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[wsr88d]

I need a bit of advice here regarding a little adjuncting dilemma I am facing that pertains to pay, travel, and opportunities.

CC "A": Which I have been teaching for a couple years now ftf (face to face) in my 1st concentrated area, was my foot in the door to adjuncting....travel at satellite 1 campus = 40mins...pay $1500/course

CC "B": Teaching for them one year now, OL (online), result in getting the positions, from cc "A" and my current doctorate trek...no travel...usually 2-3 courses per semester = pay: $2850/course

CC "C": potential adjuncting gig, locally, travel time = <15-20 mins, pay $2000.....issue: will be in my 2nd concentration area instead of 1st.

Dilemma
.......by all means I am not about to give up or reduce the courses from CC "B"...the courses are in my 1st concentrated field/area, plus the pay is really good. However, more than likely I will be picked up by CC "C" to teach in my 2nd area, which means that I will have to refuse CC "A" teaching load....primarily b/c of the travel and pay per term.

What I am beginning to notice from CC "A", is that there is absolutely no chance that a FT position will open in their department...because my 1st field is really not a priority for them to allocate another position. Plus, they want more OL courses in their department and appears to be separating themselves from ftf courses in my field that I teach (more than likely a budget issue).
Though, they want me to begin teaching at their other satellite campuses that are 1 -1.5 hours away from my home...for the same pay ($1500/course). Which obviously is not in my deck of cards. Plus, they (the cc) have no plans to increase their adjunct pay...which is causing a ripple effect with the college b/c they cannot keep adjuncts for more than 1-2 years due to the pay.

I want to be able to tell them that I have to decline the offer to teach at CC "A"'s other two campuses mainly due to the travel and costs that surround it (without really telling them that it is not worth the drive for the pay). I enjoy teaching at CC "A" and two courses I have (I am the only one who teaches them - popular courses too), but the drive is becoming tiresome and the pay is not competitive anymore....especially since CC "C" pays $500 more, and ever other college regionally is increasing their adjunct pay to adjust to inflation/COLA.

I know as soon as CC "C" picks me up.....I will not teach for CC "A" anymore (simply economics), but I do not want to upset the department chair, b/c I will need a recommendation letter in the future. This scenario will more than likely upset things b/c the department has invested some good money in supporting these two courses and providing me with materials, technology, etc. to maintain enrollment......but, what will happen, is the courses will die and be canceled from their curriculum (according the chair and the dean of the satellite campus I teach at.)


How I approach this, what do I do........I probably dare not to ask for increase in pay at CC "A"....or do I?
Confused.

[dismalist]

Under these circumstances, I would not hesitate to explain to Dept. Chair A the exact process of your decision making. [I was once in a similar situation.] S/he will either offer you a raise, or not. I wouldn't worry about the letter; you'd get one. After all, as the saying goes: "This is not personal; this is a business decision".

[zuzu_]

I have also faced a VERY similar dilemma. (Creepily similar, in fact.)

No sane person would hold it against you if you explained the reasons why you are leaving.

Four years after I quit CC "A", I was a finalist for a FT position there. (Ended up as 2nd choice.) They DID NOT hold my leaving against me--in fact, I think it made me a more attractive candidate for the FT position.

[untenured]

Under these circumstances, I would not hesitate to explain to Dept. Chair A the exact process of your decision making. [I was once in a similar situation.] S/he will either offer you a raise, or not. I wouldn't worry about the letter; you'd get one. After all, as the saying goes: "This is not personal; this is a business decision".

Dismalist is right.  Be honest.  Be professional.  This is an issue about finances.  If you say you are leaving because another school will pay you more and you really need the money, your Chair A should understand.  Who knows.  If they really like you all of a sudden some cash might appear.

Untenured

[untenured]

Four years after I quit CC "A", I was a finalist for a FT position there. (Ended up as 2nd choice.) They DID NOT hold my leaving against me--in fact, I think it made me a more attractive candidate for the FT position.

Yeah, this is true too.  That's a good marketing point.  If you are so valuable that you can move on without fear from A, then the Chair at A just might see you as more attractive and worth keeping.

Untenured

[adjunctprincipessa]

Please do not worry about this situation.  You stated that CC A cannot hold onto adjuncts for more than 1-2 years because of the pay.  This means that the chair is well aware of the situation, and any sane chair will understand why you left.  If you would like to remain in this school's good graces, just make sure that you resign politely and with a reasonable amount of notice.

[svenc]

$1500/course is crap only for people with no other options.  You have other options.  You can still ask for your recommendation letter.

This scenario will more than likely upset things b/c the department has invested some good money in supporting these two courses and providing me with materials, technology, etc. to maintain enrollment......but, what will happen, is the courses will die and be canceled from their curriculum (according the chair and the dean of the satellite campus I teach at.)

They've put the money into the courses, not into you.  If your departure really disappoints them, let them match the other colleges' wages.

[jackalope]

Tell the chair at A that you deeply appreciate the opportunities you have had to work there, how much you like the student and the wonderful colleagues such as himself, how you have been proud to be a part of the great educational enterprise that is A. However, you explain, you simply cannot afford to keep working there for less than $2500 a course. Could he speak with the dean and see what can be done?

Of course nothing can be done, and that is the point. He will have to tell you that it is out of his control, you will regretfully explain that you won't be teaching there next semester, and it becomes the fault of A, and not of you.

[curly]

I do not quite understand why this is an issue.

No one is offering you a f/t position.  Follow the cash.

There is no obligation on anyones part to stick together.

If you are in this for a reference letter, consider the strength of that letter versus other potential referees.  Also consider whether that poorly paid CC has any interest in defeating your career goals.  I think not. 

I see this thread in varying concoctions often on the boards.  We are highly educated faculty and we do what we do, yes, for the love of it, but that only after we earn a decent living from it.