Branch campus annoyances
February 25, 2012 6:51 AM Subscribe
I work as an administrator for a university and am based on a branch campus. My department would prefer it if I would spend the summers on the main campus, which involves a more arduous commute for me. My commute would bump up from 40 minutes to 1h20minutes. I would prefer to remain on my branch campus. My "higher-ups" like to frame things in terms of "let's negotiate something that works for everyone," but the power differentials tend to mean that I usually just go along with their preference. Are there tried and true methods for underlings to resist persuasion/coersion?
It's not a negotiation if only one party benefits. If they get you at the main campus and you have to triple your commute, what do you get out of the deal? That's your starting point. Do you get a shorter workday to make up for the commuting time? Transportation allowance to cover the extra gas? A few extra vacation days?
Think of what would make their request bearable for you, and ask for it. That is the beginning of the negotiation.
posted by freshwater at 7:02 AM on February 25, 2012 [6 favorites]
Think of what would make their request bearable for you, and ask for it. That is the beginning of the negotiation.
posted by freshwater at 7:02 AM on February 25, 2012 [6 favorites]
Former college administrator here.
I would create a proposal, in writing, in advance of their next request to discuss the issue. In the proposal, outline any summer projects or supervision that is important to both your branch campus over the summer and to open successfully in the fall without any hiccups. Make sure you are as specific, but as clear as possible (brevity and bullet points are your friend). For example:
First year experience orientation:
*200 hours of intern/summer work study that requires supervisions
*Revision of orientation packets per administrative unit planning
*Reorganization of support staff to provide relocation assistance to new students
*Weekly strategic planning meeting to prepare for August orientation of 400 first-year students
For each of your summer projects, objectify the hours of direct supervision needed, and if necessary, compare those duties with the summer before, where you were available to your staff.
Then, decide what day you are willing to commute. Pick a day that traditionally is filled with administrative meetings, or at least a meeting important to your direct report. Forward that you would "greatly benefit" from main campus visibility that day, not only to provide feedback on the service meetings that happen that day, but to have the opportunity to gather support and feedback from main branch staff to take back to your branch campus so that it continues at a level of success that mirrors main.
I would also include, using whatever travel-trip requisition formula that business admin uses, the figures that demonstrate the cost of the additional forty minutes of commute time. Since their request falls under "other duties as assigned," I'm not sure of your chances, but include the numbers. There may be something they're willing to compensate, otherwise, here (you probably know best).
Your frame for all of this is a positive reminder of your work for them at the branch, your eagerness to learn from main insofar as it benefits branch, and how working through the summer at branch benefits them more than token visibility at main. It may be worth finding out from a trusted colleague at the same level as you at main what summer branch admin visibility actually means to higher administrators--it may be something that can be more simply dealt with (perhaps they are worried about an accreditation report that you can work on for them, or a previous branch admin took liberties with the lack of upper level supervision, etc).
They are going to want to know, in equal parts, that you take them seriously, and that you take your administration of your programs at the branch, seriously, as well.
Good luck!
posted by rumposinc at 7:12 AM on February 25, 2012 [8 favorites]
I would create a proposal, in writing, in advance of their next request to discuss the issue. In the proposal, outline any summer projects or supervision that is important to both your branch campus over the summer and to open successfully in the fall without any hiccups. Make sure you are as specific, but as clear as possible (brevity and bullet points are your friend). For example:
First year experience orientation:
*200 hours of intern/summer work study that requires supervisions
*Revision of orientation packets per administrative unit planning
*Reorganization of support staff to provide relocation assistance to new students
*Weekly strategic planning meeting to prepare for August orientation of 400 first-year students
For each of your summer projects, objectify the hours of direct supervision needed, and if necessary, compare those duties with the summer before, where you were available to your staff.
Then, decide what day you are willing to commute. Pick a day that traditionally is filled with administrative meetings, or at least a meeting important to your direct report. Forward that you would "greatly benefit" from main campus visibility that day, not only to provide feedback on the service meetings that happen that day, but to have the opportunity to gather support and feedback from main branch staff to take back to your branch campus so that it continues at a level of success that mirrors main.
I would also include, using whatever travel-trip requisition formula that business admin uses, the figures that demonstrate the cost of the additional forty minutes of commute time. Since their request falls under "other duties as assigned," I'm not sure of your chances, but include the numbers. There may be something they're willing to compensate, otherwise, here (you probably know best).
Your frame for all of this is a positive reminder of your work for them at the branch, your eagerness to learn from main insofar as it benefits branch, and how working through the summer at branch benefits them more than token visibility at main. It may be worth finding out from a trusted colleague at the same level as you at main what summer branch admin visibility actually means to higher administrators--it may be something that can be more simply dealt with (perhaps they are worried about an accreditation report that you can work on for them, or a previous branch admin took liberties with the lack of upper level supervision, etc).
They are going to want to know, in equal parts, that you take them seriously, and that you take your administration of your programs at the branch, seriously, as well.
Good luck!
posted by rumposinc at 7:12 AM on February 25, 2012 [8 favorites]
Depending on your personal needs, Tuesdays through Thursdays at the home campus, with two nights of lodging paid by the employer (maybe on-campus) would also be a consideration.
posted by yclipse at 7:33 AM on February 25, 2012
posted by yclipse at 7:33 AM on February 25, 2012
I would ask for the extra commute time in overtime pay, which will add up to be a significant amount of extra cash, plus $.55 per mile on any car travel over the normal commute miles. The former is for you sanity, the latter is for the wear and tear that an 80 min commute will take on the car.
posted by two lights above the sea at 8:40 AM on February 25, 2012
posted by two lights above the sea at 8:40 AM on February 25, 2012
Could you ask for the extra commute time to accrue time off in lieu - that way you could work shorter days or have a few extra days holiday while you are commuting? Also make sure you are reimbursed mileage for the extra travel time.
In regards to resisting persuasion it would help to have an idea in advance of what your limit is in terms of compromise you are prepared to make. Would you do it for more money and if so what's the minimum amount you would do it for? Would you do it for extra holiday and again how much? If possible try to put off making any decisions while you are with them. It will be easier to resist the power differential if you can plan exactly what you are going to say.
posted by Laura_J at 12:17 PM on February 25, 2012
In regards to resisting persuasion it would help to have an idea in advance of what your limit is in terms of compromise you are prepared to make. Would you do it for more money and if so what's the minimum amount you would do it for? Would you do it for extra holiday and again how much? If possible try to put off making any decisions while you are with them. It will be easier to resist the power differential if you can plan exactly what you are going to say.
posted by Laura_J at 12:17 PM on February 25, 2012
I would ask for mileage. If you show them what it will cost, they might balk.
posted by wenestvedt at 8:17 AM on February 28, 2012
posted by wenestvedt at 8:17 AM on February 28, 2012
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posted by entropone at 6:59 AM on February 25, 2012