Today, May 17, 2024, is a big day in my career trajectory. This day marks the end of my original one-year, temporary, full-time faculty contract at College of DuPage (COD). This is the end of one of the biggest gambles I have ever taken, stepping down from tenure at Triton College to be a temp at COD. It seems like a good time to answer a frequently asked question, which takes many forms but essentially boils down to something like this:
"I thought you loved Triton College. Why make the switch?"
I do love Triton, and I'm not leaving entirely. But sometimes difficult decisions must be made for the sake of one's career and overall wellbeing. There are good reasons why I gave up a secure, tenured position -- with outstanding benefits -- for a temporary one with no certain future.
On the surface, there are some clear and easy ones, such as a substantial increase in income and a shorter, simpler, safer commute.
Digging a little deeper reveals more reasons: a merciful escape from the infeasible responsibility that derailed my career, an opportunity to become part of a dedicated, supportive team rather than flying solo, and a great deal of autonomy and flexibility in establishing my schedule.
But at the real heart of the matter is this: Triton's CIS programs are barely a fit for my expertise, while the CIS department at COD thoroughly embraces it.
At Triton, I was continually at risk of not meeting my required teaching load hours. There aren't many software development courses there, and the few they have are often cancelled due to low enrollment. I even created an all-new software development degree to compete with other similar institutions, give some of our courses a more suitable home, and create a space where I could fit in and contribute more meaningfully. However, this program has yet to really take off. Demand appears to be lower than I was led to believe through both qualitative and quantitative sources.
On the other hand, the Computer and Information Science department at College of DuPage completely centers around software development and game development -- my two great loves. There is no shortage of classes, so I will never run the risk of not meeting my load. In fact, I was overloaded last fall due to taking over sections that didn't have faculty. My time at Triton hindered my software work and completely severed me from my game dev side, and COD puts me in constant contact with these.
So, while Triton may occasionally let me glimpse my happy place from a distance, COD lets me live immersed in it. This is the real essence of why I took the risk and swapped my full-time and adjunct statuses with these two great colleges.
What does the future hold?
I will have a full-time, tenure-track position at COD starting in August. In less than two years from now, I'll have tenure in a department where I am a natural fit rather than a tangential one. My career has already begun recovery, as have my physical and mental health.
Life is good and getting better!
