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[coug_girl]

I am a minority woman in a department of older, white males.  I have been in my current position -- tenured for the last four -- for the last ten years.  I have excellent teaching evaluations from students.  I just finished a PhD.  I have a tremendous record of service. 

Over the years, I have been cordial -- saying "Hello" in the halls -- to my chair and department my colleagues.  I do not have much in common with any of them because most of them appear to be retired on the job.  They never want to talk about academics.  Unfortunately, I have not gotten to know a lot of people in other departments very well because sometimes academics seem like independent consultants -- do the work and leave campus.  The campus administrators hide in their offices.  The campus is slowly dying.  In fact, most of the people on my campus just do not have much interest in the workplace or change.  I thrive on it.  There has been some resentment about my work ethic because I just plain work non-stop.  This makes the others look bad. 

I am considering looking outside my campus for a new position because I see the future limitations to my career by staying in my current position.  Here's my question:  What do you do about references when you are not in the "in" crowd?  I can get references from the people involved in my "Service" work and my PhD work.  Is that enough?  I think that references from my administration would "damn me" with faint praise.  In fact, if they thought they could get away with it, they would probably just damn me -- someone has to stay around and do the work.  Any suggestions?  I am assuming that most potential new employers would call to check on references.  Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[coug_girl]

I am sorry to have posted this topic.  I have just earned a PhD and I have also just published a well-received book.  Living on the West Coast, I am ready to move into a more fulfilling position anywhere in the U.S., but I am frustrated that my colleagues and administration will not be supportive in my attempts to leave and "dog" me by word-of-mouth. 

Over the years, I have jumped so many hoops to earn so much less in all aspects than others doing the same kind of work.  I do not want to sound like a self-pity type because I am not.  I just want to find a solid mid-career teaching and/or administrative position that wants my energy and excitment in their midst.

So, I ask, what do committees/administrators do with references these days?  Is it just name, rank, serial number or more?  If not given a vote of solid reference support -- even with a strong interview presence -- how do I handle this?  Do I move on to a new opening?  I would love to have the opportunity to gain some insights from the experiences, including the mistakes, of others.

Thanks.

[mytiaraisaskew]

Why not just get references from other professional contacts?  Dissertation chair and/or committee members, colleagues at other universities, former colleagues at your own school who have moved to other universities...there are ways of getting out without letting your current school know you are looking.  If you check the Jobs threads, you'll find several postings talking about whom to ask for references, especially in sticky situations such as yours.

Good luck!