I'd appreciate insights from folks with experience working in American Universities as to the job, lifestyle, and perceptions you have of both faculty and administration positions.

Despite budget woes in the state gov, there may be an upcoming opportunity for me to become either an associate Professor or associate Dean.

I have a degree that qualifies me to apply for either position. Through my military officer background I developed excellent teaching, mentoring and managing skills. I have not, however, published (...yet - been too busy working) which may make me less competitive for a faculty position (nor is my degree an Ivy covered one - however, since the positions are with my alma mater, this factor may negate the percieved lack).

On the surface, either job looks attractive. Both offer a lot of student contact, mentoring/teaching, and professional development - all of which I enjoy. I think I am very competitive for the Dean position, and think I'd make an excellent Professor (from a teaching standpoint), but am concerned that I'm not as competitive for the faculty positions because of the lack of publishing and source of degree.

Thoughts?

Suggestions?

__________________
Talent develops in quiet places, character in the full current of human life.
- Goethe

Jump in with both feet!
- Me, indulging my inner eight-year-old

*** *** ***

"Are you a mad-hatter that just types what he wishes, or have you actually any physics training?"
Occam's Ghost to Grant Hutchison.

Quality of degree is important, but not everything. Depends on the competition for the position. Most universities will grant you some time to publish as that's generally a requirement for tenure, not hiring.

My wife is a tenured professor and I can say that it is not a great career if you can't handle administrative BS, back-room politics and students that feel the system owes them something. Don't expect a 40-hr work week, either.

Unless the pay is substantially more, I'd go for the Assoc Prof position.

Is there a reason you can't apply for both?

Many of the administrators at the state college I attended were former star athletes who were given high-paying jobs at the university solely for that reason. Most of them were utterly unqualified for that job or any other. Glad you're not in that category.

__________________
Cum catapultae proscribeantur tum soli proscripti catapultas habeant.

I can, and am interested in both.

I guess I'm asking for information on job satisfaction and work-life balance to help me analyze which I'd like better and am most competitive for. I'm also looking for advice on what the Universities are looking for when they look at a candidate.

There is a perception that unless you've a top-tier school degree, a 3.5+ GPA and a string of professional articles, you're not competitive for a teaching position. That profile does not describe me.

Despite this, I know I am an excellent instructor and would do well in the position (from a teaching standpoint) if I could get the job.

The administrator position would put me in the position of directly mentoring students, which I also enjoy.

Decisions, Decisions...

__________________
Talent develops in quiet places, character in the full current of human life.
- Goethe

Jump in with both feet!
- Me, indulging my inner eight-year-old

*** *** ***

"Are you a mad-hatter that just types what he wishes, or have you actually any physics training?"
Occam's Ghost to Grant Hutchison.

Well, I can't offer much advice, but wrt: (nor is my degree an Ivy covered one - however, since the positions are with my alma mater, this factor may negate the percieved lack), I would hope you would be right.

Though, to somebody who's not depending on a job, the following conversation would be kinda funny,
"Well, everything looks in order for you to start as our new professor of whatever....wait...what's this? You graduated here? I'm sorry Mr. Dyerwolf, we just don't think we have a spot for someone of your education level."

__________________
I'm like one of those idiot savants...well, except for the savant part.

You think that's funny, but it happened to me in my first year of the program.

I was already in my 30s and had recently left the Marines. I went to see a professor about one of my classes. He was highly critical of "non-traditional" students. After answering my questions about a fairly arcane concept in the subject he taught, he asked what I thought I would do with the degree. (Basically, a 'why are you even bothering' type question.)

I said one of the things I liked best about the Marines was the opportunity to teach; since a person with my degree can work in the real world or teach without further education, I suggested that I might work for a few years then return to academia as a professor.

He gave a grim little smile, stretched back and managed to indicate his sheepskins from Columbia and Yale (without actually pointing to them). In an attempt to disabuse me of my foolish notion, he said, “Teaching professor jobs are highly competitive. You’ve got to be published, and have the right credentials, and network, and, honestly, it’s a fairly small club of people [shrug toward the sheepskins] who become professors.”

Perhaps he’s right, perhaps he’s not. I’m still interested in teaching. I’m good at it, and I enjoy it. On the other hand, were I to get the Asst. Dean job I would also be doing something I enjoy and wouldn’t be fighting an uphill battle against perception either.

Thanks for the responses! (although I had hoped there would be more – guess this means there are fewer folks in academia on the board, and more who, like me, labor in the real world.)

Cheers!

__________________
Talent develops in quiet places, character in the full current of human life.
- Goethe

Jump in with both feet!
- Me, indulging my inner eight-year-old

*** *** ***

"Are you a mad-hatter that just types what he wishes, or have you actually any physics training?"
Occam's Ghost to Grant Hutchison.