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[bevo98]

Well, it's happened.  I am at a juncture in my career where I may have to move to the main campus if I want to continue doing the kind of research and publishing that I want.  I am, currently, on a branch campus of my home U, and all is well here, but, to be blunt, I may have outgrown the place.  Problem is, the department on the main campus is undergoing a lot of changes and there is more than a little disfunctionality brought on by some of the older members.  If I do go to the main campus, I would have to deal with a lot more craziness than I currently do in terms of bullies and bs.  If I stay where I am, all is quiet, but I have a much heavier teaching load and service expectations....

[wmr333]

If you don't try to make a move, you will wonder whether you could have made it in research.  Continuing with the higher teaching load will eat away at your productivity in research.  You will lose ground.

Yes, you can stay and live comfortably.  But it sounds as though you want more.  Take the chance, even beyond the main campus.

Best of luck.

[shrek]

I'd go-- is anyone else moving to campus also? Sometimes this shifts the balance in terms of crazies.

[bevo98]

I think you are right.  Yes, there are others also making the move but, and this is my personal caveat, I have to make my decision based not upon changes at the branch campus, but upon my interests and abilities.  Our chair at the main campus has told me he is interested in bringing me up both because I am productive and because he thinks I can play a role as a neutralizer of said bullies.  I am up to both tasks...

I still ask myself, however, what are the downsides? 

[wmr333]

I think that you have answered your own question.  Dealing with bullies and BS can be exhausting, not to mention time consuming.  Unfortunately there is a subset of faculty who hold the view that "academic freedom" allows them to be abusive and childish.

You know that this will be the case at the main campus.  Is this what you want?

[bevo98]

I think that you have answered your own question.  Dealing with bullies and BS can be exhausting, not to mention time consuming.  Unfortunately there is a subset of faculty who hold the view that "academic freedom" allows them to be abusive and childish.

You know that this will be the case at the main campus.  Is this what you want?

Not really but, the thought that they could keep me from reaching my goals is even more irritating. You are right, I think I do know the downsides and am prepared....

[aintgotnobody]

There is something to be said for a simple life.

I say simple lives are boring.  Seize the day!

[larryc]

I think you have already made your decision, yes?

Can you move with your current rank and tenure, or do you have to give up tenure? Dealing with bullies is way different if you are untenured.

[bevo98]

I think you have already made your decision, yes?

Can you move with your current rank and tenure, or do you have to give up tenure? Dealing with bullies is way different if you are untenured.

I get to keep my rank and tenure.  Indeed, it would not work any other way.

[aside]

I made a similar mid-career move to a much higher-ranked research university despite uncertainty about a particular colleague at the new institution.  I was able to handle the situation, and the move has been a fantastic one.  Staying put would have been the comfortable thing to do, and I would not have been unhappy had I remained, but I would not have been able to do all the things I have done since, nor really have known all that I would have been missing.

<On preview:  Since you are keeping your rank and tenure, then go for it!>

[oatmeal]

OP--I am curious. Is it straight forward to move to the main campus? I assume that the department on that campus gets to vote on your "transfer." What are the rules behind this? Are the standards for T&P different? Do you know for certain that you can keep your rank and tenure? If it is easy to move, then I see no reason not to do so, other than location perhaps. Good luck.

[bevo98]

Yes, the department would vote and, again, with maybe a couple of exceptions, I think things would go well.  I know I can keep both rank and tenure and I meet the standards for T and P...of course, nothing is 100% and there is always a chance that it won't work out at which point I will happily stay where I am until I complete my current projects and then look to relocate.

[pats12]

Move, and then if it is really bad, use your new credentials from the Main U to get a new position (assuming you might want to move).

[bevo98]

Greetings all.  Update:  My chair, who has been very supportive, called to tell me that the dean wants to talk so, I have an appointment on Friday.  This can go two ways:

1. he can tell me to shut up and get back to branch campus

2.  he can say, "maybe"

   Any other possible scenarios?  I am both encouraged and a bit concerned....