I think that it is important for students to interact with visiting artists and that their role coming to a campus be to inspire and inform students. How they do this should be left open ended for the artist to interpret. While most students have faculty that are already active in their field, it is good for students to see another successful artist outside of the university. Allowing students to engage with visiting artists and share ideas is a crucial part of them preparing for being an artist in the real world.
I am a firm believer that a degree does not always equate to someone’s ability to be a good teacher. Two of the best teachers I have ever had had no prior education in teaching. A teacher should be a master of their skill and have the personality and desire that allows them to communicate their skills to their students. I am not saying here that teaching degrees are useless, rather they should not be the only defining characteristic of a person’s ability to teach. Many schools have become too obsessed with titles instead of character.