Applying for departmental resources while on the market

[ap]

I am facing a decision, and while I am leaning pretty decisively one way, I thought I'd ask people detached from the situation about the optics of it all.

I am currently an assistant professor at a teaching intensive institution. Because they want to increase the institution's research output, they've created a program where pre-tenure faculty can apply to have course releases. It is a competitive program (as in faculty compete against each other for a limited number of course releases), but I am fairly sure I would get it given my research output. The thing is, I am on the market this year, and I am pretty determined to leave this place.

Now, my feeling is that we are all professionals. If I win and then I leave, so be it.

But I am also aware that:
1- It is a relatively minor reward. A couple of course releases aren't that big a deal.
2- If I win the course releases for the fall, people may be bitter that I used part of that freed time to apply elsewhere. If I win it for the spring, they may be bitter that it has gone to someone who is (hopefully) leaving.  I can handle dirty looks for the rest of a year if my search is successful. But there is always the chance that my search isn't successful and current colleagues learn about it, or that the reputation and bitterness follow me at my new place.

Any different perspectives on this?

[Tough Choice]

It's a real dilemma. I'm in a similar situation. Last year, I was committed to find a new job, and so decided not to apply for a teaching reduction for the following year at my school (being afraid that I would waste one of the limited number of these awards that someone else who was planning to stay could have instead used).

However, I didn't land a new job. This year, if I go on the job market again, I'll also keep in mind that this might be my permanent home after all, and I better make the most of any additional resources.

So, remember, it's a tough job market and there are absolutely no guarantees.

[Advice]

The only people who need to know that you're leaving are those writing letters for you, and it is pretty unethical for those people to spread the word (they wouldn't be good references if they did). Keep mum about your being on the market and pretend that you intend to stay where you are, until you accept a formal offer from another institution. If your current place of employment really wanted to keep you, they would keep you. Take whatever you can that would help you produce more scholarship, and get out.

Just don't apply for any of the jobs I'm applying for, OK?

[Agreed]

I'm an assistant professor who is considering going on the market to move to a more desirable place. I've been working hard to make myself a more attractive candidate--including doing extra service kinds of things at my current institution. Someone recently suggested I apply for an internal grant, and you know what?

I'm going to apply and not feel bad. It will either make me look more attractive on the market and/or contribute to the environment at my current institution.

No one needs to know I'm considering the market.

I'm an not guaranteed to get a new job, so I might be stuck here for awhile.

And, finally, as an untenured faculty they could fire me at any point, if the Dean or someone decides he doesn't like me (we don't have a union).

So, I say go for it. Maybe I'm being naive, but if a break makes you a better academic (and more attractive to other schools), then it's worth it.

[To reiterate]

You are only as valuable as the place that values you the most, so if a better place comes along, it's a loss for the place you're at now. Not your problem.

[read the fine print]

One thing that hasn't been mentioned here is the fine print on institutional support grants like these. I recently made the type of move you just described, and opted not to apply for such funds after reading what they entailed. At my former institution I wasn't allowed to use those monies without agreeing to stay for at least 1-year past when the funds were provided. And if I left before then, in theory they could have sought to recoup the funds. So, know what your situation entails fully before making the decision.