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In the next two years at my current university, we're facing anywhere from a 7% to 27% budget cut and planning for 15%, which means layoffs, no new hires, some pay cuts, and much, much larger class sizes. I'm basically going to be teaching twice as many students as I usually do for the same or less pay, and I've been asked if I can give up my phone line, stop using any paper or printer ink, etc. And of course this is all expected to be done without compromising the quality of a college education. I don't know that it's going to get better any time soon; our admins have told us to get ready for at least 5 years of extremely tight budgets. That's not good for PhDs still in the pipeline, because what will the already crappy job market look like?
I know lots of people, many of them in my own family, think that college profs teach a few classes, sit in fancy offices when they want, and travel the world during the summer. Maybe some do, but I work year-round, 60-70hrs/wk, for less money than a high school teacher in the area makes in 9 months. When I was promoted, I didn't get a penny more in salary. I teach because I love it and I'm reasonably good at it, but it really is starting to get to the point where I will have to look outside of the academy.
In terms of college savings, DP and I have tried to set aside $25 each month, per likely college-bound child, which is 4 out of our 5. She had $9K saved over the past 10 years but her ex spent it. So now, instead of having money to pay for a year or two of community college, the oldest kids are going to have to work and attend school possibly part-time. My university offers no tuition breaks or perks to children of faculty, so my one biological child also will be headed to community college unless he earns a major scholarship AND really likes to learn. If he doesn't like studying and learning, a 4-year college is a complete waste of time and money--and I say that after teaching at such institutions since 1996!!!
I don't remember your DP's field of study, but I hope it's something in high demand all over the United States so when she graduates, y'all have your pick of awesome jobs in great places
I am rolling on the floor reading this! The university I work at is, fortunately private and rather prestigious, so they rake in the tuition and MOST permanent staff get paid well enough. We do rely on a lot of graduate students, but we have a lot of temporary staff too. I feel sorry for them, but again most of them are not that qualified anyway. I get to travel, but only because my husband owns his own company and he pays for it. However we are a "research" facility so full time staff is expected to canvas for grants to complete research and to become published. The only reason I started taking classes to teach was for the discount for my kids. They will still be attending community college to start. (Our COA is currently $51,500.) And every semester I am getting told to "teach just one more class" and that's not what I signed up for. I am forced to be available to student in my office twice a week, which is a delight since the Anthropology department is officially located in a dungeon of a million year old building. None of the students ever come down to consult with any of us, because as they put it, "it smells like cat pee" plus most students get lost down there and when they find their ways out they never go back. Next year the university is instructing students that a laptop is a necessary tool for success. We were instructed to provide all course documents only in the form of PDF's. I'm waiting for the day we go in and find we've been assigned printing cards like the students get and we have like 200 sheets of printing available per class or something.
And the job market for a PhD candidate, depending on the degree of course, isn't that bad. DP already has interest from a couple of big research schools. My only concern is moving to a weird state. We are already gearing up to move in 2 or 3 years for her to relocate and work at a research based university.
I know in the grand scheme of things we are lucky she has a job and that she is not threatened with losing it at this point in time. The loss in pay is just not going to be easy to deal with. It is going to make our lives a little more tricky! And, I don't think I'd be nearly as upset if the President and other execs. Also, got a pay cut or at least a pay freeze. ANYTHING but a pay raise...when they already make 4-5 times what the faculty makes. President makes $234/yr. Plus a housing stipend of $2200/month and a vehicle stipend of $600/month. So, on top of an outrageous salary, her house and car get paid for too! And if they hadn't spent a million dollars on stupid granite signs (which btw-the college made a national magazine for misspending in times of economic hardship, for these million dollar signs), for the millions in sports (again, in the magazine for misspending), because this was budget money, this was not specified money. (sometimes, you know someone leaves the school money for baseball or lacrosse...not in this case, this was budget money).
So, I guess that is why I am irritated. The school has money for all the other stuff but not to at least keep the faculty checks the same. It is just so irritating.
And DP is a born teacher. It is all she has ever wanted to do. She wouldn't continue to do it if it weren't for that 1 out of 100 students that shows some gratitude and appreciation. Right now she is teaching developmental courses and most of the kids don't have any desire to be there. So, the 1 or 2 that do...that's what makes it worth it for her.