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American Ornithologists’ Union

American Ornithologists’ Union. Careers in Ornithology : Teaching and Research at Undergraduate Institutions. Undergraduate Education. Types of jobs? Private colleges, universities Usually residential Typically 18-23 year old students Branch campuses of state universities

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American Ornithologists’ Union

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  1. American Ornithologists’ Union Careers in Ornithology: Teaching and Research at Undergraduate Institutions

  2. Undergraduate Education • Types of jobs? • Private colleges, universities • Usually residential • Typically 18-23 year old students • Branch campuses of state universities • Often commuter schools • Mixed student population • Community Colleges • Usually commuter schools • Frequently evening classes • Older, often working students

  3. Undergraduate Education • Availability of jobs? • Some every year • Specific jobs, about every 30-35 years

  4. Undergraduate Education • Salaries? • Instructor: $30,000 - $40,000 • Assistant Professor: $35,000 - $52,000 • Associate Professor: $43,000 - $65,000 • Professor: $47,000 - $85,000 • Higher on coasts, lower in middle and southern parts of country

  5. Undergraduate Education • Benefits? • Health insurance • Dental (optional) • Eye (optional) • Life insurance • Additional 4-9% of salary for retirement (TIAA-CREF) • Tuition remission for dependents at private colleges, universities

  6. Undergraduate Education • Responsibilities? • Teaching commitment?  What?   • 3-5 courses/year; 9-20 contact hours/week • Ornithology Wildl. Manage. Wetland and Stream Ecology Intro. Biology Ecol. and Evolution Non-major Biology Animal Behavior Molec. Evolution Behav. and Cons. of Mammals Coastal Ecol. Tropical Biology Island Biology Writing for Sciences Entomology

  7. Undergraduate Education • Responsibilities? • Advisees? • 10-30 students; mean = 20 • Usually a mix of ages and interests with emphasis on biology • Up to 3 h/semester with each advisee • Needs of student • Your style

  8. Undergraduate Education • Responsibilities? • Research program? Funded? How? • Research program • expected at all private undergraduate institutions • less so at state branch campuses • not expected at community colleges • Should involve undergraduates (authors?) • Summer tends to be most productive time • Usually funded • In house or small private grants • Rarely NSF, NIH or other government funding

  9. Undergraduate Education • Responsibilities? • Committee assignments • Within department • Faculty evaluation • Guest lecture series • Academic program assessment • Chair • University committees  • Faculty senate • Educational policy • Additional positions within university

  10. Undergraduate Education • Time management? • Teaching ~ 12 h/wk • Preparation for teaching (including grading) ~ 20 h/wk • Office hours/advising ~ 8 h/wk • Committees/department ~ 3 h/wk • Attending student activities ~? • Research/writing ~? • Family ~? • Sleep ~? • Social~?

  11. Undergraduate Education • Family? • Maternity leave: 6 weeks-1 semester • Paternity leave: reduced load occasionally • Illness: cover faculty, time for family members unlikely • Elder care leave: none

  12. Undergraduate Education • Job interviews? • Telephone interview • Research seminar • Does research interest undergraduates • Can undergraduates participate in research • Teach a class • Assigned to a class that you would teach • Must give the scheduled lecture

  13. Undergraduate Education • Job interviews? • Interview one on one with all members of department • Meet with students • Small group interview • Lunch • Outside department • Provost, Dean • Meet with peer group

  14. Undergraduate Education • Interview skills? • Teaching, research skills equally important • Ability to explain research to non-scientists • Research questions that interest and involve undergraduates • Commitment to • Liberal arts education • Multidisciplinary work • Comfortable with students from different backgrounds

  15. Undergraduate Education • How to increase your chances of being hired in the future? • Creativity, drive, and passion • Publications • Presentations • Excellent writing and speaking skills • Know how to make contacts and make them

  16. Undergraduate Education • How to increase your chances of being hired in the future? • Good people skills (schmoozing) • Learn to sell self • Look at fit with department • Analytical skills • Grant-writing skills • Your own grants • Travel, research, small or large, private or public

  17. Undergraduate Education • Advantages and disadvantages

  18. Undergraduate Education • Committee on undergraduate teaching: • Bob Askins • Sara Morris • Catherine Ortega • Jordan Price • Mark Reigner • Kim Snipes

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