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Effects of Merit Pay
Robert E. Cone and James O'Rourke
To the Editor:"Judicial Forays into Merit Pay" by Donna R. Euben in the July-August issue highlights important issues concerning merit pay in academe—another collision between the academic and corporate mentalities. However, an important effect of merit pay on the academic environment is not discussed. To wit, when the opportunities for didactic teaching are less than the number of available faculty some faculty will be marginalized from teaching. Moreover, there may be a minority of faculty who lobby to preserve their teaching responsibilities and oppose the introduction of new courses. This is the case at some academic health centers. The net effect is particularly damaging to young faculty who need teaching responsibilities for promotion and tenure and pay increases.
Robert E. Cone
James O'Rourke
(Pathology)
University of Connecticut Health Center
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