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[divingin]

Hello Forumites,

This is my first post, though I have been  following this forum (and others) for a few years now.  I am seeking advice, feedback, warnings, etc. 

Without giving too many details, a Dean position opened up at a small (about 500 students), rural, satellite campus of a larger (low to middle tier) land-grant state university.  I am currently an un-tenured faculty member at the university with degrees from top-tier schools.  (I am in the region for family reasons.)   I am very familiar with the satellite campus and it is more similar to a rural community college.  This campus is in an area with high levels of poverty and low national education rankings.

As listed in the job ad, the Dean responsibilities on this campus are similar to those of a COO and/or Executive Director.  Naturally, the job posting states that the qualified candidate should be eligible for tenure at the rank of associate or full professor.  Which I am not.  However, I spoke with my Department Head about the job and my limitations, and DH encouraged me to apply.  (I am assuming DH is sincere in hus encouragement!)

So, from you, I ask:
(1) how can I increase my image as an attractive candidate given that I am not eligible for tenure?
(2) I have submitted a letter of introduction and my CV to the search committee chair.  To what degree can I follow up (or pester)?
(3) what is the best homework to do *if* I am invited for an interview?
( (4) am I delusional that I even have a chance?)

Thank you in advance!

[altim]

(1) how can I increase my image as an attractive candidate given that I am not eligible for tenure?
(2) I have submitted a letter of introduction and my CV to the search committee chair.  To what degree can I follow up (or pester)?

You have asked the first questions too late, because the way to increase your image as an attractive candidate is through your letter of introduction and your CV!

Why are you not eligible for tenure? Because of the type of appointment you are in, because you just haven't put the requisite time in yet according to the timeline at your institution, or because your scholarship, teaching or service is inadequate? When the ad says eligible for tenure as associate or full professor, you have to look at the standards for tenure and promotion that would be applicable at the institution to which you are applying and see if you measure up. Of course, this is easier if you already have tenure and promotion to associate or full at the institution from which you would be leaving. But essentially, the questions are: do your scholarship, teaching, and service measure up? Do you have sufficient depth of experience in academic institutions to draw upon as a Dean?

[divingin]

Thanks, altim.  I understand that I asked my question a little late.  (It took some time to work up the nerve to post!)

I am not eligible for tenure because I have not put in the requisite time, and my scholarship is inadequate at this point.  I did seek some advice for my letter of introduction.  In my letter, I explained my relevant scholarship and teaching experience, as well as experience in business management.  I also outlined my understanding of the campus and my vision for the future. 

I should clarify that this Dean position is slightly unique.  To simplify, the Dean will act more as a COO or Vice President of a small rural school at a pay scale equal to that of a Dean at the parent university. 

[barred_owl]

divingin:  There are positions I've seen posted (for my state) that sound equivalent to the one to which you've applied.  My impression is that the Deans on the small rural campuses spend much of their time promoting the campus locally, in addition to the more mundane administrative tasks they will assume, not to mention the occasional commute to the home campus for meetings, etc.  Someone who is not yet eligible for tenure, if they were to be hired into such a position, would probably be so overwhelmed by the workload, public relations effort, and such that s/he would be forced to let research languish and, ultimately, would not achieve tenure in a timely fashion.  As you've stated, your research, so far, is inadequate to qualify you for tenure at your current institution.  In a position like the one you've described, you can probably count on your research productivity decreasing--making the goal of tenure even more unattainable.

If what I've described sounds similar to your situation, you might want to think about whether or not you're willing to take that risk.  Once you go into administration, there are few, if any, chances to go back to where you hopped off the tenure-track.  With tenure, however, and careful negotiation, it's a bit easier to go back to a faculty position if one decides to do so.

Your ambition is certainly admirable, and there's no harm in applying, of course.  Your best chances, though, are probably farther down the road, after you get tenure. 

[sibyl]

Folks I know who have been hired for positions like this have been hired on the basis of their administrative experience, not necessarily their scholarly record.  They have directed programs or chaired departments. 

A lot depends on the nature of the institution, but because you say it is so small I believe the position will be one of the less active ones, not the more active ones.  The Deans don't necessarily get involved in rank & tenure decisions, because these are frequently handled at the "home" institution.  That said, there are a fair number of personnel issues.  They usually manage faculty contracts within the terms of the standard bargaining rules for the home institution.  Administrative offices on these campuses usually have to report data to the home institution, and the COO oversees this.  There is likely some budget management.  The Deans do a lot of reporting-to-home of their own, too.  For smaller campuses, the Deans can do more coordinating than deciding -- for instance, the home institution might decide that the satellite doesn't have enough preregistrations to run four sections of Beginning Composition and so only three will be offered; as a result only two adjuncts, not three, will be hired.

To position yourself for such a job, you need to develop (and then highlight) experience with managing personnel and budgets.  For homework before an interview, you need to find out about the conditions of the campus: what kind of students attend, how is faculty hiring and promotion handled, to what extent is the dean dependent on the home institution.  Use one of the other satellite campuses (ideally at the opposite corner of the state) to do your research.

The standard application rules apply: do not pester the SCC once you have sent your application, unless (a) you have a major new publication or prestigious external award to add to your CV or (b) you have been offered a job by another institution.

Whether you have a chance depends on the rest of the pool and whether the SC thinks you have the skills and abilities the institution needs.  You've applied, which is all you can do.  Good luck.

[divingin]

Thanks, sibyl.  I have been following your words of wisdom on several other posts and was very much hoping you would chime in.  (It even crossed my mind to write you directly!)

[sibyl]

Glad to help, divingin.  I think most folks, me included, are open to direct contacts.  But I think one of the best things about this board is that you get good advice from unexpected sources as well as expected ones, so public posts are always best.

Keep us updated, and good luck.