next »

[TenureTrackMan]

On a vitae, how does one differentiate between a non-tenure track asst professor position and a tenure track assistant professor position?

I just graduated with several colleagues at a university in the North West.  Many received tenure track positions, including myself, after grueling interviews but one received a non-tenure track asst professor position with just a phone interview.  On a CV, this looks like a tenure track position.  Why are non-tenure track "lecturer" positions titled asst professor?  How do search committees determine this from a CV?  My guess is that her experience as a non-tenure track faculty looks just as good as a tenure track faculty unless the search committee asks if she is tenure track.  
This seems unfair.  Any thoughts?

[concerned]

Usually a non-tenure track position is called "Research Assistant Prof" or "Assistant Scientist" or whatever else they come up with to let you know that you are a piece of scum. But what really bothers me here is: what are you so worried about? You got the job, someone else didn't get such a good job. But you are concerned that at some point he/she might get a good job? Do you really have nothing else to do in your new job but to try and pull other people down?

[Aristotelian]

Usually non-permanent assistant level positions are called "Visiting Assistant Prof" or something like that.  I'm sure the details of their current position will come out in the interview process, unless they outright lie.  But why would they?  In a lot of ways, it hurts you to advertise that you already have a TT job: it makes you look like someone who would sell out for a better offer, and like someone who would demand a higher salary.  But I agree with concerned.  Who cares what other people put on their CV?

[wondering]

I had a renewable position, non tenure track. I was called Assistant professor just like tenure track. Who cares! In fact, I taught more courses as non tenure track than tenure track profs. They had the same national search for it as for tenure track.

I wonder why the original poster is so concerned!

[Rina]

Come on TenureTrackMan, have a heart...

[anon]

Often in the US a "lecturer" does not have a PhD or the research credentials of an assistant prof, whereas a "visiting assistant prof" has all the credentials of a regular assistant prof but won't be given tenure.

[sad]

I find TenureTrackMan's posting rather sad and small-minded. I wouldn't want him as a colleague.

[Dr. Phil]

Only a dumb ass wouldn't seek a better offer or ask for a better salary once and awhile. The key is doing it with dignity, self respect and compassion. The thing is, it's actually an opportunity to build relationships, not strain them. That is, if you know how to do it. Many people lack the social skills to pull it off with the right blend of professionalism, humor and poise.

[here's why]

Suppose TenureTrackMan and the visiting Asst Prof "friend" whose institution doesn't label their Visiting Asst Profs as visiting both are up for the same job.  TenureTrackMan needs an edge-- a way to communicate to the institution that he is in the club and his friend is not.  If it were a just world, Visiting Assistant Professors would be labeled as such so there'd be no mistaking it.  But in this unfair world, there may be no quick way for the interviewing institution to see that, in fact, TenureTrackMan is better than his friend, who didn't have the commitment to go through a series of grueling interviews as he did.

My advice:  if you're ever in this situation, give the search committee an anonymous call to tip them off that one of their candidates may be trying to get away with something.

But on a more serious note, and to echo (and elaborate on) one of the other posts:  after about 5 years on the tenure track I discovered that my friends who had strung together 4-5 GOOD visiting asst prof jobs and post docs (i.e., NOT adjuncting) were actually more competitive than I was.  One dept that long-list interviewed me actually told me that I looked a bit too much like an Associate Prof at that point, and the job, like almost all of them, was Asst Prof.  In addition, because my 5 years tenure track were at a heavily teaching institution, and my friends doing the visiting thing were at research institutions with 2-2 loads, plus no committee work, they could get more writing done.  I'll point out that these friends never applied to the kind of heavy teaching place that I work:  they chose insecurity and keeping the dream of R1 alive, and it paid off after anywhere from 3-7 years.  The word "visiting" was their ally-- rather than looking mid-career, they appeared to be enormously credentialed Asst Prof candidates.  So ironically TenureTrackMan may not be wishing any favors upon himself.

[Dr. Zarkov]

It is not clear that the "friend" has a visiting position; some schools to not have the tenure system, and even a few that do hire people for non-tenure jobs.  In a CV, a visiting job should be clearly identified as such, for example Visiting Assistant Professor or Assistant Professor (visiting).  If a visitor tried to pass themselves off as t-t, then that would hurt their credibility with search committees.

[wondering]

At my university i have a job  that has  a renewable contract, but the job title is assistant professor. So my cv just says asst prof. in an interview this can be clarified.

[the "friend"]

No need to worry: I wear a scarlet "V."  For shame.

[simple solution]

You could have "TenureTrackMan" tattooed on your forehead.

[moom]

I'm not sure why you ask the question. Why does it matter if the position is tenure track or not? I was a visiting assistant prof and was most importantly paid to do research as well as teach on a regular salary.

[moom]

PS I have also been a tenure track associate prof and now am finally a tenured associate prof. I wondered whether to put on my CV that I got tenure this year. But decided against it. Everyone assumed I was tenured anyway. Some of my tenure referees were surprised to be asked to write letters for me! I was also "research fellow" at two different universities in two different countries (different ranks same title). So the only time I was "assistant prof" was the visiting position (at my alma mater).