Job Discussion Forums

[AUSflyonthewall]

What had once been a relatively good place to work has gone south in a big way the past few weeks.

The University Chancellor annouced that the regents had approved a new plan to limit all fringe benefits to 25% of salary.

This plan had already been in place for new hires over the past two years. However, those on older contracts still enjoyed the typical benefits one gets in the Gulf (education, healthcare, tickets home, etc).

Now, IEP and many other areas will be in turmoil. For anyone with a family the policy switch would many a heavy loss of real salary of 15-30%. If it completely goes forward there will be massive turnover for the lower-salaried professors and instructors.

Trust me when I tell you if I had known that this would happen, I would never have accepted the position here.

I strongly recommend that anyone looking for a new position (and there should be quite a few) keep away from AUS. The current administration has complete disregard for the faculty who built this University and is/has created a policy that seeks to exclude faculty with families.

The only person who could benefit from such a setup would be a single prof., or instructor who just wants a place to park for a year or two.

I could go on, but I suspect there will be a few more AUS people posting about the situation here.



The quality of education, the programs, virtually everything will be negatively affected by what the Chancellor is doing.

Save yourself future problems and headaches.... don't take a job with this university.

[Gordon]

Can you provide any details? What exactly are they cutting?

[AUSflyonthewall]

[Bindair Dundat]

[web fishing]

What if all universities in the Gulf is heading in the same direction as AUS?

I believe I read on the Oman Forum, once they tried to take away children's school tuition, but put that benefit back after teachers began protesting.

From reading many of the threads it seems most ESL teachers these days want to teach in the Gulf for the perks and money first, and experience and culture second... What does the future hold???

[veiledsentiments]

Is this a new chancellor? AU in Washington DC used to have the contract to manage... are they now out?

Hopefully every married w/children faculty member makes it clear that they are out of there ASAP (within contract terms of notice) and all applicants will make it clear that they now have no interest.

Oman had to back down on their attempt and hopefully reality will also reach this new chancellor? What nationality is this fellow?

VS

[SandyM]

What about the staff actually getting together and arranging a strike - even for just one day - or a work to rule?

Or is it too much to expect Americans to indulge in suck pinko-type activity?

Either way, something needs to be done to ensure this attempt to slap all teachers/lecturers in the face does not go ahead. Any takers out there?

[abufletcher]

These things tend to take a couple employment seasons to work themselves out. The only thing that will mean anything to the admin types is if they can't meet their quota of teachers. The only real question is whether they'll start taking people with a BA, EFL certificate and several years of experience as Sultan Qaboos started doing to fill the void left my departing teachers.

I'm my experience the only sort of democracy available to expats in the Gulf is voting with your feet.

[SandyM]

My hunch is that most of the teaching staff there will be happy to let the Ministry of Education monkeys take advantage of them and exploit their experience, qualifications and dedication, in effect getting first class educators on the cheap.

But with a little solidarity, a lot could be achieved...

[Sharjahmite]

Whoa! Reality check time! First, let me say that I am one of the biggest losers in the AUS fringe benefit change, and I will have to leave (or send my family home�not likely) when the new system kicks in for me. What is happening at AUS is really very simple. The administration is adjusting to the changing economic situation here in the UAE. Basically, prices for everything are going through the roof, especially the cost of education (for dependant children), but also medical costs, transportation, housing, etc. The administration, through policy change, is looking for a new type of faculty, mainly singles or those with one dependant, who will be cheaper in the long run to maintain. If you have a family, the new policy definitely sucks, but if you have no school age dependants, you actually do better off under the new plan. Is it fair? Well, that depends on who you are. Here�s the reality check. It�s not your school, not your laws, not your country. If you are in this gig long enough, you see it all (I saw the bubble pop in Japan and the end of the Saudi gravy train, etc.), and this is just another glitch along the way. I think a good rule in this field is to live like you may lose your job at any minute. It doesn't mean you should live in fear, you should live in the moment...and enjoy it, but plan accordingly. My family and I have had a great ride on the AUS horse, and will miss it, but it�s not my horse. If people expect fairness in TESOL, just let this case be a reminder that you really have very few rights as a �foreigner� except in your own mind, and if you expect otherwise, you will be continually �amazed� at the unfairness of it all. This field certainly has its ups and downs, but if TESOL is what you want to do for any length of time, you�ve got to stay light on your feet (like, do you really need that new car?) and keep your eyes open (lots of doo-doo around and the fan is always on). No one here at AUS can honestly say the writing wasn�t on the wall, and I might add that the writing is on the wall for the rest of UAE too and people here should keep that in mind. UAE expats are starting to feel the crunch, so if you are here in the UAE, and haven�t done it already, it�s a good time to start feathering your own nest in your own country (where it�s more �fair�) or start looking for the next green pasture. Sure, I�ll be disappointed to leave AUS, but when I and the rest of those with families leave, the place will still have a beautiful campus with a wonderful library and an excellent Intensive English Program and some of the best, most professional colleagues one could ever have.

[Bindair Dundat]

[Bindair Dundat]

[AUSflyonthewall]

Check it at the door...

The administration has no fiscal problems. In fact, there was quite a large surplus last year. Secondly, any outrageous items given to professors who came here early on should have been eliminated on each subsequent renegotiation. Thirdly, the profile of of Prof that will accept such a package will be people at the beginning of their career, the end of their career, or perhaps some misanthropic mid-career people. I really don't believe that will be a good recipe for a University going forward.

It's not solely an economic thing. I am here because I want to work in a different culture. In fact, I would want to stay with AUS indefinitely. However, do I put my kids in substandard schools? Do I send them home to the states to get free education? Do I not visit family? Do I not take health insurance?

The University has made it abundantly clear that it no longer wants faculty with families. This was even stated in a meeting with the Deans.

I don't buy the : THAT'S ECONOMICS excuse...

Being treated in such a manner really pisses me off. It leaves me little to say but so long and thanks for all the fish.

I will take my labour where I am wanted.

[Stephen Jones]

I suspect they had never really done the figures before.

The truth is that family status staff are often getting up to 80% more in the total package than a single/divorced teacher. As the benefits don't come from the same account as the salary then the cost is to some extent hidden.

Married staff have long been aware of this, which is why many talk about how good a gig the Gulf is.

The question is whether they can manage to get enough childless staff. With the UAE becoming well-known that is possible, but I suspect they will have to compromise on the ageism that is so prevalent.

[veiledsentiments]

I agree with Stephen, economics is the issue and the employment package for someone with children is extremely expensive. In the past many places preferred married faculty with families because they were perceived as more stable... less booze and parties... (thought I think from what I have seen through the years, this wasn't always accurate. )

Now that there are so many private colleges competing for a finite group of students who can afford the tuition, their income appreciation is limited... a surplus can be gone in the blink of an eye.

This policy will last as long as they can get the staff they want and need with it. I know plenty of single people with good credentials and experience who would jump at the chance. AUS has done almost no advertising for jobs over the years.

What I feel is the unfair part of this change is that current employees are not grandfathered in. They should be able to stay under their original hiring terms with new teachers coming in under the new contract system.

VS