Job Discussion Forums

[mitchm]

Hi guys,

I am about to sign this contract with Beijing Normal - Zhuhai and want to make sure it all sounds about right! I would appreciate any insights you might have into the technical details of the contract and whether or not it seems fair. Unless there is anything particularly egregious that I missed, I do plan to sign it. Thanks in advance and please pardon any formatting errors!

-Mitch

edited: Sorry guys, I didn't realize posting a contract for review wasn't standard procedure. I've taken it down, and will scrutinize it more closely myself. Thanks for the input thus far.

[time to teach]

Asking folks to read thru a contract like this is a bit of a stretch, and it's generally less the verbage in a contract and more the reputation of a universisty that counts most. I have personal experience with BNU, they have mostly positive reviews by former teachers. Contract is legit and it seems like a good gig despite some drawbacks including the location and 20% of your salary being withheld each term.

[tributary]

Huge mistake to work at this school. Contract is pathetic. Contractual terms that have no place being in a contract. Salary is horrendous for the things they expect you to do. They have already lowered their standards as they used to REQUIRE a master degree and preferred a Ph.D. but now they decided that lowly bachelor degree holders are eligible since they knew they couldn't get those "higher" qualified folks to accept pathetic conditions, salary, rules, etc.

Enjoy grading other teachers' exams (even from other subjects).

Hourly? Yeah, right. Enjoy it when they decide to cancel some of your classes for a week or two, or simply cancel a course entirely.

How stupid can someone be? Contractually, you are REQUIRED to get your own cell phone and number. If you do not get a cell phone you can be fired ! How stupid would someone have to be to agree to this kind of contract?

Anyone stupid enough to work for these people with their "conditions" deserves to get screwed. And fact is, we'll see you come back here in a few months to moan and groan about them after you sign up.

Tons of job - this shouldn't be included in them.

Sign it and you deserve to get royal'ed over

[dog backwards]

Pay scale is bad, vague at best.

Too much of the contract concerns itself with breach of contract, penalties, etc..

It seems like the school has had problems in the past and is trying to cover itself, or the administration is new and can't keep the contract simple.

I've never heard of a public university asking for transcripts from degreed individuals.[This may be common elsewhere, but not where I have taught]. This could be a good trend and a starting point for weeding out the truly unqualified.

Why doesn't the contract read like a standard SAFEA contract?

This is weird:

"...Party B shall have quality control of his or her academic program, organize extra-curricular activities like English Corner, and so on, and participate in the growth and development of the Faculty of Foreign Languages, Beijing Normal University at Zhuhai..."

Organize extra-curricular activities like English Corner AND SO ON...?

"... Participate in the growth and development of the Faculty of Foreign Languages..." What is that? That sounds like a trap that I got caught in when I was asked to produce American History notes for a Chinese teacher.

BNU may have good comments from former teachers, but I doubt that any of those teachers would have signed a contract like this one.

[mat chen]

I like the cellphone clause. I worked for Korean Telecom 15 years ago. We helped China Telecom set up. Taught them the billing system. While there I got a free cellphone. Actually they sent me free cellphones long after I left. I noticed that people in high positions like the minister of communication didn't have cellphones. They told me that having a cellphone was like being a dog on a leash.
I tried sending money to someone a month ago and the bank said I couldn't because I didn't have a cellphone.

[xjgirl]

this contract reflects the increasing trend of schools bring run by accountants not educators, with their greasy fingers in the till.

if u don't sign it, they'll find someone else who will, it doesn't matter if that person will do as good a job as you, the only thing that matters is the bottom line
the people with a financial stake in this school, are focusing on short-term profits over long-term sustainability which is CHINESE COMPANY ECONOMICS 101

[siberiantiger]

I read the contract when it was still posted and I wouldn't sign it. Like tributary and dog backwards, I have some issues with it. It's complex and a few terms/conditions concern me. Surely you can find a better position elsewhere.