Post by compassrose on Feb 8, 2016 10:19:22 GMT -5
I am a tenure track college science professor. When I was hired, they gave my SO a non-tenure track scientist position, with the understanding that if they didn't offer him a permanent position in a few years, we would probably leave. My boss has told me repeatedly how much they want to keep us both, but the university is on a hiring freeze. SO has an interview at another university, and it's his dream job. But it's far away from where we are now, and I am loving being back near my family after 15 years. This could turn out to be a great negotiating strategy for us if nothing else, but it's terrifying. I don't want to move. But my SO does need a tenure track job and may be able to get positions for both of us. Keep a good thought for us.
That is rough, especially in this market I know so many couples where one person had to take an instructor/non-TT position because they couldn't find TT for both at the same institution. Lots of good thoughts on your search, if it comes to that. Fingers crossed your current place will come through for him.
I'm sorry for the stress, but hopefully it will work out in the end. The two body problem is real.
I'm in a similar, but reversed, situation. H is tenure track; I'm not. Lots of talk about wanting to keep us but very little action. I think our (and your) best chance is to get a competing offer. I'd imagine that your university will find the money when they're faced with losing both of you!!
I'm sorry for the stress, but hopefully it will work out in the end. The two body problem is real.
I'm in a similar, but reversed, situation. H is tenure track; I'm not. Lots of talk about wanting to keep us but very little action. I think our (and your) best chance is to get a competing offer. I'd imagine that your university will find the money when they're faced with losing both of you!!
Since we have both brought in money and published quite a bit in the last 18 months since we arrived, I think they will bite the bullet when we do have a competing offer. Especially because they lost the person before me because of the exact same situation. And with the hiring freeze, they'd have a hard time replacing me, let alone both of us.
I'm both worried the other place will give a better offer and SO will want to move and that he won't get an offer and he'll be out of money in 18 months.
Post by maddiepaddy on Feb 8, 2016 16:20:49 GMT -5
Oh man, I'm sorry you're in such a stressful situation. I hope that the best possible outcome is what happens for you two.
I honestly am in awe of dual academic couples - I think that it would just be so so hard. My H is a professor and just having one of us in academics is stressful enough. He's climbing the uphill battle towards tenure this year. He's a very, very strong candidate and there is no reason he should not receive tenure - but the uncertainty is causing a lot of stress and anxiety in our household right now too.
I'm sorry for the stress, but hopefully it will work out in the end. The two body problem is real.
I'm in a similar, but reversed, situation. H is tenure track; I'm not. Lots of talk about wanting to keep us but very little action. I think our (and your) best chance is to get a competing offer. I'd imagine that your university will find the money when they're faced with losing both of you!!
I'm both worried the other place will give a better offer and SO will want to move and that he won't get an offer and he'll be out of money in 18 months.
Yeah, those are both very real risks. I'll hope for the third option - that he gets an offer and that your current U makes it worth your while to stay
I'm sorry you're going through this. The two body problem is such a hard challenge. Is there a way a different department outside of your college could hire him (e.g., he teaches research methods in the sociology department but the math department could pick him up to teach statistics) or is it a university-wide freeze?
How well do you know and trust your chair/dean? Would it help to sort of whisper in her ear about this to see if she thinks there's any chance of picking up a tenured position for your husband? It seems to me like there's quite a bit of flexible money at universities that the right Dean or Provost somehow manages to free up. I might consider saying something like, "Do you happen to know anyone at [nearby university?] DH and I really love it here, but I know that he's not comfortable in a contingent position. We'd love to both work here, but I know he's really wanting to be on the tenure track. Obviously, you know your place the best- don't do this if it'll seem like disloyalty, but in the right circumstance, it might prompt the right person to take action.
I'm sorry you're going through this. The two body problem is such a hard challenge. Is there a way a different department outside of your college could hire him (e.g., he teaches research methods in the sociology department but the math department could pick him up to teach statistics) or is it a university-wide freeze?
How well do you know and trust your chair/dean? Would it help to sort of whisper in her ear about this to see if she thinks there's any chance of picking up a tenured position for your husband? It seems to me like there's quite a bit of flexible money at universities that the right Dean or Provost somehow manages to free up. I might consider saying something like, "Do you happen to know anyone at [nearby university?] DH and I really love it here, but I know that he's not comfortable in a contingent position. We'd love to both work here, but I know he's really wanting to be on the tenure track. Obviously, you know your place the best- don't do this if it'll seem like disloyalty, but in the right circumstance, it might prompt the right person to take action.
We will be in a strong negotiating position when the time comes. The chair really wants to hire SO and my mentor has a lot of sway (the dean is an interim dean). The unknown part comes from much higher up. SO doesn't want to say anything yet, so we're just waiting and seeing for now. My least favorite thing.