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[anon99]

...this last part seems odd because if you are wanting a job where you can spend more time doing your research, why would you consider changing career paths?

I'm puzzled how you can even ask that question.  As I've written previously (and as many, many others, on various threads, have also noted), the demands of teaching at a CC are, in general, related to just that - teaching.  There is often no time to do any real research or publishing.  I am simply not a person who would find a career devoted to the classroom, and classroom pedagogy (including attending conferences and/or reading journals devoted to the latter) fulfilling.  It's not a value judgement, it's just not what I want.

Conversely, there are probably other positions outside of academia where research and writing of some sort - and not teaching - are essential parts of the position.  So, I may not get to research my beloved area, but I certainly wouldn't be doing that in many CC positions anyway.  In many cases, teaching at a CC does not make you any closer to doing your research than any other number of jobs in the private or govermental sectors.  (And the private sector often pays better.)

I interpretted what you wrote as I want to do research on basketweaving because that is what I love, but I may give that up that option and go back to school to study scuba diving.  I know most CC don't allow for a lot of research.  I guess that is why I was confused as to why you wouldn't either try for a private/public sector job doing basketweaving if you can't get a TT position.

[minidonut]

I interpretted what you wrote as I want to do research on basketweaving because that is what I love, but I may give that up that option and go back to school to study scuba diving.  I know most CC don't allow for a lot of research.  I guess that is why I was confused as to why you wouldn't either try for a private/public sector job doing basketweaving if you can't get a TT position.

You interpreted correctly, actually.  I love basketweaving, but there is zero application for my specific form of basketweaving in the private/public sector, so I am indeed considering going back to study a specific type of scuba diving, because such divers are in demand now.  The career is not glamorous at all, but it pays very well, and there are always openings.

[polly_mer]

Minidonut, the most relevant question appears to be "Is this a position that will give you the time and resources you want for the academic career you want?"  If your research on the school itself yields a no to that question, then it doesn't matter whether they reimburse the interview expenses or not because you shouldn't waste your time by going on the interview.  If your research on the school determines that you could get mostly the position you want, then you should ask whomever is coordinating your interview what the reimbursement policy is.  If you don't like the answer you get, then you can decide what you want to do. 

However, I wouldn't turn down a job interview for a job I really, really wanted just because it would cost me a hundred bucks for a day trip.  That seems like shooting one's self in the foot for no apparent gain.

[bluezebracat]

chime polly_mer

[minidonut]

Minidonut, the most relevant question appears to be "Is this a position that will give you the time and resources you want for the academic career you want?"  If your research on the school itself yields a no to that question, then it doesn't matter whether they reimburse the interview expenses or not because you shouldn't waste your time by going on the interview.  If your research on the school determines that you could get mostly the position you want, then you should ask whomever is coordinating your interview what the reimbursement policy is.  If you don't like the answer you get, then you can decide what you want to do. 

However, I wouldn't turn down a job interview for a job I really, really wanted just because it would cost me a hundred bucks for a day trip.  That seems like shooting one's self in the foot for no apparent gain.

I totally agree with you on every single point. 

[polly_mer]

Minidonut, the most relevant question appears to be "Is this a position that will give you the time and resources you want for the academic career you want?"  If your research on the school itself yields a no to that question, then it doesn't matter whether they reimburse the interview expenses or not because you shouldn't waste your time by going on the interview.  If your research on the school determines that you could get mostly the position you want, then you should ask whomever is coordinating your interview what the reimbursement policy is.  If you don't like the answer you get, then you can decide what you want to do. 

However, I wouldn't turn down a job interview for a job I really, really wanted just because it would cost me a hundred bucks for a day trip.  That seems like shooting one's self in the foot for no apparent gain.

I totally agree with you on every single point. 

So, how's that research on the school going so that you can decide whether this interview is worth the trouble?

[karmann]

Can I use this post to get something off my chest?

It's not about people thinking they're "too good" to teach at CC's...

It may have been the OP's comparison of this CC to "real jobs" at "real colleges" that put people on the defensive.  While I respect the OP's right to question his or her fit with that institution's culture, I'm bothered by the implication that a CC isn't a "real college" or that CC instructors don't have "real jobs." 

[minidonut]

Can I use this post to get something off my chest?

It's not about people thinking they're "too good" to teach at CC's...

It may have been the OP's comparison of this CC to "real jobs" at "real colleges" that put people on the defensive.  While I respect the OP's right to question his or her fit with that institution's culture, I'm bothered by the implication that a CC isn't a "real college" or that CC instructors don't have "real jobs." 

That's why I used the scare quotes.

[mleok]

I believe that the reason why it is only acceptable at community colleges to have on campus interviews without travel reimbursements is that it is more likely for positions at community colleges to involve local as opposed to national searches, as pointed out by msparticularity.

However, I believe it would be fair to say that any university which valued its reputation as a research university would be foolhardy to conduct campus interviews without reimbursing their candidates. It is simply disrespectful to a potential colleague to expect them to pay their own way if they will be traveling from afar, and it would be much better to forgo a search in a particular year, than to subscribe to such false economies.

As have often been mentioned in this thread, the cost of a search pale in comparison to the long term costs of hiring a new faculty member, and in times of shrinking budgets, it is even more important to consider the broadest pool of applicants for a tenure-track position, as opposed to unnecessarily limiting your pool of candidates by not covering the cost of travel.

[abdbcb]

Ok so I just started a new thread about a related issue. Do mleok's comments, which I agree with, apply
to European schools? It seems like the protocols are different in some other countries, but the logic of investing in the search still holds. Why would they not pay for candidates to interview?