Little old lady wrote:

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 Didn't he get demoted? How do you get demoted and get a raise?

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At major high tier universities moving from an administrative position to faculty ranks is not considered to be a demotion. With some exceptions, of course, middle level administrators normally serve for awhile and then return to the faculty. Oddly enough, USM seems to operate on the permise that holding a middle level administrative position is the end all. Most good administrators, when they have served their time, have contributed about all they have to contribute in their administrative role. This principle applied especially to deans and chairs who, after serving their administrative time, should move to a higher position within the organization or elsewhere, or rejoin the faculty in their discipline.