The Fora: A Higher Education Community

I can only drool over the idea of a year or more's pay as severance incentive. I just looked at our most recent offer (2021).  We had the option of:

1.  Full insurance coverage (i.e., both the employee's and college's portion) for up to 24 months--based on one month of coverage per full year of employment.  (In my case, if that were offered today, it would be worth about $2200/month for 20 months); or

2.  1.5% of the employee's current base salary x the number of years of FT employment, UP TO a maximum of $30,000. (For me today, that would be about $24K.)

So, not jack-diddly-squat, though if it happens again tomorrow I'd jump to take the insurance (as it would bridge me to Medicare coverage).

Crappy as the options are, though, I have to admit that things are sufficiently rocky here now that I'm eagerly awaiting another VSIP (voluntary severance incentive plan) offer. (I do have the advantage of having a good pension waiting, with about $200K available to me right now as a partial lump sum, plus a guaranteed monthly net payment of about 75% of my current take-home. I won't get much in SS since I haven't paid in for the past 20 years.)

I lived poor for a long time before getting this job, so I know how to do it and can do it again. I just didn't expect to have to go back to living that way after working my ass off (in grad school and on the job) all these years. Still, I know I'm way better off than a lot of people, so I guess I should STFU.

There are four hungry little robins in the nest, and increasing numbers of hummers at the feeders!

I've never thought about it. At a glance, two years seems insufficient--I'd be relatively comfortable with five, I think, and I guess I could make three or four work. But I'd really have to believe that my writing was on the wall.

Quote from: Parasaurolophus on May 13, 2024, 07:24:33 AMMore today.

I did it.

There's a rumour going around at my place that some senior faculty will be offered buyouts this fall.

I can be bought, and everyone has their price. I'm sure my price is too high, but I'm curious . . . . .

What's your price? Two years' salary? Three? One? A fake gold watch and steak knives?

There's been a few bear sightings in the DC area lately:
https://wtop.com/animals-pets/2024/05/watch-black-bear-politely-wanders-through-arlington-co-neighborhood/
Scroll past ad breaks to read full article. Posted online 5/13/24

We went to the shopping outlets and had To Go dinner from Olive Garden. It was a nice day to be outside too!

Quote from: bio-nonymous on May 13, 2024, 12:09:04 PM

Quote from: apl68 on May 08, 2024, 06:15:49 AMI heard coyotes a good deal growing up, but never saw any.  They apparently don't get close enough into town here to hear them.  We do have them in the region.  A couple of years ago a young woman in our church went deer hunting and said that all she saw was a coyote.  Somebody told her "You should have shot him--I hear they make great tacos!"  I really don't think that coyote tacos will ever catch on.

Ick! That seems to me to be like eating dogs--not my style. I hope they were just kidding around?

Definitely kidding. 

Although, now that I think about it, I've never been to a coyote function on Taco Tuesday.  For all I know, maybe they do know how to make great tacos.

Quote from: apl68 on May 08, 2024, 06:15:49 AMI heard coyotes a good deal growing up, but never saw any.  They apparently don't get close enough into town here to hear them.  We do have them in the region.  A couple of years ago a young woman in our church went deer hunting and said that all she saw was a coyote.  Somebody told her "You should have shot him--I hear they make great tacos!"  I really don't think that coyote tacos will ever catch on.

Ick! That seems to me to be like eating dogs--not my style. I hope they were just kidding around?

Not a predatorial journal per se, but this was just kind of funny.

Even though I no longer work for my old uni, I still have access to all their pages and apps.  Someone just neglected to push the "off" button on me.  Since I am trying to register for some grad classes, I checked my email and got this email from one of those on-demand, personalized textbook publishers.  It was just, well, odd how the frustration bled through.

Subject Line: "Last Email From Me For a While, I Promise!"

QuoteDear Wahoo,

As the subject line says, this will be my last effort to get in touch with you! Similar to dating, it takes two interested parties for it to work :).

Are you open to having a conversation on course materials?

If you aren't interested, please let me know and I'll move on with my efforts.

Thanks, Wahoo! Wishing you all the best!

Sincerely,
Camryn

I feel like this is one of those online dating stalkers (I mean, I've never had that happen to me, just supposing...).  Or is this a badly designed ploy to get a reaction?

I'm gonna continue to ghost Camryn just to see what happens.