About - Dean - Speeches & Writing - Why We Teach

Why do we teach? This may seem like an odd question to ask as a professor and administrator at an institution of higher education. Isn’t it obvious? Is it not the core activity of the university? If only this were true. Unfortunately, at too many universities, teaching is viewed as a secondary activity, dare I say a distraction, from professors’ first love and obsession, research. Publish or perish as the old line goes. Hiring, career advancement and public stature are tied to one’s publication record. Poor teaching may receive a stern reprimand from an associate dean but is unlikely to impact one’s stature in the Academy. I have been at schools where a positive “yes” response to a colleague’s question, “Are you teaching this term?”, is met with derision: “Sorry to hear that,” 

Now, I am not being exactly fair. Universities across the world are filled with professors dedicated to the craft of teaching, who care deeply about their students and their education and who deliver transformative experiences in the classroom. Many do this despite the pressures to advance one’s research and scholarship, all else be damned.  For these professors, teaching is a calling, an activity that motivates and provides purpose to one’s endeavors. These professors dedicate countless hours preparing for class, perfecting their craft. They revel in the energy-high generated from a rousing discussion in the classroom, the satisfaction of seeing students master difficult material, and the joy of seeing former students flourish as they move on to new pastures and endeavors. 

Yet, at too many schools, these faculty pursue their purpose despite institutional pressures to do otherwise. I feel incredibly fortunate to serve at a school where that is simply not the case. At the University of Virginia Darden School of Business, we cultivate and celebrate excellence in teaching. We believe teaching is a calling, not just individually, but collectively as a school. We recruit faculty who share our values. We work together to improve our method. We actively cultivate norms around teaching excellence.   

At the core of what we do at Darden is what we refer to as student-centered learning.  We do not lecture at Darden. We do not believe students should pay tuition only to have a professor speak at them.  One-way lectures can be viewed on video and watched while you are on the treadmill. YouTube and Ted Talks provide countless lectures for you to consume at your leisure. Time in the Darden classroom is precious. We believe fundamentally that the best learning occurs when students are challenged to defend their viewpoints and justify their recommendations. In the Darden classroom, students are pushed to hone their logic and back up their recommendations with analysis. They are pushed not only by the professor but by their fellow students. The Darden magic is most powerful when students are engaged in debate with one another as the professor stands patiently off to the side. 

This is the heart of the Socratic Method. Darden professors act as guides and provocateurs. What may seem to students like improvisation is the result of detailed lesson plans crafted among teams of professors meeting regularly to discuss upcoming class sessions. We hold our students to high standards: Read the materials, show up on time, come prepared to discuss and debate, and to do so in a constructive manner that is empathetic to others’ viewpoints. Our classrooms are full and energized.  Other MBA programs have become purely transactional – get yourself that next job, show up to class if you wish. That is incredibly short-sighted. MBA programs are too expensive not to get the most out of your learning experience. At Darden, we don’t just help you secure the next job. We prepare you to be a lifelong learner. We prepare you for your career. We prepare you to pursue your purpose. 

As a professor, it is an honor and a joy to teach in the Darden classroom. We pride ourselves in crafting transformational learning opportunities. We are clear on who we are and what we do, and others agree: We deliver the world’s best educational experience led by the world’s best professors – professors in the classic understanding: educators with expertise derived from a foundation in rigorous scholarship, dedicated to the craft of teaching and student advancement, who cultivate a supportive community of learners.  Why do we teach? At Darden, it is our purpose and it is our calling. At Darden, our mission is to improve the world by developing and inspiring responsible leaders through unparalleled transformational learning experiences. 

Next up:  Why we research