Snails - Response on Threads Part 3

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CES

optimistic cynic
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My annual contract is up for renewal October.

I teach a lot (that's in my job title), collaborate, research, and publish. My annual reviews are good, and my teaching evals are good. Heck i do everything that most tenured faculty do, and more than some of them. But, i'm paid less and have no job security. But...and i knew this was coming...i officially got word that the department is deciding whether or not it is going to continue to pay me long enough for me to get the grants so that i can pay part of my own salary, because that's how it works in academia.

I've known of the issue and have been applying for grants...but funding is tight. It's usually 3-6 months from the time a grant is submitted before it's reviewed, and often it needs to be revised and resubmitted. So even if it's one of the 10% that get funded, it can take more than a year. So, usually one has several years to get funding. The circumstances at my job changed about 18 months ago, and i became responsible for getting funding to pay for my own salary.

I'm hoping that i'll get at least one more year to try to make a go of it. And I'm doing everything possible to make a go of it...but it's not clear whether or not i will get the time. Research money is tight and even though most colleagues are supportive, some people are sniping and others are eyeing my lab space. It especially sucks, because i have one more year before I'm vested in the retirement system.

sigh.
 

tiburonfirst

They call me 'Tibs"
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disheartening, ces :(
but pretty common outside academia - all employees, in a way, are supposed to somehow bring in and cover their wages by the work they do.
do any of the grants you've applied for so far seem to be in reach? who makes the decision to renew your contract in october? it might be time for some serious networking ..................
 

AttyPops

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That totally sucks CES. But there's a lot of "ifs" in it...good and bad.

I really hope it works out for you so you can get funding. As I'm sure you know, a lot of the pharma stuff comes out of universities, as well as a lot of other types of studies. Despite their "research" claims. They buy a lot of patents.

The universities are where a lot of the "real work" happens. So Kudos to you and your colleagues.

I'd give you a grant if I could. ;) :)
 

SilverBear

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check this out ;) one co-op member let his son color the tibs! i think it's great! :D

3a4asutu.jpg

Are we supposed to be promoting this stuff to "the chillen"???
 

CES

optimistic cynic
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disheartening, ces :(
but pretty common outside academia - all employees, in a way, are supposed to somehow bring in and cover their wages by the work they do.
do any of the grants you've applied for so far seem to be in reach? who makes the decision to renew your contract in october? it might be time for some serious networking ..................

It is pretty common- no job is guaranteed. And i've always done the work required of me, and more, at every job. By my job title and initial job description, the teaching should be enough (at least 3 courses will go away if I'm not the course director). The new Dean will make the final decision, and that's who i met with yesterday. It's frustrating because the requirements changes unofficially. If i'm specifically responsible for paying my own salary, then my job title needs to be changed, rather than holding me to the requirements of people who earn much more than i do and made the specific contractual agreements to do so.

The main grant i have in won't be reviewed until October- and i'm likely to have to resubmit. I'll submit another big grant in October, and maybe a smaller one in September to fund the island course.

Even worst case, i won't be without a job, because my second job would increase my hours, and would probably bring me on full-time. But I don't really want to do that job full-time and the loss of 9 years of matching funds in two retirement accounts would really suck.

Nothing is certain yet, as Atty :wub: said- lots of if's. I think i do have the support of the majority of my colleagues, and i made a decent case that I'm valuable to the department and have a good chance of getting funded, given enough time. It's just dispiriting to have the fragility of my job confirmed.
 
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SilverBear

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Wonder what's up with her- hard to believe a ktty wouldn't like you

And that is a very good question.

I am giving her "the benefit" by thinking her world revolves totally around my Dad... and any other hoomin is a threat to her universe.

But with her planned lap-sitting with Dad in the passenger seat... and the stress of being in a car... all I envision is her latching onto my head with all 4 clawed paws, alien-like.
 

CES

optimistic cynic
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And that is a very good question.

I am giving her "the benefit" by thinking her world revolves totally around my Dad... and any other hoomin is a threat to her universe.

But with her planned lap-sitting with Dad in the passenger seat... and the stress of being in a car... all I envision is her latching onto my head with all 4 clawed paws, Alien-like.

Ouch, ouch, ouch. Maybe your dad and scary kitty could ride in the back seat on the passenger side...far away for your head?
 

SilverBear

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Ouch, ouch, ouch. Maybe your dad and scary kitty could ride in the back seat on the passenger side...far away for your head?

I will be bringing a carrier. The one my Dad has is the right size for a pet rat, so that won't work. I think it is for use under airline seats. He says "she's fine just on a leash". (She *is* the only cat I have ever known to be fine on a leash and actually go for walks while on one... and it's the only way she is allowed out of the apartment.)

I'll report back on this tomorrow... from the hospital.
 

SilverBear

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i see no problem having a child color something that'll help his dad to stop/keep from smoking ;)

Does he let the kid pick out which flavour (bottle) he should vape next??? You know... pick it up and hand it to Dad?

(I'm just justifying the 89% score I got yesterday.)
 

tiburonfirst

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I will be bringing a carrier. The one my Dad has is the right size for a pet rat, so that won't work. I think it is for use under airline seats. He says "she's fine just on a leash". (She *is* the only cat I have ever known to be fine on a leash and actually go for walks while on one... and it's the only way she is allowed out of the apartment.)

I'll report back on this tomorrow... from the hospital.

make sure you take your smart phone or tablet! :lol:
 
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