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Post by quest on Oct 14, 2015 12:49:53 GMT -5
I am an assistant professor at a directional state school. My teaching load is 4-4, my pay is fairly low and with limited prospects of going up (public school in a deeply conservative state), and my research support is non-existent. I have an opportunity to move to a teaching/lecturer track position at a private research university where the load would be 3-3. The pay would be a little bit better. Should I take it? As far as I can tell, here are the pros and cons:
Pros: - Better pay (about 12% more, by my calculations) - More institutional prestige (which, like it or not, matters a lot for everything from submitting proposals for special issues, serving on discipline committees, or just plain talking to folks at conferences) - Better students and fewer preps
Cons: - Fewer preps, but I would likely have to work a lot more to prep classes (in my current position if you use the publisher's powerpoints and questions from the test bank you are already ahead of the curve) - Lecture track positions may have more security than just regular lectureships, but it certainly does not have the security of a tenure track position - While my current position does not provide support for research, they don't mind if I do it. I.e., if I have to cancel classes 2 or 3 times a semester to go to conferences, no one bats an eye. Submitting a grant proposal, for example, is encouraged, and they wouldn't mind if I bought out classes. Meanwhile, I don't think that is the case for the lecturer position.
Anything that I am missing?
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Post by Another point on Oct 14, 2015 20:03:28 GMT -5
I took this route because it let me live with my partner. It has worked out great so far, but the vulnerability in the new position can be stressful at times.
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styles
Junior Member
Posts: 61
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Post by styles on Oct 14, 2015 20:57:26 GMT -5
Clearly only you can answer this question in the end.
If I only consider the factors that you put out there (which are important ones) then I have to ask is the 12% pay increase adjusting for potential cost of living differences across locations? In other words, is there really a difference in relatively pay to cost of living? If yes and you make the move, then you are basically saying that you would rather have 12% more pay and a two-course reduction per year than job security. Side question: how confident are you that you will get tenured in your current locations?
If there really is no (or limited) difference in relative pay to cost of living then you are trading a two-course reduction for job security. I’m not sure that I would make the first trade-off (probably not, maybe if living in your current location really sucks and the new location would be a place that you would really want to live) but I wouldn’t make the latter trade-off.
I understand that you are saying you don’t have research support (and 4-4 load limits your time/energy) but I would still work on publishing and try to get out of there another route. When are you going up for tenure? If you have a few more years then I would try to work this route first. Although a 3-3 is certainly more conducive for more production publishing it’s not going to make that much of a difference…both are time/energy sucks.
Best of luck on your decision, I hope that it works out for you in the end.
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Post by quest on Oct 16, 2015 9:45:43 GMT -5
thanks for the replies. Cost of living is similar, but the lecture-ship is at a more desirable location. And to be clear, this isn't just a lecturer position, but a lecturer or teaching track one (think "teaching assistant professor" or similar). Which is to say that while there is certainly less security than a true tenure track position, it has more than just a lecturer/instructor position.
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Post by thoughts on Oct 27, 2015 19:08:50 GMT -5
The longer I've been at this, the more I think broader quality of life matters. I was a VAP for 2 years and am in my 3rd year as an AP. I have low pay, a heavy teaching load, and am not in a part of the country I want to live in. My partner and I are both unhappy here financially and culturally. I think there's much more to life in that work, honestly, and think it's important to be in a location (physical location and institution) where you think you'll be happiest.
Also, the "job security" of tenure isn't a sure thing anyway. Though keep in mind that if you're concerned about status/perceptions, being a lecturer rather than an AP isn't seen as high status. In terms of your "cons" - the prep part will resolve itself over time, once you've prepped any new classes. What is the research support at the new school? Finally, any sense of the service load/expectations at the new school and how it compares to your current department?
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Post by quest on Oct 28, 2015 22:56:51 GMT -5
Thanks for all the replies. At the new school I don't think I'd have a lot of research support. I don't have a lot of research support right now either, only the complete indifference of the higher ups to whatever i do which allows me to cancel classes to go to conferences, etc.
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Post by decision on Dec 8, 2015 21:57:26 GMT -5
What did you decide to do, OP?
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Post by quest on Dec 9, 2015 0:22:36 GMT -5
Lecturer. It was heart wrenching for a while, but then I had this moment of clarity of "more money and better location, and I am struggling just because I won't get called "professor" anymore?"
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Post by right call on Dec 10, 2015 12:55:35 GMT -5
I think you made the right decision. My t-t job is very similar to the one you decided to leave. I increasingly realize how important location and salary are to my life. I would do the same as you did if given a good chance.
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