Faculty to Admin

[AdjunctOverload]

Anyone else worried about being able to make the jump from faculty to an administrator position in higher ed?

 

Recently, I've made the leap from adjunct positions to contingent FT faculty positions, but breaking into admin seems far off and almost dream-like at this point.

 

I figured an Ed.D. would help me break in (since my terminal masters degree is in another discipline entirely), but now I'm realizing that I'll be significantly overqualified for entry-level administrative positions and still under-qualified for mid-level positions, which generally require past administrative experience in that specific area.

 

All of my professors experienced the opposite: administrative positions into tenured teaching positions, so they aren't much help.

[Eigen]

No ideas offhand- but I'd suggest posting on the Chronicle of Higher Ed forums- there are a lot of pretty active administrators that post there, and are much more experienced in the job-search issues. 

[AdjunctOverload]

I'm teaching in IA right now (and attending school), but I've taught in other states.

 

I'm focusing more on the academic affairs side of things because I don't think I'd be able to break into the student affairs side.  But most deans come up through the faculty ranks (in IA public institutions, it's unusual to have a dean that didn't at some point have FT teaching experience).  I know that directors on the student affairs side usually don't have teaching experience, but I've also seen many VPs and presidents with past teaching experience.

 

The issue I'm concerned about is that with more MBA/DBAs coming in to higher ed admin positions, the shrinking number of admin positions opening, and the increasing number of faculty (more PT or contingent and more displaced masters and doctorate grads unable to get teaching positions), it will be even MORE difficult to get into admin positions (at least on the academic affairs side).

 

I've had a couple acquaintances more or less "give up" on their dream jobs and jump to the for-profit side of higher ed for admin jobs, which I really don't want to do.

[Eigen]

For academic affairs, you'd really only be able to get an admin position in an education department.

A dean usually has to be a tenured, full professor in thier discipline, and you'd then move up the ranks from there.

[AdjunctOverload]

While I wouldn't mind teaching in a higher ed department, but those positions are really difficult to get.  I'm more interested, at this point, in a director of institutional research-type of position.  Or possibly being part of a curriculum development or policy making department (institution-wide) sounds interesting.  (Who am I kidding? I'd be interested in just about any position on the academic affairs side).

 

With an Ed.D., the educational requirements are met.  I'm starting to think that applying interim positions and being available for emergency hires would be the way to go for getting the required experience.

[ZeChocMoose]

I figured an Ed.D. would help me break in (since my terminal masters degree is in another discipline entirely), but now I'm realizing that I'll be significantly overqualified for entry-level administrative positions and still under-qualified for mid-level positions, which generally require past administrative experience in that specific area.

 

 

While I wouldn't mind teaching in a higher ed department, but those positions are really difficult to get.  I'm more interested, at this point, in a director of institutional research-type of position.  Or possibly being part of a curriculum development or policy making department (institution-wide) sounds interesting.  (Who am I kidding? I'd be interested in just about any position on the academic affairs side).

 

I don't think you are overqualified for an entry-level position in institutional research.  I worked in IR for 3 years before my doctoral program and the typical applicant that we would see for entry level positions are people who had just graduated with a graduate degree (either a master's or PhD) that had no experience in institutional research.  Usually they have very strong methodology backgrounds and writing skills.  What they lacked was the knowledge of IR and the nuances of the federal reporting requirements that typically IR offices handle for their institutions.  In order to become the director - you are going to have to secure a position at the bottom and then work your way up.  There are generally no shortcuts in higher ed admin because the field really values experience.

 

If you are in a part-time EdD program, I would just start applying to entry-level IR positions.  If you have several years of full-time professional experience in IR before you graduate with your doctoral degree, you'll be able to apply to a mid-level position in IR when you finish.  You will also be able to determine whether that area in the university is for you as it isn't the greatest fit for everyone.

[AdjunctOverload]

Hi ZeChocMoose,

 

I think you've pinned down my issue -- I don't know if I'm willing to start at most of the entry level positions I've seen advertised.

 

While some postings are not bad at all (and I'd apply for them in a heartbeat, but I'm attending full-time and can't have a 9-5p.m. schedule everyday), others seem disheartening to me.

 

For example, at the top research university in my area, an entry level IR position was posted for $35,000 a year -- undergraduate degree closely related to mathematics required.  While I could, potentially, deal with the pay and not making use of my masters (and future doctorate) degree, the job as described was clearly just a glorified administrative assistant.  (Other postings have been even worse).

 

That would limit my ability to jump over to the administrative side of things except through chair, assistant dean/dean (in one of my fields/colleges), curriculum development-linked, or instruction-linked positions. Seems rather limiting, especially because I'm somewhat stuck in my current state.

[Eigen]

I don't think it would limit your ability to move, at all. In fact, it's how most people move up to purely administrative positions- they start off in low-pay, low responsibility areas, and move up either within the school or without. 

 

Since you're going for an EdD, you aren't really going to be going the chair-dean-provost chain, so you likely need to get a low-level start in a student affairs or academic affairs position, and work your way up from there. 

 

You don't even really need the EdD, judging by the search committees I've been on for those positions, although it will help assuming you have the administrative experience to back it up. 

[AdjunctOverload]

The EdD is actually used quite often to get faculty into chair or dean positions -- it just depends on the school. So far two of my cohort have made the move from full time faculty to dean after we reached doctoral candidacy. Many of the postings for deans, at least in my state, say Ph.D. Or Ed.D. Required (regardless of college -- it depends on what field your masters is in). And one of the deans I work for as an adjunct is an Ed.D.

