KNOXVILLE — University of Tennessee advertising faculty are among the most productive in the nation, a new study of faculty research shows.
The study conducted at Michigan State University ranks Tennessee’s program fifth nationally in advertising research. Study results will be presented at the American Academy of Advertising conference, March 27-29, in Broomfield, Colo.
“Contributing to the body of knowledge about advertising and sharing that knowledge with our
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Dr. Ron Taylor
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students is an important part of what we do,” Dr. Ron Taylor, head of the Advertising Department in UT’s College of Communication and Information, said. “It’s gratifying to have the validation that our program is one of the most productive in the nation, but it is something we’ve known all along.
“Recognition like this helps us attract the very best faculty members and top doctoral students because research productivity is such an important part of academic reputation.”
UT President John Shumaker has established the Scorecard 2010 for tracking university progress. Among the scorecard’s strategic quality goals are nationally recognized academic programs and attracting top students and faculty.
The study examined research by 927 different individuals from 324 different universities from 1983 to 2002. Top programs were Texas, Michigan State, Georgia, and Florida.
Tennessee’s research productivity has grown faster than any other, quadrupling since 1983.
“We’re competing with universities with larger programs, more faculty, and more resources,” Taylor said. “Texas, for example, has 16 faculty positions and 29 doctoral students. Tennessee has only seven faculty members and two or three doctoral students.”
Taylor was listed as the nation’s seventh most productive advertising faculty researcher and Dr. Eric Haley, associate professor, was 17th.
Taylor also cited Dr. Roxanne Hovland and Dr. Mariea Hoy, both professors, for publications, which helped, boost the department’s rankings.
UT’s advertising program previously has been ranked in the nation’s top ten by U.S. News and World Report and others.