Any college profs here?

[SouthernDaisy]

Hubby is being wooed by a big university after being at a govt. lab for many years. He's a hard-working, anti-establishment type who is considering the move, but he's heard that academe is full of cut-throat, idea-stealing bastards these days.

Salary would increase but so would the workload.

Academe, yes or no? Opinions?

[Redleg]

1. Professor here- I like academia.

Big research universities tend to be very competitive environments where some faculty will engage in political behaviors to get resources etc. Having said that, your husband can always try it out and if he doesn't like it, can go back into the "real world."

I enjoy my college life but I'm at a medium-sized regional university with collegial colleagues and reasonable research requirements for tenure.

[AngryAmish]

2. I'm not a perfesser

[alarcojon]

3. Also a professor

I think redleg has it right. I work at a school like his and enjoy the freedom. A lot of my colleagues are leftists, most quite openly. A big research school would be different, though. Higher pay, but more pressure to publish and less collegiality. I'm not sure about the leftist quota at those schools.

[JCMach1]

4. Yes, but I left the country

to get decent pay, benefits and RESPECT!!!

[jimbo fett]

5. Prof here.

There are politics at every university but no more than at a corporation.

I found much more freedom and autonomy as a professor than when I was in the "real" world.

Pay isn't as good as in the business sector but there are some other non-monetary perks that add to quality of life.

Plus I find the youthfulness of the students rubs off on me. It's as close to the fountain of youth as you're apt to find.

[Iverson]

6. Yup and advice

Since institutions are different, and even departements within them are, I recommend that your husband see if he can chat with some of his prospective colleagues. This isn't always possible, but it's worth a try.

Also, I am guessing that he would be interviewed at some point by an appointments committee. That is also a time to ask quesitons and gain impressions.

You didn't mention whether the place is unionized. Often the AAUP will represent faculty, and that can be a good place to send out feelers.

Also remember the old saying: the reason that academic politics are so nasty is that the stakes are so small.