Would you take the job again? - USM Forum -- Message Board

Date: Dec 28, 2004

Would you take the job again?

Date: Dec 28, 2004

Someone once told me that they have seen many faculty members leave USM, but have seldom seen a departing faculty member leave with a good feeling toward the institution.

Date: Dec 28, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Just Curious
"Given the volatility on this board and the apparent dissention at USM, I was wondering if a faculty job at USM been worth your efforts and energy or is it unfullfilling? In hindsight do you regret accepting a job at USM?"

Well before the SFT reign, I had a colleague who used to judge each day at USM as a one, two, or three plate day. That is, how many plates of cat s**t one was required to eat each day. The past two years plus years have gone down from there. I enjoy the academic life and my colleagues and students on most days. USM has, in the 10 or so years I have been here, been a less than primo place to be an academic. I recall many young faculty under Fleming/Henry doing the "I'm out of here" dance, and the spiget has opened wider under SFT. Why is this so? Mississippi, for non-natives, is a frustrating place to be for an academic. The financial and political situation in the state is a joke. Teaching loads, salaries, and resources are off kilter. The current administration is autocratic and mean spirited. I have friends and colleagues who have moved on to Cornell, Penn State, U Richmond and so on-not one has said the move was a mistake. In hindsight, do I regret coming here? I try not to have regrets. But, the thought of spending the rest of my career here, if things do not improve dramatically, would be depressing.

Date: Dec 28, 2004

Coming here was a mistake. Remaining here was a mistake. My story would make Exit 13 read like a harmless children's story.

Date: Dec 28, 2004

Actually, the info on this board has prevented me from making the mistake of applying for a job at USM. In that regard, this board has helped.

Newly Created Positions, heads up.

Date: Dec 28, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Eye
"Actually, the info on this board has prevented me from making the mistake of applying for a job at USM. In that regard, this board has helped. Newly Created Positions, heads up."

Eye, could you - without "outing" yourself or violating confidentiality, tell us how you found this board?

Date: Dec 28, 2004

I assume that USM still fills its open faculty positions. Does the faculty in those departments actively "cover up" what is going on? I don't see how anyone would come to USM right now if they knew the truth.

Date: Dec 28, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Don't ask, don't tell
"I assume that USM still fills its open faculty positions. Does the faculty in those departments actively "cover up" what is going on? I don't see how anyone would come to USM right now if they knew the truth. "

Considering that anyone who can google can find this out, I doubt they need to bring it up! I really feel for the USM faculty. I would not suggest that anyone apply for a job there right now, but at the same time, I know how desperately understaffed USM is and how badly the USM faculty need more help to cover all the classes. When people ask me if they should apply there, I am very torn. But I am honest with them about the place.

Date: Dec 28, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Eye
"Actually, the info on this board has prevented me from making the mistake of applying for a job at USM. In that regard, this board has helped. Newly Created Positions, heads up."

Thought you were already here?

Date: Dec 28, 2004

How did I find this board? Sure I will tell you. Dec. 2003 or Dec. 2004 there was a job openning in my area at USM some others said I should look at and I decided to do some research on the Hattiesburg area and found the Hattiesburg American online to learn more about the area. While reading articles online, the Dvorak issue arose in the paper, and I began to follow the story online. Then an article (HA or Chronicle of Higer Ed?) had a story about the Fireshelby.com site and I began to follow the story there. Then that site closed down and switched to the this site.

I made a small donation to the Glamser-Stringer defense fund and still consider those two guys real patriots for all professors in higher education.

Now the big question to me is this "Who is the one person on the IHL that has the guts, courage and vision and who is going to emerge as the real hero of the IHL and end this long Southern Mississippi nightmare under the control of SFT?" This is going to be one heck of a book. Eye

Date: Dec 28, 2004

That first line should have said Dec. 2003 or Jan. 2004.

