How do university lecturers keep their jobs?
How do university lecturers keep their jobs?
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Four Cofffee

Original Poster:

11,838 posts

265 months

Friday 23rd April 2010
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Probably by being self controlled and responsible?

Last night I was invited by a business associate come lecturer to run an evneing session for his masters students.

Rows of scantily clad, doe eyes beauties from the 4 corners of the world with exotic skin tones and bodies hanging on his every word.

A cliche I know but either univerties must turn a blind eye to what goes on, or the staff room must put double doses of bromide in their tea. My collague assured me that he was never tempted but followed this up with a wry smile.

Greg_D

6,542 posts

276 months

Friday 23rd April 2010
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to save everyone searching
Like this, you mean

Greg

G20

2,202 posts

220 months

Friday 23rd April 2010
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I work at a university smile some of us get warned after 'rumours' go around though.

Greg_D

6,542 posts

276 months

Friday 23rd April 2010
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yeah, but i'll bet you have some absolutely FURIOUS wks when you get home, though!!!! wink

Greg

maser_spyder

6,356 posts

212 months

Friday 23rd April 2010
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Greg_D said:
to save everyone searching
Like this, you mean

Greg
I read Engineering.

None of my teacher looked like that. I wasn't tempted.




lawrence567

7,507 posts

220 months

Friday 23rd April 2010
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Do the same rules still apply at Uni's?
Say you have a mature student, say 32 & a university lecturer of around about the same age, under law is it still seen as abusing a position of trust etc?

monthefish

20,467 posts

261 months

Friday 23rd April 2010
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drivin_me_nuts

17,949 posts

241 months

Friday 23rd April 2010
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Intersting subject. Yep some do indeed have relationships and it causes huge stresses and accusations all round - from jealous peer groups to accusations of favouritism.

One thing it pretty much guarantees though if you are part of say science research is that the fkee can never get away from the comments that s/he slept with the boss and rarely gets taken seriously.

dxg

10,784 posts

290 months

Friday 23rd April 2010
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lawrence567 said:
Do the same rules still apply at Uni's?
Say you have a mature student, say 32 & a university lecturer of around about the same age, under law is it still seen as abusing a position of trust etc?
Speaking as a lecturer, it's not technically forbidden but severely frowned upon. Lots of ethical issues arise let alone moral ones...

In my field there are quite a few academic couples who met as researcher and PhD supervisor, however. But that's a whole other minefield...

Fer

7,774 posts

310 months

Friday 23rd April 2010
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Not got anything to add, but since I cannot risk those links at work I will check again tonight! biggrin

louismchuge

1,644 posts

214 months

Friday 23rd April 2010
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Fer said:
Not got anything to add, but since I cannot risk those links at work I will check again tonight! biggrin
wouldnt worry about them too much!

V8mate

45,899 posts

219 months

Friday 23rd April 2010
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They often keep their jobs simply by moving universities. They're not exactly pushed, moreso their head of department assists them in finding a 'more challenging role' elsewhere.

A bit like bishops moving their clergy between parishes when they get caught bumming boys.

drivin_me_nuts

17,949 posts

241 months

Friday 23rd April 2010
quotequote all
dxg said:
lawrence567 said:
Do the same rules still apply at Uni's?
Say you have a mature student, say 32 & a university lecturer of around about the same age, under law is it still seen as abusing a position of trust etc?
Speaking as a lecturer, it's not technically forbidden but severely frowned upon. Lots of ethical issues arise let alone moral ones...

In my field there are quite a few academic couples who met as researcher and PhD supervisor, however. But that's a whole other minefield...
I know a fair few. Big big messes in each and every case. The simple rule must be if you want a career in academia and want to be taken seriously, then definately don't shag the boss. You can never leave it behind - even twenty odd years later as I have seen in some cases.

ad551

1,502 posts

243 months

Friday 23rd April 2010
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Summer on campus is very good. smile

I work just opposite the netball court...

fadeaway

1,463 posts

256 months

Friday 23rd April 2010
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lawrence567 said:
Do the same rules still apply at Uni's?
Say you have a mature student, say 32 & a university lecturer of around about the same age, under law is it still seen as abusing a position of trust etc?
The law only applies where the student is under 18. Applies to anyone in a position of trust/authority over someone who is under 18 iirc - so would cover sports clubs, clubs/scouts/guides etc...

Tadite

560 posts

214 months

Friday 23rd April 2010
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Some institutions have set guidelines that you cannot be in a position of responsibility. Meaning he/she can't be in your major, class, or hopefully in your field.

Thing is if you do date the students it isn't good for your reputation and that type of detriment makes it increasingly rare. I've never seen it happen between professor and undergrad but have seen it between grad student and similarly aged prof... Even in that situation between people who had the same age it was not something that was easily accepted. Part of being a teacher of all types is that you have a responsibility for your students. Part of that is not putting yourself in a situation that could take advantage of them and as you often have much more power them them it can create problems very quickly.

In all honesty as a lecturer the students all start to look like kids after a while. It is amazing how young students start to look after a few years. I think it is best to keep the personal life and professional as separate as possible.

Academic jobs are insanely difficult to get. For example in Economics you should expect that for a normal young professor job 300+ applications of people who all have PhD's, publications, and experience. If you destroy your reputation at one location you in no way can just assume you will be able to get a job somewhere else. Why would they hire you when they can easily hire other people with equal abilities?


Four Cofffee

Original Poster:

11,838 posts

265 months

Friday 23rd April 2010
quotequote all
Tadite said:
Some institutions have set guidelines that you cannot be in a position of responsibility. Meaning he/she can't be in your major, class, or hopefully in your field.

Thing is if you do date the students it isn't good for your reputation and that type of detriment makes it increasingly rare. I've never seen it happen between professor and undergrad but have seen it between grad student and similarly aged prof... Even in that situation between people who had the same age it was not something that was easily accepted. Part of being a teacher of all types is that you have a responsibility for your students. Part of that is not putting yourself in a situation that could take advantage of them and as you often have much more power them them it can create problems very quickly.

In all honesty as a lecturer the students all start to look like kids after a while. It is amazing how young students start to look after a few years. I think it is best to keep the personal life and professional as separate as possible.

Academic jobs are insanely difficult to get. For example in Economics you should expect that for a normal young professor job 300+ applications of people who all have PhD's, publications, and experience. If you destroy your reputation at one location you in no way can just assume you will be able to get a job somewhere else. Why would they hire you when they can easily hire other people with equal abilities?
I reall that the policy in one university I worked at was that you an dip your wick 9altghough it is frowned upon) as long as you declare it and someone else marks their assignments.