[edocecrous]

There's a word for this, and it's the word MIT used: "Professor of the Practice".

You wouldn't a huge portion of the university's faculty to be untrained in research or teaching -- that would be like running a software company where everyone has great ideas but no one knows how to lay down LOCs. But one person here or there who has something significant to bring to the table can be good for the institution.

> but to now have them share that unique and disorganized philosophy with students trying to learn structurally is unfair to the hard work and sacrifice those students have made to be able to get to MIT in the first place.

The author is not directly involved in leading a research group or in teaching. He's a director -- a vision/leadership role. And if he ever were to take up either teaching or advising research, he'd probably receive support and guidance from people who do have Ph.D.'s and have learned the long way around how to research/teach.

Again, that model obviously doesn't work well if you have a huge number of people like this, but one here or there can be a positive thing.