<p>But those lower-level classes are often a student’s introduction into a field. Having a horrible experience at that level could turn off that student’s interest in pursuing that discipline. That’s why it’s even more important to have the best professors teach the intro classes. At UVa, many of the introductory classes are taught by the school’s most stellar profs. It’s his/her passion for his/her subject that lures students to want to learn more about that area of study. For example, UVa’s Intro to Government class is taught by Professor Larry Sabato, an often-seen pundit on CNN, Fox News, etc. Yes, there were over 200 students in his class, but his passion was infective. I remember one day he couldn’t teach the class, so he had former President Jimmy Carter fill in for him and talk about the gov’t and the presidency. Another example is the Intro to Economics class taught by Prof. Elzinga. He totally cares about his students - so much so that every year he invites to his house anyone who lives too far to go home for Thanksgiving. Scores upon scores of students come over to his house for Thanksgiving dinner every year. Lastly, as you can read in this link, it’s Ed Ayers passion that energizes his students, and he also happens to the be Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences. </p>
<p><a href=“http://www.virginia.edu/insideuva/2003/21/ayers_ed.html[/url]”>http://www.virginia.edu/insideuva/2003/21/ayers_ed.html</a>.</p>