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Home > Good news, but I'm furious about it

Good news, but I'm furious about it

March 23rd, 2007 at 10:56 pm

The good news is that I have a full-time job offer for next year--when I'd presumed at the beginning of the year that I'd be patching together part-time adjunct teaching positions.

I began to suspect that I might get another full-time offer when in February, the department decided that they had a "failed job search" and would have to search again next year (the academic job-hunt calendar being what it is). Of course, that job was in a different specialty than my own, so I was hopeful but not certain. Then when a colleague announced her resignation the beginning of March, I felt certain that I'd get an offer.

This type of thing has happened to me 3 times previously on this job--what began as a one-year replacement position in 2003 has been continously renewed through circumstances of either resignations or failed searches.

Each time previously, however, when they offered me a one-year contract, there was a nominal salary increase (the 3% college average). This time, however, the position was offered to me with a 23% pay CUT--and a corresponding demotion in title down two ranks. This will have me earning $12,000 less than I am earning this year--significantly less than they started me at in 2003.

No explanation has been given--only that the alternative is that instead of hiring me full-time at this lower salary, they could hire me part-time for about half the cost. It's a decision by the Financial VP who's decided to save himself some money--but it certainly will reflect poorly on my CV. The demotion in title has nothing to do with my performance, but is so that the lower salary doesn't bring down the averages for my rank in the salaries reported each year in the Chronicle of Higher Education. If I had any other alternative source of income for the fall, I'd turn it down because of the insult. But I don't.

I've spent all day trying not to be furious, but I'm spitting-nails angry. I try to focus on the positives--guaranteed income and benefits until August of 2008, health insurance, free tuition--but the RED FURY is overwhelming everything at the moment.

7 Responses to “Good news, but I'm furious about it”

  1. JanH Says:
    1174691777

    That's sort of giving with one hand and taking with the other. I'm glad you have the position, but sorry that they've done that to you. That's a lot of money! Hope something better comes along after the end of this contract!

  2. moneycents Says:
    1174695447

    I'd be spitting nails too! That really stinks. I'm sorry. I really hope something better turns the corner.

  3. Carolina Bound Says:
    1174695786

    I don't blame you. Academia can be a real stink pot.

  4. Amber Says:
    1174697884

    Glad you got the job but also hopes something better comes a long

  5. baselle Says:
    1174708876

    I'd be furious too! Fingers crossed that the jerk VP is caught embezelling or in a fogged-up car with the department secretary.

  6. Ima saver Says:
    1174754288

    I am so sorry about that.

  7. Dido Says:
    1174952148

    Thanks to everyone for the commiserations.

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