Exodus of Faculty

[T-Dog]

http://www2.wataugademocrat.com/News/st ... -id-014937

Tim Burwell, vice provost for resource management in the Office of Academic Affairs, told the Senate on April 28 that 21 faculty members have left or have indicated they are leaving for non-retirement reasons since the 2012-13 academic year. Of those, he said, 15 faculty members expressed no desire for a counter-offer from ASU.

But figures from Anthony Calamai, dean of the university's largest college, the College of Arts and Sciences, are even higher. Calamai said that 22 faculty have said they are leaving the college this year alone. That's up from five last year, four in 2011-12, four in 2010-11 and four in 2009-10 -- "from the best we can tell," he said. "As you go further back, we could be missing one or two."

Cuts in UNC system funding, growing cost of living in the High Country and lack of pay-raises are some of the culprits, but could this issue dig deeper? I'm sure the faculty's favorite provost Lori Gonzales belongs in the conversation as well. Is it just a vocal minority that's getting fed up with the other side having the leverage or is it a bigger issue?

[Rekdiver]

What is average turnover? This has everything to do with state budget cuts. Proportionate departures are happening in public schools...and for non retirement reasons.

[sonsofyosef]

Anyone know what's behind the Dean of the College of Education stepping down after only 9 months on the job??

[Maddog1956]

What is average turnover? This has everything to do with state budget cuts. Proportionate departures are happening in public schools...and for non retirement reasons.

I don't know, but I'd like to see the results of an exit survey. I'm sure HR gives one, if they don't they have real problems. To one time employees tell you the truth is when they are leaving.

[asu66]

Anyone know what's behind the Dean of the College of Education stepping down after only 9 months on the job??

That's a pretty big news story; and I haven't seen it reported in print anywhere. Please clue us in.

[ASUPATCH]

Real Estate in Boone is so expensive. The difference between what 200,000 buy you in Boone compared to Charlotte, Greensboro, Winston, Asheville Chapel Hill is astounding. Professors at other Universities are living high on the hog while in Boone they are just doing well. I'm sure they visit and see the homes of their former Doctorate pals and get very envious.

[Dmanuhone]

http://www2.wataugademocrat.com/News/st ... -id-014937

[Maddog1956]

Real Estate in Boone is so expensive. The difference between what 200,000 buy you in Boone compared to Charlotte, Greensboro, Winston, Asheville Chapel Hill is astounding. Professors at other Universities are living high on the hog while in Boone they are just doing well. I'm sure they visit and see the homes of their former Doctorate pals and get very envious.

They must not be Business Professors then, I would want to buy in a place that I could sell for $$$ more than I paid years ago. According to Turlia "Compared to the same period one year ago, the median home sales price increased 18.9%, or $35,500". There is an upside to being in a strong housing market.

Unless they are selling while the market is up in boone and down in other places.

[WataugaMan]

Speaking of High Country Real Estate, my brother bought a house in the Vilas area last year (a foreclosure) for $219K. He had some work done, did a lot of it himself, and recently the house was appraised at $450K. There are deals out there, just have to do some digging.

[ASUPATCH]

Real Estate in Boone is so expensive. The difference between what 200,000 buy you in Boone compared to Charlotte, Greensboro, Winston, Asheville Chapel Hill is astounding. Professors at other Universities are living high on the hog while in Boone they are just doing well. I'm sure they visit and see the homes of their former Doctorate pals and get very envious.

They must not be Business Professors then, I would want to buy in a place that I could sell for $$$ more than I paid years ago. According to Turlia "Compared to the same period one year ago, the median home sales price increased 18.9%, or $35,500". There is an upside to being in a strong housing market.

Unless they are selling while the market is up in boone and down in other places.

Unfortunatly you have to buy into that market first.

[clayton]

I doubt this has a lot to do with the cost of living in Boone.

Sure, it's higher than a lot of places in North Carolina. But, if a professor comes from a big city outside of the state, they won't blink at the cost of living in Boone and there's a good chance it'll be a lot lower than what they've seen.

