One Day at a Time

I've recently applied for two positions, one as a Writing Center Coordinator at Capella University in downtown Mpls, and the other as an adviser for the PIL program at the U of M's College of Continuing Ed, the same college Scott works in. I am an excellent candidate for both positions (I already have a second interview at Capella), and both positions offer a significant pay raise.

So I've been spending the last two weeks thinking about what job to take: keep the one I have, go to Capella, or go to CCE. I'm in a wonderful position of strength here, because even if I'm not offered either of the other two positions, I do really enjoy my job. I wasn't even looking for a new job, but these two opportunities were forwarded my way by well meaning friends and spouses.

So here's the dilemma (is it a trilemma since there are three options?):
1. The current position: Assistant Academic Adviser in the College of Liberal Arts
-- I enjoy working with undergraduate liberal arts students and have a firm belief in the value of an undergraduate liberal arts education
--the particular population of students I work with tend to be science/health science students who further my own personal interest in getting involved in pre-vetmed type courses; I'm actually considering a second undergraduate degree in biology or something similar
--I really like my boss and my coworkers; my particular office is a very supportive unit; upper management, however, is not at all supportive, and once I have moved up to Senior Academic Adviser, the opportunity for moving up stops
--CLA advisers are among the lowest paid Professional & Academic adviser positions on campus; opportunities for professional development (conference attendance, research leaves, teaching opportunities, etc) are severely limited; because of its position as the largest undergraduate college on campus (and because of its liberal arts nature), CLA is usually the campus "whipping boy" for concerns such as 4-year graduation rates, senior exit surveys, etc.

2. The CCE job: Associate Academic Adviser
--this position is an automatic promotion from assistant to associate adviser
--this position would probably entail a minimum of a $6,000 pay raise, quite possibly $8,000-$10,000
--CCE seems to support professional development opportunities for its advisers, and the opportunity to teach classes would be part of the job duties
--the students I would be working with are primarily adult learners who have had a significant amount of work experience that they are applying to a degree program; this could be an exciting (and probably more responsible) group of students to work with--I currently teach adult learners for the University of St. Francis, and find these students quite enjoyable
--because it handles outreach, non-traditional programs, and the like, CCE can be a difficult place to work in difficult budget years; Scott and the interview committee assure me that the college has made tremendous strides in budget planning, but I remain ever the pessimist
--this position is still on campus, which I like, and could possibly be more flexible in begin end times than my current job, meaning I could still come in early with Scott, but perhaps be allowed to leave earlier than I currently do

3. The Capella job: Writing Center Coordinator
--in a for-profit school that invests in its staff and is very education-oriented; not constrained by legislative budgets and is willing to put money behind initiatives
--not an advising position; this is both good and bad--I do enjoy advising, but I am getting a little tired of having to tell each new student the same thing I just told the previous one (however, because of Capella's committment to its staff, I could probably move into an advising position if this one doesn't work)
--the position is responsible for the online writing center; I would work with a team and wouldn't have to actually build the thing, but it would be my work, not a committee (I did something like this for the U student writing center that went nowhere because of budget/grant/politics/etc)
--travel opportunities: Capella learners attend week-long colloquia to interact with other students, professors, advisers, etc.; it's a conference-like environment; there would be seven of these per year, and they rotate around the country (there's one in Orlando after Christmas this year, and that session will be in Anaheim next); but do I want to be away from Scott, dogs, home for 7 weeks?
--a minimum of a $10,000 raise, which is really difficult to argue against
--opportunities and support for professional development--conferences, administrative growth, etc.
--an office in downtown Mpls: good? bad? different, at any rate; good discount on bus passes, but the buses are 3-4 blocks from my house and 3-4 blocks from the job--not necessarily fun in nasty weather
--not in a traditional brick & mortar university, so you lose some of the excitement that seeing students around campus can provide
--not at the U, meaning I'll have to change ALL of my doctors since I go to a student/staff only clinic

So you see what a difficult position I'm in. :-) You know, counting my chickens before they hatch, and all.... ;-)

Having just come from the CCE interview, that is forefront on my mind. At the moment, that's the direction I'm leaning. It seems like a good environment, I know several advisers there now, and I knew several people on the search committee, I'd still be on campus, and I'd make more money. But I don't know (read, didn't ask because I don't know how to do so tactfully...) the salary range, and Capella's minimum of $10,000 more, possibly $15,000 more than I make now is very, very persuasive. I have the second interview with Capella on Tuesday; if they offer me the position, I expect I'd probably know by the end of next week, the following at the earliest. The second interview for CCE would be in about a week and a half, with an offer being made in the second or third week of September.

I think I will be offered the Capella position: it's a unique enough place that people who might apply for writing center positions probably would apply to traditional schools (if they even knew about this job), and many people who might want to work for Capella may not be qualified for this particular position. And they've been very quick with interviews--it was a turn-around of 2 days to schedule the second interview. I'm guessing their applicant pool was not very large. I'm also likely to be offered a CCE position: there are two positions open, and the search committee is interviewing 14 people. I think my interview was very strong, and even without my own merits, my name is known by people in positions of power who can name-drop at appropriate moments.

It's nice to feel wanted. :-) And even if none of my chickens hatch or the horse just isn't strong enough to push the cart, well, I still have a job I enjoy.