[Eigen]

That's not what I've heard from our school administrators, but I'm sure it varies from place to place. 

 

There's actually a parallel discussion at the CHE forums on how to get to administrative positions, with a focus on an EdD background that you might find relevant. 

 

I'm assuming you're in a field that has terminal masters? None of the fields I'm familiar with would tenure someone with a MS/MA, and I'm also not familiar with any position that would put someone in a Chair/Dean position without being a full tenured professor. 

[ZeChocMoose]

The EdD is actually used quite often to get faculty into chair or dean positions -- it just depends on the school. So far two of my cohort have made the move from full time faculty to dean after we reached doctoral candidacy.

This seems really atypical of what I have witnessed at working at a couple of R1 institutions. Are you attending a non-research university? Did these people have terminal degrees in other fields? If that is the case, it seems like they are leaning more on the terminal degree than the 1/2 completed education doctoral degree. And how are your cohort mates who (if I understand you correctly) are full-time faculty members also completing a full-time EdD program? That seems extremely taxing...

Higher ed admin has all types of jobs (as I am sure you know). Typically, people choose a particular area and then stick with that area for their career. I think trying to simultaneously prepare for IR and a curriculum development job is going be extremely difficult as these are completely different skill sets. Does your program allow you to do internships? I would suggest completing an internship or two in different offices that you would like to work in so you can better figure out what direction to move in.

[AdjunctOverload]

This seems really atypical of what I have witnessed at working at a couple of R1 institutions. Are you attending a non-research university? Did these people have terminal degrees in other fields? If that is the case, it seems like they are leaning more on the terminal degree than the 1/2 completed education doctoral degree. And how are your cohort mates who (if I understand you correctly) are full-time faculty members also completing a full-time EdD program? That seems extremely taxing...

 

Yes, I agree it would be atypical at an R-1.  One dean is at a UG and masters-level university (not an R-1) and the other is at a CC.  There's only one R-1 in the area and I'm not aiming for it.  I'll probably aim for a big/multicampus CC, a SLAC (private and/or religiously affiliated), or a university (non- R1) setting when I fully get out on the market.

 

The Ed.D. program I'm attending is not ranked (nationally) and is designed to accommodate full-time professionals in higher ed.  Most of us work full-time as tenured/FT permanent instructors, student affairs professionals, or administrators at nearby institutions.  I'm not sure if I would define the program as FT by traditional standards, but if we finish "on time" we would be done in four years (and a masters is required to enter the program).  Some of us have a terminal masters in a completely unrelated field (like myself), most have 2-year masters degrees, and we have three JDs in the program.  I'm not sure if the JDs intended to do a dual doctorate or if it's a reflection of the law field's glut...

 

This type of program doesn't work for everyone, but it works pretty well for me (since I have no personal life anyway and I can schedule the classes I teach around the class I take as a student).

[rising_star]

I've seen what you're talking about, AdjunctOverload, but only in student affairs. At my R1, the acting Vice Provost of Student Affairs was actually working on her doctorate at the time and her ability to get the position permanently was basically contingent on the degree. It actually made her a really good advocate for grad student issues since she was taking courses with grad students and thus was more familiar with some of the issues that crop up. Basically, she had worked her way up through student affairs with a master's degree, then realized that for any subsequent promotions she'd need the doctorate so she enrolled in the university's higher ed doctoral program. I'm not sure if that's relevant anecdata to you though, since it's student affairs, rather than the academic side of things.

[Eigen]

I've seen the same thing as Rising Star- this happening in student affairs, not academic affairs. Maybe also in the more administrative positions in academic affairs (IR, for example). But for those, you wouldn't go the faculty route at all- you'd get an MEd/MS/MA and then work in administration, usually starting at a low level and moving up, maybe at the same time as an EdD. But it's the work experience that's crucial there. 

 

I can see the possibility at a CC, maybe, but with the number of PhDs on the market this is getting less and less likely as time goes on. Even the regional R2s (and R3s) I know of, as well as SLACs would want someone with a PhD for a chair/dean/provost/assistant provost type position. 

 

All of those positions hold positions of power over faculty, and most have some say in tenuring faculty. As such, generally only people with "easy" tenure cases that have been tenured and are respected faculty/researchers get those positions, as it makes less friction down the road. 

 

Again, even at a CC, I think you'd need to be FT/TT and have a senior rank before being promoted up, if the institution doesn't have tenure. 

 

I haven't seen this issue posted on the CHE forums- I'd still strongly recommend posting there. You'll get a range of administrators from all over the US at all different types of institutions. 

[ferd]

While I wouldn't mind teaching in a higher ed department, but those positions are really difficult to get.  I'm more interested, at this point, in a director of institutional research-type of position.  Or possibly being part of a curriculum development or policy making department (institution-wide) sounds interesting.  (Who am I kidding? I'd be interested in just about any position on the academic affairs side).

 

With an Ed.D., the educational requirements are met.  I'm starting to think that applying interim positions and being available for emergency hires would be the way to go for getting the required experience.

This may not be your cup of tea, but I'd also encourage looking at non-traditional schools. A place like Phoenix/Capella/Walden. I worked at a place like that. It was NOT the right institutional fit for me, but career wise it was fantastic. The IR department was involved in some pretty advanced analytics, they are generally open to people from outside education, and it can open some doors. I had the opportunity to switch from there to a community college setting, a better fit, but only after I got the experience. Obviously your mileage may vary and there could be some stigma to this path. Good luck!