours?
[</em>]Is grading done by professors or graduate students?
[<em>]Are there programs for student-faculty interaction, such as student-faculty lunches or faculty-in-residence?
[</em>]On average, how many courses does a faculty member teach?[/ul]</p>