Community Forums

Forest Grump · 02-04-2008, 08:06 AM

Mother nature forced me to retire earlier than planned by 9 years so the finances are always tight now that we both are retired. Buying a big chunk of Apple when it was $9 a share and our home in Big Bear when it was really a value has helped immensely, but. I've been on SSDI which limits your income to crap or just below crap now that I am 65 I can earn more and not have to worry about losing the medical benefits.

I taught at the college level back in the 70's after getting out of Grad School waiting for a full time job to pop up.

On the iNet I saw where several local Community Colleges in our area were seeking actively Biology and Chemistry Adjunct instructors. The pay varies greatly from school to school. It just so happened the best pay was just down the hill with the most openings. So I filled out the application, sent for transcripts and sent it all in waiting for the call.

Normally I taught Microbiology but they had that covered. Micro and Biology teachers are hard to keep because when a full time job opens in the CA system the young guys jump and take them. I'm not young and haven't jumped since the fire.

The cal came last week they had two Bio Course filled with no instructor. Rules say you can teach only two in one semester once every 3 years and since I used to teach 2 -4 per quarter I said I'd take both the sections. They called and got special permission quickly so I will be teaching two sections of the same course 3 partial days a week at $51/contact hour (Bio courses have long labs).

So this term I will work 3 partial days a week and from then on one to two partial days per week. Within a year I will have all credit to zero including the new CRV.

Just because we have a disability does not mean we can not work, some. This is perfect for me and I would assume for others of you out there who might just have that MS or MA degree hanging around. Check with you local colleges, they need help and teaching is something I've always loved and enjoyed. My scooter is ready and I will have all the holidays, off days and summer to RV.

Forest Grump · 02-04-2008, 08:06 AM

Mother nature forced me to retire earlier than planned by 9 years so the finances are always tight now that we both are retired. Buying a big chunk of Apple when it was $9 a share and our home in Big Bear when it was really a value has helped immensely, but. I've been on SSDI which limits your income to crap or just below crap now that I am 65 I can earn more and not have to worry about losing the medical benefits.

I taught at the college level back in the 70's after getting out of Grad School waiting for a full time job to pop up.

On the iNet I saw where several local Community Colleges in our area were seeking actively Biology and Chemistry Adjunct instructors. The pay varies greatly from school to school. It just so happened the best pay was just down the hill with the most openings. So I filled out the application, sent for transcripts and sent it all in waiting for the call.

Normally I taught Microbiology but they had that covered. Micro and Biology teachers are hard to keep because when a full time job opens in the CA system the young guys jump and take them. I'm not young and haven't jumped since the fire.

The cal came last week they had two Bio Course filled with no instructor. Rules say you can teach only two in one semester once every 3 years and since I used to teach 2 -4 per quarter I said I'd take both the sections. They called and got special permission quickly so I will be teaching two sections of the same course 3 partial days a week at $51/contact hour (Bio courses have long labs).

So this term I will work 3 partial days a week and from then on one to two partial days per week. Within a year I will have all credit to zero including the new CRV.

Just because we have a disability does not mean we can not work, some. This is perfect for me and I would assume for others of you out there who might just have that MS or MA degree hanging around. Check with you local colleges, they need help and teaching is something I've always loved and enjoyed. My scooter is ready and I will have all the holidays, off days and summer to RV.

george henry · 02-04-2008, 05:41 PM

A mind is a terible thing to waste.I wish you all the success to you.Happy scootering

RV Wizard · 02-05-2008, 12:02 AM

Forest Grump, CONGRATULATIONS

. Good luck and keep us posted when you have the time.

Joe-K · 02-05-2008, 02:05 AM

Congratulations on the job

It's great to hear that you are able to get back into the profession that you enjoy.

bsavage · 02-05-2008, 02:14 PM

Congratulations to you! I am a real estate broker, certified instructor, and real estate education provider, and teaching is without question the most fun! It sounds like you have a great plan doing something you love and will allow you to live well! (While providing a great service to your students)... Hooray!

Brenda, of...

full-timer · 02-06-2008, 05:18 AM

Looks like good things come your way,be thankful and happy.

Joe

jfb · 02-06-2008, 06:31 PM

Commuity colleges, along with the WWII era GI Bill, is/are the best thing(s) that have ever happened to US eucation. Deserving students benefit from the best instructors with their can-do attitudes....

Forest Grump · 02-07-2008, 10:32 AM

Update:

Like other public agencies I have learned that the Community College is a public agency and seems to have inherited all of the inflictions. I have been given 4 different teaching proposals. The section numbers and course times are incorrect in their systems so as to date and number, they have not presented me with a correct suitable contract to sign.

Last night I emailed the chair to see where we stand and she did reply and hoped they would have the correct and suitable contract ready for signing at the orientation on Friday. I informed her I knew nothing of any such orientation so don't count on it.

There is also a meeting this PM for 2 hours that I should attend because it has to do with the new "smart rooms" in their new building and how to use all the modern technology. It's Windows and PC's - power point oh my God. I guess I'l need to get a new Mac notebook to plug in so I can do what they expect.

So let's see so far I've been to two interviews, both stood up, the third was a show, to the interview to sign the contract - also screwed up no acceptable contract, to the orientation meeting that night - screwed up because I have no contract and absolutely no idea about where or what MIS is. They say that is important.

