While I am not sure I would fire professors based on student recommendation surveys alone, I do think that its a useful criteria. And one that should force a review of the professor.
I also like the teaching mandate. There are lots of professors that get paid for being on staff but, don’t do anything. They just self promote and collect a check. This is pretty common. And even if these guys go on speaking tours or write books, that still does not really help the university.
But the point of this essay is all wrong. Politicians are not equivalent to professors. Universities exist to fill the public need of education. And professors are hired to fill that need. If they don’t then we need to get someone who is.
And don’t get me started on “research”...
You mean grant funded issue advocacy - academic stamp of approval for sale?