No Thanks, I’m Only Visiting

Over the years I’ve seen my share of visiting faculty members come and go. Some, myself included, are converted to the tenure track; others put in their year and head on for other employment. No one’s story is the same.

Visiting faculty members often ask me for advice on just how involved they should be in the life of their temporary departments. It’s a hard line to walk. A too-eager attitude can be read as an indication of desperation. A hands-off approach can be interpreted as “No thanks, I’m only visiting.”

I’ve seen crazy duties assigned to visiting faculty members “because they are only temporary” or, more unfortunately, because they are willing to work extra hard to prove themselves as colleagues under the mistaken belief that it will improve their odds for a permanent position. I’ve also seen visiting folks practically shunned, which is deplorable.

My advice is to treat a visiting position as a high-charged internship, an opportunity to gain valuable professional experience. Plug into the department in constructive ways but avoid becoming some sort of consumable beast of burden. Bottom line: Be a professional and hope the department’s colleagues treat you like one. If they don’t, then be glad the job is temporary.

What advice can you offer visiting faculty members about their role in departmental life?