looming tenure denial, part 2

[Hibush]

My sympathies also about the circumstances that have led to the sad situation.

I agree with Sea Ice that this is a time when the philospher Thomas Wild has the best counsel. There's time enough for action, but that time isn't now.
You are being reasonable.

[poiuy]

Hi Brego,

My sincerest sympathies for all that you are going through. It's too much and academia can often be a dreadful place.

I echo all who are saying: please focus on your own wellbeing first and foremost. Go slow and easy. One small positive thing each day - talk to a friend, a walk in good weather, admire the sunset, a comedy episode. This is not hokey, you are retraining your brain out of a negative loop, and I say this as a person naturally predisposed to depression and gloom. I have to keep practicing what I preach.

In the bigger picture, it's great to get out of the professoriate. You *do* have skills - research, analysis, writing, communication, persuasion. I don't know your field or what you like to do, but there may be options in High School education, or any entry level higher ed administration, or in a local nonprofit related to your area?
I don't know your specific research expertise, but I know there is a large lack of people with IRB skills to fill positions at all levels of that structure in multiple institutions. These positions don't need high level scientific research skills, but a general knowledge base and orientation to the ethics and what is required in an institution. Is it possible to spend your remaining time in your institution getting experience or certification in some such key area that you can leverage for a job search?

You are a valuable person. Please don't despair. Do lean heavily on your networks - you would do the same for them.

I wish you the very best. Please do keep sharing here to the extent that you feel comfortable. We are all cheering you on.

[Puget]

My sympathies as well. Keep talking to us here, and I hope you can get some psychological support - max out whatever therapy benefits your health insurance has while you still have it, use any free tele-counseling sessions from your employee assistance program, call the 988 crisis hotline if you need it.

I'd second poiuy's tip regarding considering entry level university admin positions, including not just the IRB, but also department and division admins, student affairs/grad affairs, admissions, grants office, etc.

We are constantly hiring for such positions (even when there are budget cuts) because there is a lot of turnover as people move up and out of them. They may not pay that well, but they have manageable 9-5 schedules and benefits, and folks who prove at all competent in them plus easy to work with can pretty quickly move up to more senior and higher paid positions.

PhDs from under-employed fields are not at all unusual in these positions, and many end up adjuncting a few courses on the side to keep their hand in their field and supplement their salary.

If you can quickly learn new things, are organized, have good written and oral communication skills, can find and interpret relevant information well and efficiently, can solve problems independently but incorporating feedback, and have basic office software skills, you are qualified. These are all transferable skills from being faculty in any field.

[Mobius]

Chances for a settlement are slim unless there are emails or recordings that suggest you were discriminated against based on your disability.

However, while rude, unprofessional, and/or insulting, it's not illegal for colleagues or a supervisor to say you need to publish despite your disability/family issues, you need to be on campus despite your disability, you need service despite your disability, etc.

Since you were provided extensions and allowed to be off campus (correct?), it does seem like some accommodations were given.

If you've never reported this to HR, it's even more unlikely. Time and money is better spent on other things.

[Dismal]

Chances for a settlement are slim

As someone mentioned earlier, I've seen that lawyering up can get you an extra year at most but at the cost of a big legal bill. One assistant prof fighting his termination said he used all his retirement savings (and incurred the tax penalty for early withdrawal) for the lawyer.

[Kron3007]

Chances for a settlement are slim

As someone mentioned earlier, I've seen that lawyering up can get you an extra year at most but at the cost of a big legal bill. One assistant prof fighting his termination said he used all his retirement savings (and incurred the tax penalty for early withdrawal) for the lawyer.

Can you represent yourself?  It may not be as effective, but it sounds like the cost of a lawyer is prohibitive here.

People assume you NEED lawyers for a lot of things you can do yourself if you want.  We are all smart people and can do the research.

Chat GPT knows a lot about law...

[Ruralguy]

I would assume the average academic is about as good at legal practice as a lawyer would be at lecturing on
geophysics or   Peruvian art.

[Sun_Worshiper]

Anyone with a lawyer in their immediate family has heard this many times: A man who represents himself has a fool for a client

[Kron3007]

Maybe.

I went toe to toe with a group that had a lawyer and they backed off, so I dont know that I had a fool as a client...  I had a pretty good argument in that case, but I also did lot of background research and had case files and such in hand at our meeting.  I would think that most professors should be capable of researching, it is kind of what we are trained to do.

Also, as mentioned, Chat GPT is pretty good at finding legal information and summarizing things.  I wouldn't hire it as my Lawyer, but I would use it to point me in the right direction.  You can always consult with a lawyer to make sure you have interpreted things correctly as well.  Might save a few dollars.

I am not saying this is the best approach but the OP clearly said they cant afford a lawyer.  Maybe it is best to just drop it, but if you think you have a case I feel it would be worth trying.

If you cant tell, I also do my own plumbing, electrical, and cut my hair... 

 

[Kron3007]

Anyone with a lawyer in their immediate family has heard this many times: A man who represents himself has a fool for a client

Of course that is what a lawyer would tell you.  Just like a real estate agent will tell you how horrible private listings are.

[Sun_Worshiper]

Anyone with a lawyer in their immediate family has heard this many times: A man who represents himself has a fool for a client

Of course that is what a lawyer would tell you.  Just like a real estate agent will tell you how horrible private listings are.

Welp that is a fair point I suppose. Btw I think the quote is originally from Abraham Lincoln.

[Kron3007]

Anyone with a lawyer in their immediate family has heard this many times: A man who represents himself has a fool for a client

Of course that is what a lawyer would tell you.  Just like a real estate agent will tell you how horrible private listings are.

Welp that is a fair point I suppose. Btw I think the quote is originally from Abraham Lincoln.

Who was a lawyer no?  He obviously didn't have good google and chat GPT skills like me.

[Sun_Worshiper]

Anyone with a lawyer in their immediate family has heard this many times: A man who represents himself has a fool for a client

Of course that is what a lawyer would tell you.  Just like a real estate agent will tell you how horrible private listings are.

Welp that is a fair point I suppose. Btw I think the quote is originally from Abraham Lincoln.

Who was a lawyer no?  He obviously didn't have good google and chat GPT skills like me.

And we know how it turned out for him!

But seriously, there is a reason that people (even lawyers) rarely represent themselves. If you can do it, then more power to you, but for most people it is not a good idea.

[Kron3007]

Yeah, it could be a horrible idea but if getting a lawyer is not possible what is there to lose?

I should give the caveat that I am not a lawyer and this should not be taken as legal advice.  It is only fur educational purposes.

[Parasaurolophus]

We are currently involved in a suit on behalf of my partner's mother, trying to wrest financial control away from her abusive other daughter (and to either another child, or a third party). My partner--not a lawyer--has basically done _all_ of the lawyer's work, including drafting the court petition. We recently got handed off to another lawyer, who couldn't believe she'd done it all.

Iunno about drawing any lessons from that, however. Except that my partner is brilliant.