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June 13, 2008, 10:00 AM ET
I Can't Grow Up
Back in my former life as a high-school teacher, I taught briefly at my alma mater, from which I had graduated only a few years previously. Hardly anyone called me “Fant”; most folks called me “Gene.” For the teachers, now colleagues, who had taught me, I was an overgrown student in a shirt and tie. For the students, I was a big brother who couldn’t be taken seriously. I felt in many ways like I couldn’t grow up. A change in teaching assignments greatly enhanced my sense of professionalism and personal well-being.
At a recent conference, I ran into a former student who was considering applying for a position at his undergraduate alma mater. He is about to complete his Ph.D., and his home department had contacted him directly. When he asked for my opinion, I shared with him my experience and warned him to be realistic about his relationship with the professors who had taught him. Would he be treated like a colleague? Would his opinions be valued? Would the hurdles to acceptance be too high?
I’ve given the same advice to staff candidates who are recruited to return to their alma maters. In addition to the concerns that I outline for prospective faculty members, I warn staff candidates that alumni seem to make significantly lower salaries in staff positions than nonalumni. Alumni often desire to stay in the college town, which creates a willingness to work for reduced wages.
I’ve seen the hiring of alumni go both ways, with spectacular successes and cringing failures. Do any of you have advice to offer someone who is considering a return to their alma mater, this time as an employee?
Categories: General-interest, Salary-and-benefits
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