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[phdbliss]

I've been offered a VAP at a wonderful institution. It is renewable for several years.
The institution is 2 hours from where I live. I cannot move at this time. I will have to commute.
The salary for this position is $3k less than what I make now. The commute will cost another $3k annually.
My current job is a 12 month staff post at a prestigious R1. I work on the admin side. I generally like it and I feel comfortable financially.

Do I take the (essentially) $6k cut in salary to teach 2 hours away over 9 months?
With the commute this results in at least two 12 hour days each week, and three 8 hour days. So during the 9 months classes are in session, I'm working more and making less, but when classes are not in session I'm off.
In my current position, I have only a small amount of paid leave, and pretty much have to show up even when there's nothing to do. 

What is the financially responsible decision here? I just can't tell. 
 

[wet_blanket]

Does your budget have room for a $6k cut?
How much of the $6k can you recoup by working in the three months you're off contract?

[phdbliss]

The budget can handle it without zeroing out, but it does mean that I can't contribute extra to anything. Things will be tighter than they are now.

I may be able to find money for the summer, but then I'm working in the summer, which pretty much puts me in the same position I'm in now in a way.

[notaprof]

You would be spending 20 hours per week commuting?  That sounds miserable to me.  To make up the loss in income and commuting expenses, you would probably have to find work during the months you think of as being of off.

I am not a prof and this sounds like a bad idea to me, but to each his/her own.

[larryc]

The big factor to me is that you would be giving up a permanent job for a contingent position. I wouldn't do it.

[phdbliss]

20 hours a week commuting sounds miserable to me too, frankly. Plus grading. Plus trying to plan for class, and resenting the 4 hours daily in the car since that would, otherwise, be time that I could devote to planning instead of having to work through the evening. 

For what it's worth, larryc, my current staff position is soft funded, but should last for at least 2 or 3 more years, perhaps longer. The teaching post could last as long as 5 years and appears to be supported internally, rather than through external funds. (I haven't asked - this is just my assumption, which could be incorect).

I've made a list of pros and cons. It has not helped.

Sigh.

I guess I feel like I should take the teaching position because that's how success is defined among peers in my field. I'm more interested in administrative work - but if I want to move further up into academic administration, won't I have to have had several years of teaching experience? At this point, I only have one other year as a VAP. I'm not teaching in my current position.

Financially? Any other thoughts?   

[anon99]

For what it's worth, larryc, my current staff position is soft funded, but should last for at least 2 or 3 more years, perhaps longer. The teaching post could last as long as 5 years and appears to be supported internally, rather than through external funds. (I haven't asked - this is just my assumption, which could be incorect).
...
I guess I feel like I should take the teaching position because that's how success is defined among peers in my field. I'm more interested in administrative work - but if I want to move further up into academic administration, won't I have to have had several years of teaching experience? At this point, I only have one other year as a VAP. I'm not teaching in my current position.

If your current position is likely to last for another 2-3 years and you want to do administrative work, I would stay where you are until you find a better/permanent job.  At the end of the day in terms of period of work, you are looking at upto 5 years at the new job vs 2-3 at current.  Driving 780 hours every 9 months (= 33 days) for less pay.  I would say stay where you are.

[hegemony]

I also vote for staying where you are.  If you can't move, this new post is not worth the exhaustion, not to mention the salary cut.

[prytania3]

If you say it's a two-hour commute, you are probably lying to yourself. Most people do when they think--oh I can commute. It's probably more like three or over.

What's the mileage? Is it city? Country? Interstate? Two-lane highway?

You would have to have rocks in your head to take this job.

[hegemony]

Actually, there are two essential questions:

1) Ultimately, do you want a teaching position, or do you want an admin position?

and

2) Why can't you move?  Because if you could move, the situation would be much different.

[prytania3]

Actually, there are two essential questions:

1) Ultimately, do you want a teaching position, or do you want an admin position?

and

2) Why can't you move?  Because if you could move, the situation would be much different.

Or even if you could get a crash pad for the week and commute home on weekends.

[anon99]

I'm more interested in administrative work - but if I want to move further up into academic administration, won't I have to have had several years of teaching experience?

The OP said they want to get an administrative position.

[phdbliss]

If you say it's a two-hour commute, you are probably lying to yourself. Most people do when they think--oh I can commute. It's probably more like three or over.

What's the mileage? Is it city? Country? Interstate? Two-lane highway?

You would have to have rocks in your head to take this job.

Hi Pry - the mileage is 120 each way, highway all the way. I've done the drive enough times to basically know what to expect - but there's always the unpredictable traffic jam, and since part of the drive involves a bypass around a pretty big metropolitan area with unpredictable traffic, it's safe to assume that I'll need to allow more than just 2 hours each day.

I'm starting to believe that I have had rocks in my head until posting this topic and getting some realistic feedback from forumites.

Actually, there are two essential questions:

1) Ultimately, do you want a teaching position, or do you want an admin position?

and

2) Why can't you move?  Because if you could move, the situation would be much different.

Or even if you could get a crash pad for the week and commute home on weekends.

My SO has a higher paying and much more upward mobile position where we live, we own a house and we're not willing to sell in this market for a non-TT post.

Ultimately I want an administrative position. I'm afraid that my lack of full-time teaching and research might prohibit this, though. I love teaching, but I don't want to be pigeonholed into ONLY teaching.

Thanks everyone for your input. I welcome more!

[prytania3]

If you say it's a two-hour commute, you are probably lying to yourself. Most people do when they think--oh I can commute. It's probably more like three or over.

What's the mileage? Is it city? Country? Interstate? Two-lane highway?

You would have to have rocks in your head to take this job.

Hi Pry - the mileage is 120 each way, highway all the way. I've done the drive enough times to basically know what to expect - but there's always the unpredictable traffic jam, and since part of the drive involves a bypass around a pretty big metropolitan area with unpredictable traffic, it's safe to assume that I'll need to allow more than just 2 hours each day.

I'm starting to believe that I have had rocks in my head until posting this topic and getting some realistic feedback from forumites.

Actually, there are two essential questions:

1) Ultimately, do you want a teaching position, or do you want an admin position?

and

2) Why can't you move?  Because if you could move, the situation would be much different.

Or even if you could get a crash pad for the week and commute home on weekends.

My SO has a higher paying and much more upward mobile position where we live, we own a house and we're not willing to sell in this market for a non-TT post.

Ultimately I want an administrative position. I'm afraid that my lack of full-time teaching and research might prohibit this, though. I love teaching, but I don't want to be pigeonholed into ONLY teaching.

Thanks everyone for your input. I welcome more!

120 miles is two hours if you live right by the ramp of the interstate and the uni is right off the ramp of that interstate, and the speed limit is 75. Remember, you have to park and get to your building.

And unless this is a pretty deserted interstate, you'd need to give yourself at least an hour cushion.

[pink_]

I wouldn't do it, Phdbliss.  The commute alone would be one thing (and a miserable one at that), but that plus the significant loss of income would be too much for me.