Beyond Survival in the Academy A Practical Guide for Beginning Academics

What is New? Offsetting the imbalance of attention evident in the focus on Research I universities Although most doctoral preparation occurs at research universities, more positions arise at teaching schools Updated advices that cover changes in higher education in the past decade Companion book to “Survival in the Academy” Suggests or addresses starting at a non-Research I. school

Social Adjustment Process The Mental Adjustment Not a graduate student anymore Adaptation to the new place of employment Expectations lead to stress The Emotional Adjustment Changes in lifestyle The Financial Adjustment Startup & professional costs First year is the most difficult Get a mentor - You can have two mentors, one for teaching, and one (who matches your research interest) for research., It even goes on to suggest three mentors.. Plan for hidden costs Moving, professional attire, student loans, parking, socializing, automobile, unions Use a university credit union Graduate Student to Faculty Member It is normal to question your abilities as a starting academic. Ways to alleviate stress are mentioned Your abilities are what got you the position, so don’t worry! Questions being too easy or too hard. ‘fitting in’ wit the department. Sense of isolation from colleagues, balancing work from outside commitment. Leaving a comfort zone for a new place is both exciting and terrifying Things that you have come to know and love during graduate school may not be present Changes in Lifestyle Gone are the days of long papers and lengthy studies Gone also are the days of late night beers \Startup costs Moving costs Which may be part of contract Housing: Apartment or Own? Deposits Day Care, Pets Paying faculty rates instead of student rates Cost of professional memberships increase by almost two fold Plan ahead for conferences and conventions

Making the Transition to Educator Initial challenges Little to no teaching training during PhD How to teach undergraduates Current teaching trends Active learning Learning communities Problem with the technology Placing too much information on slides so that the need for professor becomes minimal

Research and the New Academic Three questions to think about in relation to research: What role should research play in academic career? What types of scholarly activities? What kinds of resources might be drawn on to facilitate scholarly activity? Three broad reasons for research: Institutional goals Professional goals Personal goals Publish where? Ranking in ascending order: conventions and conferences < book reviews < book chapters < discussion notes < research reports < refereed journal articles < books

Service and the Academy “Service is activities other than research and teaching that advance departmental, disciplinary and institutional interests” Service to department, institution, & community Overload problem

The Whole Scholar Carnegie Model Scholarship of discovery A commitment to knowledge Teaching, application and integration are equally important to research Scholarship of integration Making a contribution to the outside world Scholarship of teaching Elevating teaching to the same level of research Scholarship of application Service as scholarship

Academic Networking Getting out of the comfort zone Establishing new contacts & Maintaining old contacts Many places for networking opportunities

Preparing for Tenure Why Tenure? Criticism of Tenure Academic freedom Financial security Criticism of Tenure Hindrance to economic utility Led to abolishment of tenure at some institutions Tenure is an academic position that provides freedom of teaching and research and of extramural activities and a sufficient degree of economic security to make the profession attractive to men and women of ability.

Preparing for Tenure Tenure Portfolio Documenting Research Publications Grants Scholarly activities Documenting Teaching Student evaluation Curricular innovations Lectures Documenting Service

Preparing for Tenure Final Advices Start at the first day of the academic life Set goals and define the future time line Learn the criteria / rules of the institution Consult others Get organized – physically and mentally