Besides, the cost of living in Boone did not explode over the past 12 months.

[Maddog1956]

Speaking of High Country Real Estate, my brother bought a house in the Vilas area last year (a foreclosure) for $219K. He had some work done, did a lot of it himself, and recently the house was appraised at $450K. There are deals out there, just have to do some digging.

There you go!

In all fairness however, I did read a post by one of the professors that said he was leaving and he did say the housing market was part of it. He said he came with a Phd and started at $50 and six years later is making $52, that's pretty bad for a Phd. He taught Planning and I would think that you'd start in a planning department at least at $65-$75k.

Personally I think with NC and Watauga County becoming so much more conservative there will be a certain drain in Boone. Just by nature Phd's tend to lean to the left.

[ASUPATCH]

I doubt this has a lot to do with the cost of living in Boone.

Sure, it's higher than a lot of places in North Carolina. But, if a professor comes from a big city outside of the state, they won't blink at the cost of living in Boone and there's a good chance it'll be a lot lower than what they've seen.

Besides, the cost of living in Boone did not explode over the past 12 months.

My family is considering a move to Denver Colorado due to our housing market. Also offering me a 50% over my current position. Yes you can get a lot more house in Denver or its suburbs than you can Boone with a similar lifestyle(mountains etc). Atlanta, Miami, Orlando, Nashville, Dallas, Houston, Tampa, Las Vegas, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Minneapolis, OKC and many others are much cheaper. Outside of the usual suspects, Mass, NYC, DC and California, the high country is one of the more expensive places in the nation to call home.

[asu66]

The NC General Assembly made this mess; and it''ll have to be the body to fix it. But it all boils down to the polling places in November. NC citizens elected the bums; and it'll be up to them (us) to throw 'em out.

The UNC Board of Governors hasn't helped anything with faculty salaries--unless it feathered more caps in Chapel Hill.

[Maddog1956]

I doubt this has a lot to do with the cost of living in Boone.

Sure, it's higher than a lot of places in North Carolina. But, if a professor comes from a big city outside of the state, they won't blink at the cost of living in Boone and there's a good chance it'll be a lot lower than what they've seen.

Besides, the cost of living in Boone did not explode over the past 12 months.

My family is considering a move to Denver Colorado due to our housing market. Also offering me a 50% over my current position. Yes you can get a lot more house in Denver or its suburbs than you can Boone with a similar lifestyle(mountains etc). Atlanta, Miami, Orlando, Nashville, Dallas, Houston, Tampa, Las Vegas, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Minneapolis, OKC and many others are much cheaper. Outside of the usual suspects, Mass, NYC, DC and California, the high country is one of the more expensive places in the nation to call home.

You might be right, I know averages don't tell the whole story, but housing for professors usually are more in more demanded areas and according to Trulia here are some averages.

The median sales price for homes in Denver CO for Jan 14 to Apr 14 was $255,500
The median sales price for homes in Boone NC for Jan 14 to Apr 14 was $223,000

Average Price Per Sqft. for Homes in Denver = $248
Average Price Per Sqft. for Homes in Denver = $170

The average listing price for Denver homes for sale on Trulia was $500,731
The average listing price for Boone homes for sale on Trulia was $358,340

[ASUPATCH]

I doubt this has a lot to do with the cost of living in Boone.

Sure, it's higher than a lot of places in North Carolina. But, if a professor comes from a big city outside of the state, they won't blink at the cost of living in Boone and there's a good chance it'll be a lot lower than what they've seen.

Besides, the cost of living in Boone did not explode over the past 12 months.

My family is considering a move to Denver Colorado due to our housing market. Also offering me a 50% over my current position. Yes you can get a lot more house in Denver or its suburbs than you can Boone with a similar lifestyle(mountains etc). Atlanta, Miami, Orlando, Nashville, Dallas, Houston, Tampa, Las Vegas, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Minneapolis, OKC and many others are much cheaper. Outside of the usual suspects, Mass, NYC, DC and California, the high country is one of the more expensive places in the nation to call home.

