Business department searches for new professor
Maria Schmitt
Issue date: 11/8/07 Section: News
The quick departure of finance professor David Basterfield after last semester left the economics and business administration department scrambling for his replacement.
Professor of Business Law David Paas said Basterfield's departure took him completely by surprise. Basterfield had been a full-time finance professor at the college.
Paas said the department is looking for a permanent, qualified replacement for Basterfield but that the process is complicated and usually takes about 15 months. Paas is currently weeding through more than 30 applications he has received for the position.
"It's a mess," he said.
Paas said it's difficult to hire business professors because the supply of candidates with doctorate-level business degrees is much smaller than the demand. The department hopes to hire a new professor by next August, he said.
While Paas weeds through applications, other business faculty are teaching courses that Basterfield taught before he left the college.
Basterfield would normally have taught three classes this fall semester, Paas said. Currently, Accounting Lecturer Earl Rockey is teaching Financial Management and
Business Lecturer Ken Moberg is teaching Case Studies in Finance in Basterfield's place.
Paas said the third class that Basterfield would have taught, Risk Management, is not being offered this semester. It is not a required course and enrollment was low at the end of spring registration.
For the spring semester, Moberg will teach three classes that Basterfield would normally have taught, Paas said.
Some finance students have said they are disappointed with the financial management class and the state of the department.
"Complaints have come to me," Paas said.
Senior Molly Smith said the financial management course is "ruining my GPA."
But Rockey said it's typical for students to struggle with his class.
"There is some difficulty to the course," Rockey said. "As any course will be, this course may be difficult to some students. Other students will succeed and do well."
Smith said she thinks the college does not pay enough attention to the business department.
Junior Shannon Webb agreed and said she'd like to see the college invest more in its business program.
"I do think we could gain a lot by buffing up the business program," she said. "I think
they should re-evaluate their programs."
Smith said she thinks professors who want to teach at Hillsdale do not usually come to teach business classes.
"The really good English and history professors are drawn here," Smith said. "Business professors can make more money doing business rather than teaching it."
Smith also said she realizes that the process for finding a new full-time professor is not easy.
"The business department is kind of stuck," Smith said. "I don't blame Dr. Paas at all. He's having a hard time. He's been trying really hard to make us happy. There's not much he can do right now."
The economics and business administration department employs 10 full-time faculty and offers classes in economics, accounting, financial management and marketing management.
Hillsdale College Collegian, 2007
Professor of Business Law David Paas said Basterfield's departure took him completely by surprise. Basterfield had been a full-time finance professor at the college.
Paas said the department is looking for a permanent, qualified replacement for Basterfield but that the process is complicated and usually takes about 15 months. Paas is currently weeding through more than 30 applications he has received for the position.
"It's a mess," he said.
Paas said it's difficult to hire business professors because the supply of candidates with doctorate-level business degrees is much smaller than the demand. The department hopes to hire a new professor by next August, he said.
While Paas weeds through applications, other business faculty are teaching courses that Basterfield taught before he left the college.
Basterfield would normally have taught three classes this fall semester, Paas said. Currently, Accounting Lecturer Earl Rockey is teaching Financial Management and
Business Lecturer Ken Moberg is teaching Case Studies in Finance in Basterfield's place.
Paas said the third class that Basterfield would have taught, Risk Management, is not being offered this semester. It is not a required course and enrollment was low at the end of spring registration.
For the spring semester, Moberg will teach three classes that Basterfield would normally have taught, Paas said.
Some finance students have said they are disappointed with the financial management class and the state of the department.
"Complaints have come to me," Paas said.
Senior Molly Smith said the financial management course is "ruining my GPA."
But Rockey said it's typical for students to struggle with his class.
"There is some difficulty to the course," Rockey said. "As any course will be, this course may be difficult to some students. Other students will succeed and do well."
Smith said she thinks the college does not pay enough attention to the business department.
Junior Shannon Webb agreed and said she'd like to see the college invest more in its business program.
"I do think we could gain a lot by buffing up the business program," she said. "I think
they should re-evaluate their programs."
Smith said she thinks professors who want to teach at Hillsdale do not usually come to teach business classes.
"The really good English and history professors are drawn here," Smith said. "Business professors can make more money doing business rather than teaching it."
Smith also said she realizes that the process for finding a new full-time professor is not easy.
"The business department is kind of stuck," Smith said. "I don't blame Dr. Paas at all. He's having a hard time. He's been trying really hard to make us happy. There's not much he can do right now."
The economics and business administration department employs 10 full-time faculty and offers classes in economics, accounting, financial management and marketing management.
Hillsdale College Collegian, 2007
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