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[degal]

One caveat:  "Minnesota Nice" is often a euphemism for passive/agressive behavior.  The old Scandinavian stoicism.  Never show anger, leave the person in the dark as to how you really feel, there are other ways of getting even.

Well gosh... since I'm one of those stoic Norwegian Lutherans I guess I probably don't see the "nice" quite the same way.  I won't say this isn't true, just that it doesn't feel that way to me.  In the very rural area where I grew up and my family still lives, I can see more of what mom_in_new_england is saying:  the community is already formed before a newcomer arrives, and it has been that way for generations.  Resistance to change is fairly common in my culture, so opening up to new people is a challenge.  I really do believe, however, that the "nice" is sincere. 

A side note, however... please please please don't use "Fargo" as anything more than entertainment!  It is most definitely a parody of Minnesotans.  Do, however, pick up the book "How to Talk Minnesotan" by Howard Mohr.  He covers the hot dish and jello issues, and though it is a tiny bit tongue-in-cheek, it is pretty darned accurate, and a fun read.

[helpful]

Well, it couldn't have all been conservative Scandinavians. The Farmer-Labour Alliance was always strong in Minnesota. And generally this state and others vote more progressive Senators than other parts of the States.

[anthroid]

WSU has been upgrading standards (I refused to hire someone, to be honest, who was let go from the place--hu refused to get the academic degree required to teach there or at my place.  Hu had tenure but in a post-tenure review was found wanting).

I will admit to great affection for Winona, as my grandmother grew up there and my mother spent her (often miserable) summers in a nearby town.  It is absolutely beautiful; the tornadoes are not THAT bad (we went through one during a family reunion in the 1990s but survived...); and the TC are not that far away.  If I had a chance to go there, I would jump in with both feet.

And Minnesotans are just shy.  Shy and polite.  Yeah, that's it.

[hermance]

I wanted to bump this thread as I have a phone interview with WSU.  I am interested in hearing about the school, especially what has been going on there for the past two years, the last time this thread was updated.

[commprof57]

I grew up in the area and had several friends that went to WSU.  It is unionized (not bad pay) and you could afford housing fairly easy.  The campus is nice, but not many graduate programs.  It is 4/4 load, primarily a teaching school.  Most of the students are from the area (i.e. SE MN).  It has good nursing programs.  Rochester and LaCrosse aren't that far away.  MPLS/St. Paul is an hour away.  Town is about 25,000 right on the Mississippi.  If I had the opportunity I would go back.

[philrels108]

Winona is in a beautiful area and is home to the Great River Shakespeare Festival and hosts several events in the Minnesota Beethoven Festival.  A friend who teaches there seems content; the pay is good (compared to the schools across the river, at least) and I've never heard any tales of lunatic administrators...

[hermance]

Here I am again.  I've been offered a job in a humanities department at WSU.  My partner and I loved the town on the campus visit.  I would be moving from a lighter teaching load, so I am worried about the 4-4.  It also seems like faculty are required to have 10 office hours a week.  I can't help but wonder if it is the kind of state school that expects a great deal from its faculty simply because, in this job market, it can.  Still, the faculty I met while there seemed happy, if a bit esoteric.  It also seemed to be full of generalists, at least in the humanities, which makes good sense given the teaching load, but it might be hard to leave behind my sense of myself as a teacher-scholar who has a specialty.

So, the quality of life aspects seem *very* attractive, but I still have questions/concerns about what the job might be like.  If anyone can give insight about what it's like to work at the school or if anyone has heard more recent "dish" on the administration, etc., I would really like to hear it, as I need to make decisions soon.

[profxfiles]

Here I am again.  I've been offered a job in a humanities department at WSU.  My partner and I loved the town on the campus visit.  I would be moving from a lighter teaching load, so I am worried about the 4-4.  It also seems like faculty are required to have 10 office hours a week.  I can't help but wonder if it is the kind of state school that expects a great deal from its faculty simply because, in this job market, it can.  Still, the faculty I met while there seemed happy, if a bit esoteric.  It also seemed to be full of generalists, at least in the humanities, which makes good sense given the teaching load, but it might be hard to leave behind my sense of myself as a teacher-scholar who has a specialty.

So, the quality of life aspects seem *very* attractive, but I still have questions/concerns about what the job might be like.  If anyone can give insight about what it's like to work at the school or if anyone has heard more recent "dish" on the administration, etc., I would really like to hear it, as I need to make decisions soon.

I would not read to much into the office hours thing. I bet the required office hours are part of the union contract--I am pretty sure Winona is unionized with the rest of the MnSCU system.

[hermance]

Yes, it is unionized. 

I appreciate your response, but am unclear about your meaning.  I assume that it is still a requirement (and more than I am required to do now).  And, also, I've assumed that whatever is determined as a result of negotiations must reflect, on some level, the interests of the administration as well as the union.  But, again, I fear I am not understanding your meaning.

[profxfiles]

You said:

It also seems like faculty are required to have 10 office hours a week.  I can't help but wonder if it is the kind of state school that expects a great deal from its faculty simply because, in this job market, it can. 

...and my point was that the ten OH a week requirement likely has nothing to do with the current job market or a demanding administration, but with a pre-existing union contract.

[commprof57]

Growing up in the area, I know some of the faculty at WSU in the humanities.  They all seem to be happy.  It is more of a teaching school than research (if that is important to you).  That doesn't mean you can't do research, but the emphasis is on teaching, although you can't be a total slug. The lifestyle there is nice and quiet.  The area is beautiful. LaCrosse is only 30 minutes and Rochester about 45.  MSP is about two hours is you need big city life.  I guess what it comes down to is what attracts you the most.  I wouldn't worry about the ten office hours per week. 

BTW, from what I understand the faculty pay at WSU, as well as the other state universities, isn't too shabby, particularly for the area.  With that salary cost of living (i.e. buying a house) shouldn't be that much of a problem.