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[ex_mo]

This question bridges TT/Research areas, so it may belong elsewhere.  But I'm sticking it here.

I'm second-year TT at a SmallLAC.  Research expectations are minimal, and I have been evaluated and told that I am "on track" for tenure in 3 years.  We are a teaching oriented place, so teaching is #1 here, service #2, with scholarship a distant 3rd. 

Regardless, I enjoy research (!) and try very hard to carve out time and energy for maintaining a research program.  I've just heard about what seems like a great opportunity to be a "Visiting Scholar in Residence" at a flagship university in a nearby major city for the 2012-2013 academic year.  The ad for the position specifies that applicants should be on the TT or tenured elsewhere but that the position could carry with it a courtesy appointment at the hosting institution. 

I'm planning on applying but am wondering how public I should be with it at this stage.  It seems to me that my current TTplace would be thrilled about this.  After all, here I am representing TTplace at a world-class institution and doing big things.  I can see our marketing people making a huge deal out of this, as they have done so when other faculty get similar appointments/awards (think Fulbrights, or invited talks).

However, it seems like I'd be asking for a pre-tenure leave, right? Could I negotiate for more time on the tenure clock?  I'd think that the Visiting position could put me in a great position, research wise, for tenure, but it would take me away from my campus for a year, meaning no teaching and no service (which are weighted more heavily here). 

I'm also confused about pay.  The ad for the Visiting position specifies that I'd have to live in City for the length of the appointment and that the salary would be "based on current salary."   Does that mean based on my current salary at TTplace?  The lowest point in the range listed in the ad is higher than my current salary. I'd be forfeiting my current salary, correct?  What about benefits, etc?  How does that work?

My initial thought is to send an email to my chair (ccing the Dean?) with the news that I am applying and that I'll keep them posted.  But that seems a little presumptuous.  After all, even though I think I'd have a fighting chance, I'm just applying and have no way of knowing how competitive the position is.  Should I not say anything unless and until I'm a finalist? 

Thoughts?

[litdawg]

You have excellent questions that should be resolved once you are invited to campus or whatever will serve as the finalist stage for the position. Your ability to anticipate these issues should not distract you from your task at this stage of the game: AFTDJ.

Enjoy! Sounds like a great opportunity if it pans out. If not, you've burnished your job materials and will be poised for future dream job opportunities.

[brixton]

Wait till you're a finalist--campus interview.  Once you have the bird-in-hand, then you can approach chair/dean with the good news.  You'll sell it of course as a great opportunity for your students, a great connection, should they want to get into the flagship for grad school, good publicity for the foundation, possible research opportunities for your upper-level students.  All of these categories fit in teaching/service (as well as research).  Then, you can also ask whether you should delay tenure a year. (I would instinctively guess no, you shouldn't have to because of the great example that you're setting for other junior faculty.) The advantage to the host institution is that the flagship should pay your salary/benefits, and yes it probably is your current paltry slac salary, although you ought to be able to negotiate that up--if the city is more costly, or you have to cover a mortgage/2 abodes, etc.

Congrats-but wait till you have something to be congratulated for --

[totoro]

I wouldn't have thought that quantity of teaching was valued so much as the quality and to some degree the service so they already know you are doing these well. The question might be whether going off to another university for a year would be seen as "un-collegial" if the others have to fill in for your teaching and service. I still would apply for the visiting position and see what happens.