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Editor:
The faculty surveys on Pacheco and Sypherd did not give only bad marks ("Faculty surveys give Pacheco, Sypherd bad marks," Nov. 5).
The surveys conducted by the Committee of Eleven contained a wide range of questions and elicited an enormous variety of comments, as anyone can tell who takes the trouble to obtain a copy of the committee's report.
The results attest to definite strengths and weaknesses in the job performances, so far, of these unquestionably intelligent and vigorous persons.
I noticed a remarkable similarity between the results of these surveys and my student evaluations in my first few years of teaching. In my case there were positive and negative comments, and a great number of bluntly-stated suggestions for improvement. While I was not happy with my own "bad marks," the negative comments and suggestions for improvement ultimately turned out to be extremely useful guidelines for learning to do my job better (in later years my teaching has been recognized as meritorious by such groups as the Five Star Teaching Award Committee).
I believe that UA President Pacheco and Provost Sypherd will also find the feedback from these surveys helpful in learning to be more effective in their undeniably challenging jobs.
Bruce J. Bayly
associate professor of mathematics
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