The "Doctorate-plus-hours" proposal reflects Maricopa's commitment to high standards in teaching and learning.  The proposal benefits students, faculty, and the communities that we serve in six specific ways.  First, it encourages us, the faculty, to maintain currency within our disciplines.  We want our students, as they move to universities and businesses, to be aware of the latest knowledge, techniques, questions, and problems. 

Second, the proposal increases interdisciplinary understanding.  Faculty will take some courses in related fields of study.  We want our students to appreciate the interrelationships among the disciplines, as well as the value of all of the disciplines. 

Third, the proposal improves our ability to convey the relevance of our disciplines.  By maintaining currency and increasing interdisciplinary understanding, we will achieve greater awareness of the application of our disciplines to contemporary life.  We want our students to know that education has personal, practical, and theoretical value. 

Fourth, the proposal models the value of continuing education.  Students will know that their professors are continuing their own education, and thus will realize that, in 
Maricopa, we not only preach, but also practice, the principle of learning throughout life. 

Fifth, the proposal strengthens the connections between community colleges and universities.  Since our professors will be taking classes and conducting research with 
professors at other Arizona colleges and universities, we will be developing personal and professional relationships that will contribute to improving communications within higher education in Arizona. 

Sixth, the proposal publicizes Maricopa nationally. The writing and research that are associated with additional faculty coursework will result in publications and conference presentations.

The doctorate-plus-hours proposal expresses clearly, through our compensation schedule, why Maricopa is a premier educational system: We believe deeply in life-long education for all people--not least, for the faculty ourselves.  As Chaucer said, "And gladly would he learn, and gladly teach."