On Not Leaving Academia « Beki’s Blog
July 27, 2012 at 3:35 am 4 comments
The letter from University of New Mexico CS professor leaving academia is depressing. It rings all too true. Beki’s response buoyed me up, and made me think (yet again, as I did earlier this week) that I do appreciate my job — and being a teacher for me (like Beki) is the best part of it.
An article written by a faculty member who is leaving academia for Google has been circulating on Facebook. I agree in parts with what he is saying, but I am not going to leave academia (I should add that I am a tenured professor, like—I believe—the author of the original piece). Here, for what its worth, are my thoughts. I’ve organized them around some of the same sub-headings.
via On Not Leaving Academia « Beki’s Blog.
Entry filed under: Uncategorized. Tags: academia, jobs, perception of university, teachers.
1.
Terran Lane | July 27, 2012 at 9:46 am
University of New Mexico, actually, not New Mexico State.
And, yes, I was tenured at UNM. I completely understand reasons for *not* leaving. It was an incredibly hard decision for me, and it could well have gone the other way. As it turns out, though, it was the right decision for me, personally, at this time. But I applaud people who decide to stay, even in the face of some of the frustrations I outlined.
2.
Mark Guzdial | July 27, 2012 at 12:09 pm
Thanks, Terran — I’ve fixed it.
3.
beki70 | July 27, 2012 at 11:59 am
thanks Mark. Now was a particularly good time to write this piece. Our newest students are just starting to arrive at campus with their parents. I see looks of excitement and a little trepidation on the students faces, and looks of pride, perhaps with a mixture about the impending realization that their daughter or son is leaving home on the part of the parents. And that reminds me of what an awesome privilege it is to have these opportunities, to the parents for sending their students and trusting us, and for the students to want to come, to believe in what we do.
4. To Leave or Not To Leave (Academia) « Nick Falkner | July 27, 2012 at 2:32 pm
[...] been making the rounds from a University of New Mexico academic who is leaving to go to Google. Mark has blogged on it, and linked to a more positive post that reinforces why you would stay in the job, but my reaction [...]