The flip side of a job

[cor blimey]

I'm having a $h!tty time of things lately and thought it worthwhile to put this on everyone's radar, since it's not something we think about in graduate school: administration issues. One might think that being asked to take on an administrative role in one's department would be an honor, or a perk if it comes with more salary or a teaching release, but it can also really suck. It changes the way you are viewed, you get saddled with having to make decisions that make people upset, and people may not respond well to your new role. You become a target. I've thought very seriously about stepping down several times now. I'm also looking at other universities. I was really happy before this change.

Anyway, something to think about.

[thanks]

Thanks for sharing this perspective. I've applied to several jobs that carry administrative responsibilities and am feeling kind of nervous about them since they're the only places that are showing serious interest so far. I also assume that they kill your research productivity.

[rrr]

Eh, only if you get too involved. Are you cynical about the issues involved and don't mind too much which way things go? That's probably an asset in these types of jobs.

[blimey again]

No, these are decisions that affect students and faculty. That's what made the new responsibilities seem appealing and a bit of an honor. Productivity is still ok.

Anyway, I just wanted to throw that out there because we (I) don't really think or know about all the other stuff that comes along with a faculty position. We know about teaching and research, and maybe a bit about service, but I'm talking about something different from regular department and university service, like committee work. Even committee work can suck, but I'm talking about admin work that comes with a title, like Director of Graduate Studies, where you end up signing off on things and making decisions. We might think of these responsibilities being reserved for senior faculty, but I've seen departments where assistant professors become Chair!

In some ways, I think this experience may open up future career possibilities. On the other hand, I was really happy just teaching and doing my research and letting someone else make decisions. My experience makes me wonder why anyone seeks elective office!

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[plague]

Oct 28, 2011 18:10:44 GMT -5 @blimey again said:

I'm talking about admin work that comes with a title, like Director of Graduate Studies, where you end up signing off on things and making decisions. We might think of these responsibilities being reserved for senior faculty, but I've seen departments where assistant professors become Chair!
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As a junior faculty (and even associate) you should void serious admin work like the zombie apocalypse! It is a career killer.

Besides killing your productivity, the main reasons why a junior person would be heavily involved in admin work are a) because they are easily pushed around by the senior people involved (i.e. they make good yes wo/men) or b) it is an end run around established entrenched faculty interests (i.e. your loyalty becomes a football and you get put in the middle of ugly fights that often have nothing to do with you and may predate your arrival by decades).

Good departments will minimize your service commitments and won't use the admin word until you are tenured.

[hoi polloi]

Some good generalizations, esp. about productivity concerns, but the issue is not general service, which yes, good departments protect their junior faculty from, but rather administrative roles that often come with perks like higher salaries or course releases.

There is a lot of variation between departments. Sometimes there's no one else to do the work, departments are small or bottom-heavy with junior faculty, someone is better-organized, etc. Look at how many departments do external chair searches, not always for reasons of in-fighting. Some universities have headship systems, which aren't democratic. Others have a strong-Dean system, where the Dean chooses the chair, not the department. It's all pretty bizarre.

[unclekarl]

Some of the admin work may be viewed as a part of becoming a full prof. I would avoid such positions before getting tenured, but would not be as concerned with being a "Director of Undergrad Studies" or "Associate Chair" as an associate professor.

[anony]

Like so many discussions here, this one seems to better capture the perspective of those at R1 universities (who've been mentored by others at R1 universities), not teaching-oriented institutions.

At many teaching-oriented places, especially those that are growing and changing, administrative work is part of the job for new faculty members-- even a large part of the job. At several places I interviewed, they nearly laughed out loud when I asked if there was any way to negotiate for reduced service commitments during the first year or two.

At a couple places I was told that the administration allowed the department to hire because existing faculty were overworked with administrative tasks. Therefore, it didn't make any sense to give the new hire a free pass.

So, while research-intensive universities may try to protect junior faculty from service, it's not the norm everywhere. And, I disagree with blimey's comment that the only reason for being expected to take on a heavy service commitment is 1) You're seen as a pushover, 2) You're being used in internal political struggles.

The reality is that some institutions are service-heavy (I've worked at one for a couple years now) and there's simply no way to protect new faculty from that.

[orangeapples]

Service and administration are NOT the same thing and should not be confused with one another. This is true at any university, Elite R1 or small SLAC.

Service (committee work, student mentoring etc.) is part of the job, though places that care about their junior faculty try to protect them as much as possible from service commitments.

Administration should only very rarely be part of junior faculty's duties. For example, you are in a very small department and there is literally no one senior to take on a duty and you agree to do it on a limited basis. As an associate you can begin to take on some admin duties but it will still have a negative impact on your productivity. I've had numerous senior mentors advise me that no one should take on any time intensive admin duties (director of graduate/undergrad studies/associate chair etc.) until they make full.

You take on admin duties at your professional peril.
Just saying.