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[frenchgirl]

Here is my situation:

I'm in an MLA field and was very lucky to have gotten an offer for a TT job last week at a state school in the south. Very lucky is an understatement. I was on the verge of working at Starbucks next year.

The area is pretty desireable and relatively expensive, despite being in the south, but due to the current recession and state budget cuts, etc., it is highly unlikely my more advanced academic partner will find a job in this new region anytime soon. (A job for me isn't possible at hu's institution, unfortunately.) So far the only thing I've asked for is for the dept/univ to consider offering my partner a position b/c that is really my #1 concern. I have no idea what will happen with this request, perhaps nothing. My sense is that the dean will poop on the request immediately due to state budget issues, but I had to try, right?

Anyway, my question is this: Once you've asked for something major like "domestic partner" assistance, if the dean responds with NO, is it still acceptable to continue to try to negotiate for other perks, like more moving $ or additional salary or something? Or will it be too late at that point and just annoy the dean? I want to strike the right tone b/n negotiating graciously and knowing what I'm worth VS coming across as overly demanding. If they're able to offer my partner something I won't ask for anything else b/c I know that would be a complete miracle.

[corvus_caurinus]

Go ahead and ask about the partner.

If the answer no, explain that this makes things hard for you, and that you'll need those extra perks whatever they are.

[ravioli]

This wasn't at a state school, so take it with a grain of salt.  But when my SO got his offer, he asked for partner hire (which we knew we wouldn't get because I'm still finishing but hey, you have to try).  That, of course, didn't work but after they said no he asked for a salary increase (based on the fact that I was giving up other funding opportunities to come with him) and negotiated some teaching for me.  So if they say no to spousal, that doesn't have to be the end of the negotiations in our experience.

[systeme_d_]

Agreed.

If they decline to accommodate the spousal hire, you're still near the beginning of your negotiation process, not the end.

[frenchgirl]

Thanks everyone. The dean responded immediately and said the partner hire wasn't possible, yada yada, so no surprise there. Why accommodate me, a lowly and inexperienced English lit person, when they could get me for the bare minimum? I think it's pretty clear, too, that they're well skilled at moving quickly and taking naive job candidates by storm during the negotiations process.
I've read up on the Getting to Yes tactics but have been surprised by how little appears to be negotiable, due to the economic climate I suppose. So now I'm trying to think about what else I could negotiate since we will soon be living off one salary in southern state city. Luckily, we don't have kids or pets to feed!!

[systeme_d_]

Yeah, that's the thing about kids and pets.  You feed them once, and they just want more.  Little ingrates.  

Seriously, though, good luck to you, Frenchgirl.  I hope you can move them toward a good deal!

On edit:

Things to consider negotiating:  Pre-tenure research leave.  Computer/s.  Conference/travel funds.  A nice office. 

Just brainstorm about things that won't cost them much, but will make your life considerably easier.

[aprilmay]

I agree that you can continue to negotiate even though they have not agreed to the partner hire. Did you mean same-sex partner? I ask because very few schools give partner hires to different sex, unmarried partners.

Just brainstorm about things that won't cost them much, but will make your life considerably easier.

This. They are more able to give you things that are free. But you are right that they are in the position of power in this bargaining.

[knitknat]

You could also try to negotiate some funding for your SO for a couple of years, in lieu of a TT job. I just found out that while my spouse and I got hosed during his negotiations, two other recent spousal hires in our unit have been able to negotiate 2 years of support for the spouse - which both spouses are using to publish like crazy.