There is a more charitable interpretation of the dean's comment: "We need
to recruit and keep only those faculty members that are better than
average."
It is quite possible for all of the professors to be above average - when
compared to national averages. Just as it is possible for all Mercedes to
be above average cars.
Presumably, the dean means (but doesn't state clearly) "We need to recruit
and keep only those faculty members that are better than a typical
professor at a typical school." The assumption is that your school is
trying to be better than "typical".
Tim Folkerts
Department of Physics
Fort Hays State University
Hays, KS 67601
785-628-4501
This posting is the position of the writer, not that of SUNY-BSC, NAU or the AAPT.