Hello grads! I hope you'll all take a moment out of your hectic schedules to read this month's edition of Future 411. In this issue, we are addressing the topic of adjunct teaching, an aspect of today's academic system that directly or indirectly affects us all. Most of you are probably familiar with the issues surrounding adjunctification: contingent faculty often received low wages and no benefits, their positions are short-term and unstable, and yet, due to a dwindling number of tenure-track positions, there seems to be a ready supply of highly-trained candidates who are willing to take on adjunct work. This is just a sampling of the issues surrounding adjunctification- I recommend taking a glance at The Chronicle of Higher Education or Inside Higher Ed for a plethora of well-informed perspectives.
We are not here to discount that narrative and the very real threat it poses to the system of higher education. As a career-centered publication, the goal of Future 411 is to help students understand and prepare for their careers after graduate school, whether that means a tenure-track position, an alt-ac or post-ac career, or a hybrid combination. The ongoing shifts in higher education require all of us to respond and adapt. Therefore we intend this issue to reflect a practical and informative view of adjunct instruction and how it might affect your career path. This edition features two interviewees who offer valuable perspectives on the systemic issues affecting the hiring of adjunct instructors and the possibility of incorporating adjunct teaching into a fulfilling career. Read on for Dean Stevenson's views on the adjunct issue and his thoughts on how graduate students might adapt to the shifting landscape of higher education. We are also pleased to feature an interview with Michael Johansen, a high school counselor and lecturer of psychology who discusses his experience as an adjunct and his decision to balance two different professions.
We hope this issue gives everyone some insight into their own career options and provides you with some food for thought. And don't forget enjoy some real food and some much needed relaxation during next week's break!
Thanks for reading,
Trish & Alaina
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Problematic Shifts, Creative Responses
Interview by Trish Bredar
John A. Stevenson (BA summa cum laude, Duke University; PhD, University of Virginia) is Dean of the Graduate School and Professor of English at the University of Colorado, Boulder, where he has been a faculty member since 1982. He is a scholar of British literature of the eighteenth century. He was formerly Chair of the English Department and Interim Director of the Program for Writing and Rhetoric. He joined the Graduate School as associate vice chancellor for Graduate Education in 2005. He served as chair of the Flagship 2030 Task Force on Graduate Education in 2008 and as Interim Dean. He was appointed Dean of the Graduate School in March, 2011.
In this interview, Dean Stevenson offers an administrative perspective on the set of issues driving today's university system and the increased reliance on adjunct faculty. He also provides advice on how graduate students might respond to the current state of academia. For more on the Dean's perspective, read the full interview here!
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Interview by Trish Bredar
Michael Johansen is a counselor at Ellensburg High School and a Lecturer of Psychology at Central Washington University. He holds a Master of Science in Counseling Psychology with K-12 School Counseling Certification from CWU.
I n this interview, Michael discusses his experience as a counselor and lecturer. While acknowledging the disadvantages of full-time adjunct work, he also speaks to the potential of building a satisfying career by balancing two positions: "Remaining connected to the university and working with college students inspires me with curiosity, professional development, access to information and technology, and helps to prevent me from getting 'stale.'" Read on for more on Michael's approach to adjunct teaching and his words of wisdom for graduate students. Click here to see the full interview!
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Is Tenure Track Right for You?
3 Questions to Ask Yourself
By Trish Bredar
While tenure track positions are highly sought after and are, for many, the end goal of graduate study, the realities of a professor's life are not for everyone. No matter where you are in your academic career, it's worth taking a step back to consider whether the tenure track is the right track for you. To that end, I've come up with a few self-evaluation questions. These are only a few of the factors to consider when choosing your career path; if you find these questions leading to more questions, I encourage you to make an appointment with Career Services. They're always available to help you find some answers!
1. Geographical location: How flexible are you willing to be?
Unless you are very lucky, chances are you will not be able to pick and choose where you settle down. In academia, dream job and dream location won't necessarily line up. Let's be honest, your career is not the only thing in your life. Being close to family and friends, recognizing your partner and/or children's needs, living in a warm climate, having access to winter sports-these are legitimate factors that will have a concrete impact on your life. If moving across the country for your job would mean neglecting you other values, tenure track may not be an ideal fit.
2. Why are you in graduate school?
Many of us, myself included, might answer, "because I love what I do." But it's worth pinpointing those things which bring you the most satisfaction or excitement. Is it writing? Teaching? Research? What is your favorite part of the day? What types of things do you put off? Evaluating the separate components of the academic day-to-day might provide surprising insight into your ideal career. If one aspect of the profession really excites you while you drag your feet on others, you might consider an alt-ac, post-ac, or hybrid career that plays to your interests.
3. In what type of work environment do you thrive?
Academic work can be extremely isolating. If you need constant movement, collaboration, and communication, you may quickly become lonely or frustrated by the solitary nature of writing, research, and lesson planning. If you want your work to stay at work or your work day to end at 5:00 pm, you might find the lack of structure and the constant overflow of academic work burdensome. While your work environment may vary between institutions and disciplines, thinking about how and where you'll be spending your time each day remains an effective way to consider whether the academic life will fit with your personality.
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The Chronicle Vitae
"The University is Just Another Client"
By Katie Rose Guest Pryal
In this article, Pryal presents her take on how to make adjunct work part of a meaningful career: "It begins with a shift in mindset- from that of employee to that of freelancer." She offers the idea of the "freelance academic" as an alternative to the notion that an academic career must fall into a neat, linear track. If you're willing to work hard and be creative, Pryal says, you can create an alternative path by pursing the positions or "clients" that make sense for you. Read on for concrete tips and advice for pursing freelance work. Check out the full article here.
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One Earth Future Foundation
Broomfield, CO
Oracle
Boulder, CO
Trimble Navigation
Boulder, CO
American Institutes for Research
Washington DC
ABC-CLIO
Broomfield, CO
ReWork
San Francisco, CA
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This month, we're especially excited to feature several exciting employment opportunities for graduate students!
Editor, Graduate Student Career Services Newsletter
Career Services is seeking a self-starting graduate student who enjoys working independently and is enthusiastic about the chance to collaboratively plan monthly newsletter editions with the Graduate Student Program Manager. Click here for the full job posting!
Unidata Communications Intern, UCAR
The University Corporation for Atmospheric Research is seeking an intern for a paid, nontechnical position. The specific responsibilities will reflect the interests and skills of the intern.
Learning Data Analyst Graduate Assistant, Academic Design Team, OIT
Job Description: Assist in the design of applied research, data gathering, analysis, reporting, and consulting on teaching and learning with technology. The LDA reports to the Associate Director for Academic Technology and works with internal and external stakeholders to understand the data and information that would help with decision making about teaching with technologies.
Multiple Opportunities, McKinsey & Company
McKinsey & Company, a global management consulting firm that advises senior management of the world's leading organizations on issues of strategy, organization, technology, and operations, is offering a variety of Information Sessions and Internship opportunities for graduate students!
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Center for Community N352
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