hilde
Junior member
Posts: 57
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« on: June 09, 2008, 09:02:43 PM » |
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Last year, here: http://chronicle.com/forums/index.php/topic,38734.msg581396.html#msg581396I posted on the potential for oil to rise above 100 dollars a barrel. "In short: what will academics do when conference travel, particularly to deliver a single paper, grows prohibitively expensive or environmentally unjustifiable?" Was my main question. This week, oil neared 140 dollars a barrel. Gas is at $4 a gallon. I'd be curious to hear if anyone's university is beginning to cut back on travel or is making other changes in anticipation of much higher fuel and travel costs. I'd also be curious to hear if anyone's heard of adjustments to the the criteria faculty must meet to be awarded more expensive travel. |
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helpful
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« Reply #1 on: June 09, 2008, 09:50:32 PM » |
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We just get a maximum amount, so obviously we have to pay part of travel costs because it costs more than that amount to go to most conferences.
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hilde
Junior member
Posts: 57
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« Reply #2 on: June 10, 2008, 06:42:03 AM » |
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Also part of the equation is the dollar's slip against the British pound and Euro. It's gotten so much more expensive to travel abroad, I wonder how faculty salaries--which struggle to keep up with inflation domestically--will be able to supplement travel to conferences in Europe.
And I think the interesting part, here, is not just the increased cost to faculty; it's the fact that these travel costs are obligatory parts of professional advancement for many faculty. Getting promoted will get much more expensive unless universities adjust their travel budgets or change the criteria for advancement.
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sappho
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« Reply #3 on: June 10, 2008, 08:34:13 AM » |
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My university is not only cutting on academic travel, but the whole state's budget is messed up which tricked down to my university. We are under a hiring freeze and very restricted spending of all kinds.
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"First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win."
--Mahatma Gandhi
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prytania3
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« Reply #4 on: June 10, 2008, 09:52:53 AM » |
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We have a freeze on academic travel. We do have some money that comes out of union funds.
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Clowns, I tell you. Clowns.
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qrypt
Qryptacular & not really a Member-Moderator
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 5,439
the great vampire squid round the face of humanity
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« Reply #5 on: June 10, 2008, 01:06:07 PM » |
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Just back from Aix-en-Provence.
Headed to Costa Rica next month.
Who knew that British universities were so much better funded than many American universities?
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"I'm tired of being your love slave!"
"Does that mean I'm not going to get my coffee?"
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expatinuk
Has spent over 1000 pounds but now holds a Brit passport!
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 6,653
From SC living in UK
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« Reply #6 on: June 12, 2008, 07:25:57 AM » |
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Trips this year include Valencia; Istanbul (twice); Stockholm; Graz Austria; Vienna, Tallinn Estonia, and Cluj Romania.
But... my university IS cracking down on travel within the UK (go figure) and I've had trips to London, Birmingham, Liverpool and Bristol canceled.
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Expatinuk seems to be a Soviet Satellite in stationary orbit over the UK
It is what it is.
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scotia
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« Reply #7 on: June 12, 2008, 07:45:25 AM » |
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We don't seem to be having travel cutbacks yet, but there are hints that the hike in electricity and gas prices may mean that cutbacks will need to be made somewhere. I guess travel will be among the first things to get hit.
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qrypt
Qryptacular & not really a Member-Moderator
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 5,439
the great vampire squid round the face of humanity
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« Reply #8 on: June 12, 2008, 09:15:58 AM » |
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True - there likely will be cutbacks on travel in many places, in part because all this inflation means that we're all going to get a big pay increase in September - they'll have to claw it back from other budget categories.
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"I'm tired of being your love slave!"
"Does that mean I'm not going to get my coffee?"
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gennimom
Somewhat Southern (Have I really posted that much?)
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 16,983
Let's get summer over with! Me want snow!
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« Reply #9 on: June 12, 2008, 10:18:23 AM » |
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We have budgets based on our salaries. I can still travel, but I will probably travel less due to my budget not stretching as far.
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...only after reading gm's post, my new mantra is "always listen to gennimom".
Monday reeks! - Garfield The outside of a horse is good for the inside of a person (or something like that). |
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afacultymember
Junior member
Posts: 52
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« Reply #10 on: June 12, 2008, 09:51:25 PM » |
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I think most of us are likely in the "budget dollars not going as far" camp.
My last institution approved trips, not dollars, so I'll ask around.
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