Class starts Monday. I have no keys, I have no email or phone contact, I have no contract, I have no idea where the mail room is to pick up my mail, I have no method to get into the computer to check class rosters, and I still have not been informed of any meeting tomorrow but did discover that they want me at the new building tonight to learn how to use something operated with Microsoft.

Each time I do one of these I travel 40 miles down the mountain and then 40 miles back up the mountain. This takes fuel and risk.

So this is what I really know. I know that after 65 years of life experience you can sit back and just enjoy the parade because it probably won't get any better so have fun with it. I shall. I will even give them a grade for their efforts so far - a F.

What I also know is that I am well educated and well versed in my field, speak English without an foreign accent, know how to present material in an orderly and efficient manner, can teach and expect to do a fine job once they get their acts together allowing me to do the above.

If this had happened in industry, the private sector or especially the oilfield any single item above would have been a show stopper. They would be out of business.

We shall see what adventure is up next. I do have an app in to one of their competitors on the other side of the hill just in case, pay is better, distance is shorter and they have openings. However during inclement conditions it would help to have some form of belief system.

This is meant to make people laugh, I am. Makes us old folks look pretty competent.

bsavage · 02-08-2008, 05:57 AM

Wow, sounds like they need an "organizational expert". Yikes! Good luck!

Brenda, of...

jfb · 02-08-2008, 06:31 PM

Your experience both astounds and depresses me. I've been out of the WA CC system for 12 years and prior to my retirement, it was my observation, at least where I was, that the part time instructor was a significant part of the backbone of the institution and contributed significantly to the institution's comprhensiveness, flexibility and stability and therefore, student success.

Someone, I don't recall who, once commented along the line that some people can only rise/raise to their level of incompeticancy. Perhaps that is what you have come up against in waiting to secure your position. Tell someone who cares?

Gary M. Smith · 02-08-2008, 07:12 PM

Forest,

It sounds like you are running into the failure of your proposed employer to observe the proverbial principle of the 7P's.

Good Luck!

Forest Grump · 02-09-2008, 08:16 AM

The coordination for the course called me yesterday. He lives out of state and the course has 10 sections. He said there were problems in which sections were filled and who to staff them. Some said yes and then said no. Meanwhile what I got was the garbage being the new guy.

I saw the secretary to the Dean Thurs. and said they hoped they would have a contract ready to sign before class began Monday evening. The dpt. chair has said in an email I will teach section x with labs but this is the 4th different version which to me in my infinite wisdom means it has no more veracity that the other 3 did.

From my point of view I am not sure if it's me or if its course issues that is holding things up.

I told the secretary that according to College Rules that I would not teach without a contract or even show up in the classroom. She said she thought if the contract wasn't ready I should just start.

The coordinator thinks I should just start and the contract would follow but the rule are pretty clear and I am not to sure of the liability issues. I have no ID, no keys, no campus contact number, no campus email but I do have a parking pass. The building I will be in is new and high security.

Meanwhile I have many hours of prep work just to coordinate the course presentation on a calendar along with the lab schedule for the days the course is offer and what material the students will need for each class.

Each lecture has an option of several different Power Point Presentations which I have to download to a mac notebook, which does not exist yet. The new smart building is Dell and Microsoft, is dysfunctional and is slower than a desert tortoise. Something I couldn't stand being a Mac user. Computer projection, smart boards, white boards are the thing now in the classroom. The staff refers to the video connectors as "these puppies" which as a scientist is pretty hard for me to decipher.

Mac uses DVI and mini DVI, the puppy upon further questioning was a serial VGA - 30 years old. The Dean on Tues. said to be at a meeting next Thursday. Well to me the Thurs day in two days is "this Thursday or Thursday" and the next Thursday would be the one following that. So I asked exactly what is a next Thursday, you know even dates are avialable for descriptive purposes.

Then I have to read and reread both the books backward and forward before the class.

So what do you do spend more time 16 hours so far and 320 miles of driving or as a retired business man learn when to cut your losses. I put in about 6 hours yesterday getting the class schedules in order and the lab schedule and am working with the syllabus. Then again I am not sure if I am doing for the right class should I teach.

The President of the College just issued a new Vision Statement - I will be sending here a letter soon for an addition Timeliness and Decisiveness.

Toby · 02-09-2008, 09:05 AM

FG

Congrats on being able to do what you like/want to do. Being a retired Personnel Director I saw many individuals who locked themselves into a job they did not like and was stuck financially into staying with the work. Further, I found many individuals found that retirement was not for them. DO WHAT YOU LIKE! is my motto. We can only travel this world one time, so make it as happy as one can.

On reflection, I remember that many of my Profs in college were so impressed with themselves that they forgot their primary purpose in life and apparently felt they had to try and see how many students they could flunk out. Many profs actually made learning interesting. While others (my impression) were so impressed with their knowledge that they never presented their lectures in such a way that students actually learned (and retained) much other than how to pass the exams. Many of my classes I passed because of the expensive books I had to study. (another grip - Certain dept heads would add a few paragraphs to a book and have republished and make students buy new ones rather than used books at an inflated price.

I hope you go ahead and begin teaching and let the paper work catch up with you since you apparently like teaching so much. And, I hope you are one of those profs who teaches with the students in mind and make it a joy to come to class. s/Toby