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[peterlake]

Hello everyone, I have lurked here for a long time, and now would like your input.  I got a campus visit invitation--the day the SC suggested in their communique is a day I teach.  Is it generally acceptable to cancel classes in order to do a campus visit elsewhere?  (I am in a one-year position).  I guess some of the things I am wondering are--would it look bad for me as a candidate for this potential job, if they knew I was missing classes to attend an interview/visit with them?  Part of the problem is, they want me to teach a class, so I am assuming it's a specific class on a specific day that they are having all finalists teach (at least that's how it's done at my college).  Should I try to reschedule for another date?  Is it bad to say "can we figure out another date--I have classes on ___ day" or does it show that I am a dedicated teacher?

Ah, neurotic impression management...

TIA!

[jossfritz]

Cancel class and do well on your interview. You might arrange for a sub., or assign something students can do outside of class, etc., but the main goal here is a better job. You have, I presume, some personal days or sick leave days. Use them now.

 

[peterlake]

Cancel class and do well on your interview. You might arrange for a sub., or assign something students can do outside of class, etc., but the main goal here is a better job. You have, I presume, some personal days or sick leave days. Use them now.

 

I am just being a bit neurotic that the SC will see that I am missing class (our course schedule--i.e. dates, times, and professors) are posted on a college website accessible by anyone, so that comes up if someone googles my names.  I am worried that it will reflect badly on me, I guess.  Or am I being unnecessarily neurotic, and everyone skips classes for campus visits?

[secretweapon]

Well, I've has SCCs say to me, "Oh, you teach on the day we want you to interview?  Hmm.  Can't you show a video or something?"

Makes me wonder, when they require a teaching statement, evals, etc in the application! 

[sugaree]

I am just being a bit neurotic that the SC will see that I am missing class (our course schedule--i.e. dates, times, and professors) are posted on a college website accessible by anyone, so that comes up if someone googles my names.  I am worried that it will reflect badly on me, I guess.  Or am I being unnecessarily neurotic, and everyone skips classes for campus visits?

Yes. The SC knows you are in a temporary position and it's doubtful they will look at your current teaching schedule. Your temporary employer expects you to cancel to search for a TT job - that's part of the deal they make when they can't pony up the $ for a TT line. The only time I ever suggested an alternative for a campus visit schedule is when a SC wanted to bring me for a Mon/Tu interview, but on those days I taught once/week meeting seminars (which I specifically scheduled on Mon/Tu so I could go on campus visits during the latter part of the week). If you must schedule alternate plans for your class, do so, but there is no problem with a visiting instructor canceling class for a campus visit (and your students will love you!).

[pink_]

Cancel your class and don't worry about it. The SC knows that most candidates have to do this at some point, and they're not going to hold it against you.

[chaud]

The SC just hopes you can make arrangements and come. They will not care if you cancel class. Do it.

[gourmetless]

Give your home students an out of class assignment, a film, a library assignment, rehearsal time, whatever.

Most colleagues understand that you need to find employment, which in academia means 2 day travel, at a minimum.

It is not the end of the world.  It is the 'way' our profession works.

[peterlake]

thank you, everyone, for your suggestions.  This really helped with the anxiety about this.

[the_honey_badger]

Nope, neither a trick nor a test!  They both don't care and expect that you likely have to cancel one or more classes to travel/interview with them.