You might be right, I know averages don't tell the whole story, but housing for professors usually are more in more demanded areas and according to Trulia here are some averages.

The median sales price for homes in Denver CO for Jan 14 to Apr 14 was $255,500
The median sales price for homes in Boone NC for Jan 14 to Apr 14 was $223,000

Average Price Per Sqft. for Homes in Denver = $248
Average Price Per Sqft. for Homes in Denver = $170

The average listing price for Denver homes for sale on Trulia was $500,731
The average listing price for Boone homes for sale on Trulia was $358,340

Let me restate, the greater Denver Metro Area which I consider Denver is much cheaper. Denver proper is very small size wise. Yes if I want a high rise condo downtown it will be pricey. I have two kids and a dog, I will be in the suburbs where 250-300 buys far more house than it does in Boone. Sales price also doesn't tell the whole story. In Boone if I spend 250 I have to remodel a kitchen and two bathrooms as the home are much older and in greater need a repair/updating. For 250 out there I would need to simply move my furniture in as new construction is the norm.

[Maddog1956]

Let me restate, the greater Denver Metro Area which I consider Denver is much cheaper. Denver proper is very small size wise. Yes if I want a high rise condo downtown it will be pricey. I have two kids and a dog, I will be in the suburbs where 250-300 buys far more house than it does in Boone.

Like I said, you could be right I don't have first hand experience.

[ASUPATCH]

Let me restate, the greater Denver Metro Area which I consider Denver is much cheaper. Denver proper is very small size wise. Yes if I want a high rise condo downtown it will be pricey. I have two kids and a dog, I will be in the suburbs where 250-300 buys far more house than it does in Boone.

Like I said, you could be right I don't have first hand experience.

Even if all things were equal price wise working in the public sector in the State of NC is a losing battle and I have done it long enough to learn my lesson. Other states actually reward things like length of service and having a degree. NC would prefer to hire the next kid out of college and string them along until they realize they will never see a raise or be able to afford to retire. In Law Enforcement most departments do step plans. Very few departments in NC take part in this practice, only getting minor raises if given the chance to promote to a higher rank. Sad state of affairs and I love me some NC.

[WataugaMan]

Speaking of High Country Real Estate, my brother bought a house in the Vilas area last year (a foreclosure) for $219K. He had some work done, did a lot of it himself, and recently the house was appraised at $450K. There are deals out there, just have to do some digging.

There you go!

In all fairness however, I did read a post by one of the professors that said he was leaving and he did say the housing market was part of it. He said he came with a Phd and started at $50 and six years later is making $52, that's pretty bad for a Phd. He taught Planning and I would think that you'd start in a planning department at least at $65-$75k.

Personally I think with NC and Watauga County becoming so much more conservative there will be a certain drain in Boone. Just by nature Phd's tend to lean to the left.

Wow, only started at $50k and currently only earning $52K, un-damn-real!! With his experience $100k and over would seems more like it.

[Kgfish]

http://www2.wataugademocrat.com/News/st ... -id-014937

Tim Burwell, vice provost for resource management in the Office of Academic Affairs, told the Senate on April 28 that 21 faculty members have left or have indicated they are leaving for non-retirement reasons since the 2012-13 academic year. Of those, he said, 15 faculty members expressed no desire for a counter-offer from ASU.

But figures from Anthony Calamai, dean of the university's largest college, the College of Arts and Sciences, are even higher. Calamai said that 22 faculty have said they are leaving the college this year alone. That's up from five last year, four in 2011-12, four in 2010-11 and four in 2009-10 -- "from the best we can tell," he said. "As you go further back, we could be missing one or two."

Cuts in UNC system funding, growing cost of living in the High Country and lack of pay-raises are some of the culprits, but could this issue dig deeper? I'm sure the faculty's favorite provost Lori Gonzales belongs in the conversation as well. Is it just a vocal minority that's getting fed up with the other side having the leverage or is it a bigger issue?

I'm fine with the turnover as long as it is the vocal minority causing all the troubles who is leaving. Not good if that bunch of nut jobs is chasing good professors off.