On doing well by doing good and an offer of free education

In a recent paper, Saul Gass pointed out that there was ‘at least one notable exception to the (usual OR-program) paradigm. It is the OR program at the Colorado School of Mines.’ He then went on to say that ‘… how other schools can emulate, replicate, or approximate its approach is worthy of study.’ In the face of such gracious comments, I would like to tell you exactly how you can emulate, replicate, or approximate what we do here if you are moved to do so. I have often been asked how we do it by my academic colleagues. Candor, however, compels me to admit the question is usually phrased in something like the following fashion: ‘Gene, how in Hades did you get away with what you did in the usual academic setting and survive?’ My purpose in this article is to answer that question in such a way that anyone at a state-supported academic institution can ‘get away with it’. Candor once again, however, requires me to note that what I did may not be your path to success. The referee's comments are gratefully acknowledged here, especially the one who wrote: ‘I cannot think of any assistant professor who could behave the way he has, who would not be thrown out on his ear.’