Progeny

If you're like me, you have welcomed the thought of sending your academic progeny out into the world, to build careers of their own and perpetuate some small aspect of your own worldview in your particular academic discipline.  As a large and (at least historically) highly regarded institution of higher learning, the U of A should expect to populate the other universities and colleges of Canada with its graduates.  In fact, there has been a substantial push to increase our graduate enrollment over the last few years, part of the benighted "top 20 by 2020" pipe dream.

But is it ethical to take in and educate ever more graduate students at a time like this?  Despite the ticking demographic time bomb of the aging professoriate in Canadian advanced education, there do not seem to be very many opportunities for young would-be academics.  Even in the case those who are fortunate enough to secure a position, should we encourage them?  The current trend seems to be towards a dissolution of the implied social compact, in which excellent teaching and research were reciprocated with good standard of living, some job security, and an ability to focus on what one does best.  Universities seem to be constantly engaging in trickle-down economics, farming out to departments or even individual professors many of the things that they used to provide.  (A somewhat trivial, but very telling, example is shredding of old exams, which used to be done by our University, but now has to be contracted to outside vendors and paid for out of departmental operating funds.)  More and more forms are required, with no help on the faculty side, but presumably an ever increasing number of functionaries to generate them within the administrative bureaucracy.  Faculty salaries are not coming close to keeping up with the cost of living. Federal research funding is flat or perhaps decreasing slightly.  Is this going to be a good life for those who manage to crack into it?

So, my question is, what are you telling your best students, those who could compete for good jobs anywhere?  Are you encouraging them to consider academics?  Law school?  Or perhaps they should aim for administration, a field with seemingly unlimited growth potential, and no accountability.

On Mobility

I imagine part of the dynamic in the present contract negotiations is a confidence on the part of the administration that disgruntled faculty members have few options--as in, "If you don't like what we're offering, why don't you see what you can get at another university?"  This is based in part on some magical thinking about how U of A salaries compare to those of our peer institutions in Canada and the US, and perhaps partly based on a systemic disrespect for the quality of our faculty.  The former is easily addressable via Statistics Canada, but what about the latter?

My reason for suggesting that our quality is not appreciated can be seen in the University's repeated focus on recruiting "real stars" to Alberta--the clear implication is that this is something we lack.  Of course, how many stars are going to be attracted to an institution that is laying off staff and squeezing faculty salaries?  These are not the hallmarks of a vibrant academy with a bright future among the "top 20," whether in 2020 or some other time.  Instead, what I foresee if some of the less favorable scenarios come to pass is the departure of a number of our excellent faculty--stars, if you will--who are, in fact, quite movable.  These are people who have built successful careers here, raised the profile of the University, and remained despite various negatives (iffy funding commitments from a capricious government; -40 days in winter; no mountains or oceans nearby) out of loyalty or some expectation that long-term prospects for the institution are good in an oil-rich province.  These notions will be put to the test in the near future.

The fact is, there are many outstanding faculty at the U of A who receive regular inquiries from other universities, and some of whom are lost even in the best of times through either an unbeatable offer or personal reasons driving a move from Edmonton.  It will be interesting to see if there is a measurable uptick in departures among this elite group in the next couple of years.  So, my question to you, the reader:  have you recently updated your CV?  Do you actively contemplate putting yourself on the market?

First Things First

Here at the University of Alberta, we're living through some nerve-rattling times.  We have an administration that seems to alternate between ham-handed authoritarianism and duplicitous platitudes, while undoubtedly being leaned on by a borderline inept government thrown into chaos by the abdication of the Premier after a surprise attack by a fifth column on the right flank.  For academic staff, their salary for the next three years is under negotiation, and despite the U of A's mediocre compensation relative to other major universities in Canada, there is reason to believe that staff will be asked to settle for 0% cost of living increases at a time when the inflation rate in Alberta approaches 3%, though a news blackout on the negotiation means they won't find out for sure until the proposal is up for vote.  Many of us who work at the University feel powerless and completely unappreciated.

It is with this situation in mind that I have decided to create this blog--mainly as a forum for my own ramblings, but also as an opportunity for others to share their concerns or tidbits of information.  In this respect, I am inspired by Jeremy Richards' excellent blog Whither the U of A?  This is not meant to duplicate his effort, but perhaps provide an alternative forum, especially for those who are impatient about commenting.  While I completely understand Jeremy's position on comment moderation, I am reflexively free speech in my thinking, and with the veil of partial anonymity accorded by blogger, I will permit people to comment without prior inspection.  However, please note that I will always reserve the right to delete any comment that I consider defamatory or offensive.

I hope that some will choose to visit this nascent site, and offer up their insights to the rest of us.