The Academic Job Market in Technical Communication, 2002-2003    

Analysis of the academic job market in 2002-2003 reveals that 118 nationally advertised academic jobs named technical or professional communication as a primary or secondary specialization. Of the 56 in the "primary" category that we were able to contact, we identified 42 jobs filled, 10 unfilled, and 4 pending. However, only 29% of the jobs for which technical or professional communication was the primary specialization were filled by people with degrees in the field, and an even lower percent (25%) of all jobs, whether advertised for a primary or secondary specialization, were filled by people with degrees in the field. Search chairs report a higher priority on teaching and research potential than on a particular research specialization, and 62% of all filled positions involve teaching in related areas (composition, literature, or other writing courses).

Rude, Carolyn D. and Kelli Cargile Cook. Technical Communication Quarterly (2002). Careers>Academic>TC>History

Academic/Industry Relationships  

Technical Communication educators and professionals share one important concern: the future. The most important way in which both parties can shape the future is by working together to support the future technical communications community: students. STC’s Academic Industry Committee has developed a faculty internship to support direct connections between the faculty members who prepare student technical communicators and the companies who will employ them. These and other Academic Industry Committee projects are designed to bring the best of two groups working in one valuable goal and profession more closely and cooperatively together. The future depends on our work – together.

Fink, Bonnie L., Roger A. Grice, Sandra Harner, Deborah Rosenquist and Katherine E. Staples. STC Proceedings (1998). Careers>Academic>Collaboration

CPTSC Job Postings  

The following positions are open for application. If you have a position that you would like posted to the CPTSC web pages, please contact Bill Williamson at wj.williamson@uni.edu.

CPTSC. Careers>Job Listings>Academic

The PageMaker Guy  

Because technical communication involves the knowledge of technology, expertise is associated with anything practical. I've come to think about this battle in terms of what my colleague Allan Heaps used to call the PageMaker Guy. In practical terms, the PageMaker Guy is the person in an organization or a group who 'knows' how to use technology, who can fix other people's technological messes, or who sacrifices valuable research time helping other people use technology. The PageMaker Guy is a phenomenon for which a person is anointed. Those of us in 'PageMaker Guy' situations often resent this role because it subsumes our identity to the extent that we fear our colleagues might ignore the depth of knowledge necessary for this role as well as our equally deserved scholarly accomplishments.

Bridgeford, Tracy. CPTSC Proceedings (2003). Careers>Academic>Workplace

The STC Academic Salary Survey  

In April 2003, STC launched its first salary survey for full-time faculty members teaching in U.S. technical communication programs at 2 and 4 year colleges and universities. This survey looked at compensation, as well as information specific to this group of educators.

STC (2003). Careers>Academic>Salaries

STC's First Academic, Salary Survey, 2003    

This article reports United States salary data from the April 2003 survey of Society for Technical Communication members who identify themselves as educators. It provides analysis of salary data based on type of institution, rank, tenure status, experience, education level, sex, and age. It also reports on benefits, administrative responsibilities, job satisfaction, and program size.

Harner, Sandi. Technical Communication Quarterly (This article reports United States salary data from the April 2003 survey of Society for Technical Communication members who identify themselves as educators. It provides analysis of salary data based on type of institution, rank, tenure status, experience, education level, sex, and age. It also reports on benefits, administrative responsibilities, job satisfaction, and program size.). Careers>Academic>Salaries

Teaching as a Conduit: An Interrogation of the Educative Function of the Untenured, Sole Professional Writing Faculty Member  

As the sole faculty member in professional writing, one must find reasonable means for integrating research, teaching, and service. This integration means understanding the institutional context, balancing the research-teaching-service commitments for tenure, and creating a supportive community for professional writing teaching and scholarship.

Kimme Hea, Amy C. CPTSC Proceedings (2003). Careers>Academic

Tenure, Protection and the Professoriate  

Does tenure protect our ability to talk back? The saving-of-tenure discussion would seem to come after an intimate analysis of why so many technology-prone English studies professionals are finding tenure at odds with the ebb and flow of their own interests, motivations, and survival. Excellent, productive teacher/scholars with a commitment to service are opting out of the tenure struggle and sometimes the university as a whole. That’s worrisome.

Selfe, Richard. Michigan Tech University. Careers>Academic>Tenure

Where Do I List This on My CV? Considering the Values of Self-Published Web Sites    

This essay explores the question: 'Given the high value that most institutions put on scholarship that appears in refereed journals or in books produced by well-respected presses, how are innovative, intellectually valuable, well-researched, self-published Web sites to be counted in the processes of promotion, merit, tenure, review, and recognition?'

Krause, Steven D. CCC (2003). Careers>Academic>Quality

Writing Program Administrators: Job Board

Post announcements about job openings in this forum. Posters are encouraged to send their announcements to WPA-L as well.

Council of Writing Program Administrators, The. Careers>Job Listings>Academic>Writing