Date: Dec 28, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Don't ask, don't tell
"I assume that USM still fills its open faculty positions. Does the faculty in those departments actively "cover up" what is going on? I don't see how anyone would come to USM right now if they knew the truth. "

We don't cover up the cancerous lesions in searches. For a brandie new Ph.D. who is mobile, is thinking long-term and wants to get a few years on the tenure clock, a job here could fit the bill. Many junior faculty hit the ground running, publish like crazy, get a grant and move on (remember the up and comer in Polymer Science who went on to a great job after a few years here?). Primo academic jobs are scarce and very competitive, and a few years of experience here could be enough to get you noticed at a Tier I. Cost of living is low, and the pay is better than most postdocs. I also tell people that I have served under four Presidents (Lucas, Fleming, Lucas, Thames), and that there is some chance that we will be blessed with the right person at the helm before they make a decision to move on. I have also had the pleasure of working with some wonderful administrators in the very recent past, including Don Cotten and Andy G. So there is always hope. When Lucas I stepped down and the outside Prez candidates came in and spoke, many of us were almost drunk with dreams of what might be. Remember the feeling, folks? Keep the faith.

Date: Dec 28, 2004

Thanks for the feedback, keep in coming. Are the negative sentiments equal across departments or are some "privileged" by the admin. and seem to be able to function at a more "normal" level ?

USM seems odd to have sub-campuses, fairly close to the main campus. Seemingly those smaller campuses could be leaches to the larger campus?

FYI I found the board via Google, I do not work at USM, but am considering applying for a position, fresh phd in hand.

Date: Dec 28, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Newly Created Positions
"Thought you were already here?"

NCP, I think you may have assumed I was at USM from a previous conversation we had. I have enjoyed the info and insight you have provided on this site. I has often wondered what an interview would be like since I know so much information about USM from reading this board. What would happen if I asked questions like "How come there are no economists on your faculty in Economic Development?" and "Show me a pre-lim (doctoral qualifying exam) in econ development."

Economic Development is now being used by institutions to justify everything they do to State legislatures. As Robert Campbell said earlier, with dwindling state money, universities and colleges must now brand themselves as extensions of State Dept. of Commerce's and create jobs for the state, instead of educate people. That is why now, science and technology initiatives at universities are being packaged as "Economic Development and the creation of high tech jobs." I could go on and on about this, but ohters have done a better job than I in uncovering the latest buzz word to get money - economic development. Eye

Date: Dec 28, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Just Curious
"Given the volatility on this board and the apparent dissention at USM, I was wondering if a faculty job at USM been worth your efforts and energy or is it unfullfilling? In hindsight do you regret accepting a job at USM?"

I have terrific colleagues and, until Thames went on the warpath, I thought things were rather good at USM, all things considered. When I went on the job market, this was the best position I was offered. I have no regrets about coming to USM. I'm proud of what I've accomplished here.

My department made one hire last spring about the time of the G-S firing, and we're running a couple of searchies this year. We tell people what's going on. Its up to them to make the decision to take the job.

I'm an optimist--we're in the best of all possible words. Of course, the pessimist agrees with me.

Date: Dec 28, 2004

I wish you well, Eye, in whatever directions your current and future positions may take.

Date: Dec 28, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Cat Poop
"I also tell people that I have served under four Presidents (Lucas, Fleming, Lucas, Thames), and that there is some chance that we will be blessed with the right person at the helm before they make a decision to move on. I have also had the pleasure of working with some wonderful administrators in thevery recent past, including Don Cotten and Andy G."

Cat Poop, your post has identified what I see as a major problem at USM: it is oriented toward administrators rather than toward academics. At the really good universities, Admistrators seldom play a direct role in the academic lives of the typical faculty member. A good administrator works behind the scenes to provide a good working environment for the faculty, and they engage in other endeavors designed to foster the institutional mission. I can't even recall the names of most of my former deans; and I'm not sure I ever even knew the names of the vice presidents. In the case of USM, however, the institution seems to live and breath around the names of administrators - including but not limited to naming large structures after them.

Date: Dec 29, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Kitty Litter
"Cat Poop, your post has identified what I see as a major problem at USM: it is oriented toward administrators rather than toward academics. At the really good universities, Admistrators seldom play a direct role in the academic lives of the typical faculty member. A good administrator works behind the scenes to provide a good working environment for the faculty, and they engage in other endeavors designed to foster the institutional mission. I can't even recall the names of most of my former deans; and I'm not sure I ever even knew the names of the vice presidents. In the case of USM, however, the institution seems to live and breath around the names of administrators - including but not limited to naming large structures after them. "

You must not know, Kitty Litter, that USM is under a management system commonly called the "plantation" system. The people in the BIG house have and use all of the power. The field hands don't know enough to make the big decisions. The "financial crisis" is used like a "national crisis" to take away freedoms and justify making all decisions for the "good" of the institution. We are here just to pick the cotton and not ask questions.

Date: Dec 29, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Field Hand
"
You must not know, Kitty Litter, that USM is under a management system commonly called the "plantation" system. The people in the BIG house have and use all of the power. The field hands don't know enough to make the big decisions. The "financial crisis" is used like a "national crisis" to take away freedoms and justify making all decisions for the "good" of the institution. We are here just to pick the cotton and not ask questions."

I'm having visions of certain people in the BIG house wearing my mama's portiers.

Date: Dec 29, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Kitty Litter
"Cat Poop, your post has identified what I see as a major problem at USM: it is oriented toward administrators rather than toward academics. At the really good universities, Admistrators seldom play a direct role in the academic lives of the typical faculty member. A good administrator works behind the scenes to provide a good working environment for the faculty, and they engage in other endeavors designed to foster the institutional mission. I can't even recall the names of most of my former deans; and I'm not sure I ever even knew the names of the vice presidents. In the case of USM, however, the institution seems to live and breath around the names of administrators - including but not limited to naming large structures after them. "

This is true, Kitty Litter, but with some caveats. Academcis who prosper here do it despite our generally weak, incompetent, mean spirited administrators. Plus the end-around had always been a way of doing business at USM. Buddies with a good ole' boy in the Dome? Well, just run on over when the chair makes a decision that you don't agree with. That'll teach 'em.

In a way, I viewed Don Cotton as a mentor--and I agree that it is unusual for a VP to mentor faculty. But Don was an unusual (and good) administrator. The sense I always got from him is that he was here to serve the faculty and chairs, and not the other way round.

Date: Dec 29, 2004

quote:

Originally posted by: Cat Poop
"Buddies with a good ole' boy in the Dome? Well, just run on over when the chair makes a decision that you don't agree with. That'll teach 'em.

Cat Poop, we're on the same team. Just take a look at the well trodden paths between some departments and their dean's offices, and between some departments and the president's office. Those paths are so well traveled that no vegitation remains - only dust and dirt. I'd never seen such a spectacle until I arrived at USM.

I viewed Don Cotton as a mentor--and I agree that it is unusual for a VP to mentor faculty. But Don was an unusual (and good) administrator. The sense I always got from him is that he was here to serve the faculty and chairs, and not the other way round."

Again we're on the same team, Cat Poop. My sole contacts with Dr. Cotton occurred when I was preparing budgets for grants I was submitting. Those contacts were brief, business like, essential. Don Cotten should clearly be among the prime candidates for USM's next president.

Date: Dec 29, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Just Curious
" In hindsight do you regret accepting a job at USM?"

Take this job and shove it, Shelboo.

Date: Dec 29, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Cat Poop
"In a way, I viewed Don Cotton as a mentor--and I agree that it is unusual for a VP to mentor faculty. But Don was an unusual (and good) administrator. The sense I always got from him is that he was here to serve the faculty and chairs, and not the other way round."

Hmmm... Could it be that before Dr. Cotten became an administrator, he was known as an exceptional faculty member? Could it be that he was able to keep himself & his job in perspective?

There are plenty of exceptional administrators running around this old world. Just because there aren't many at USM doesn't mean they don't exist. But, yeah, Don Cotten is just an all-around good guy to work with.

Date: Jan 3, 2005

No.

Date: Jan 4, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Invictus
" Hmmm... Could it be that before Dr. Cotten became an administrator, he was known as an exceptional faculty member? Could it be that he was able to keep himself & his job in perspective? There are plenty of exceptional administrators running around this old world. Just because there aren't many at USM doesn't mean they don't exist. But, yeah, Don Cotten is just an all-around good guy to work with."

Yes, Don Cotten was an asset to the Department of Science Education before he moved upward into the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs. From there, he went on to 'non-university' experience in the state capitol, working for an agency involved with Mississippi education. After he returned to USM, this background should have made him the prime "internal candidate" in the Fleming-to-SFT search.

Given all the recent events, I'm glad to hear that he's happily retired.

Date: Jan 11, 2005

I'm not so sure this . . . is such a good idea. I don't like what I'm seeing from these Fockers.