In my last post, I discussed my final communications with University of Phoenix Faculty Services Manager, Sarah Hightower. I refer to her colloquially as a Bimbo Manager because of her bimbo bureaucratic response to the multiple errors one of her subordinates, Courtney Hopper made during my faculty application process.
In any case, I stated that I had written a lengthy email to the Head of Business at the local campus to explain why I became dismayed, disenchanted, and ultimately withdrew from the application process. I felt writing a short email to him would be inappropriate as he was the one who helped get me into the faculty recruiting process. It seemed only right for me to explain to him why I had to withdraw my application after weeks of making steady progress.
Having said that, during the faculty application process, the local campus role is nearly non-existent and eerily quiet. I would have thought they might have intervened or perhaps spoke up on my behalf given how infrequent faculty assessments and certifications are at the local level and that the mistakes made were entirely the faculty recruiter’s fault.
Again, my email is self-explanatory….
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I wanted to let you know It appears that despite my diligence, investment of many hours of time to prepare and provide clear answers of my background/experience/motives, doing everything that has been asked of me, and meeting every professional requirement, I will not be moving forward in the application process.
To be clear, this is what I was prepared to commit to the Columbus campus based on what I have been told is an “ideal” part-time instructor.
* Unpaid Instructor Assessment
* Unpaid 4-weekend certification process
* Be an apprentice instructor under a mentor
* Attend unpaid staff meetings and extracurricular activities such as graduations and special events
* Offering flexibility to teach both day, night, and weekend courses.
* Immerse myself in the UoP teaching and education philosophy.
* Network with the Columbus community as necessary.
* Give speeches and talks as required.
This list would have been a substantial commitment I was prepared and able to dedicate to Univ. of Phoenix – Columbus Campus because I have that flexibility of owning and managing my own businesses.
Additionally, there are certainly many talented and instructor candidates with MBA degrees. However, within the scope of the Columbus GA area, I believed I offered an eclectic experience unlike most local candidates. I offered to the local faculty my:
* Real estate investment portfolio experience of 12+ years
* Publishing experience of 8+ years where I have authored 20+ book and audio titles generating tens of thousands of dollars in profits.
* Cutting-edge experience of 6+ years in web presence, web marketing, and online reputation-building with tangible results.
* I.T. consulting and training experience of 10 years working with Microsoft, Novell, and IBM representing their products.
* Traveled for business domestically throughout the U.S. and internationally including Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.
As stated, my primary motivation was not financial. It was to contribute and be part of something larger.
Unfortunately, having conferred with two friends that work with UoP and carefully reflected upon this entire experience, I have come to the conclusion that the rigid, bureaucratic nature of UoP is not agreeable with me at this time.
Specifically, the lack of accountability, apology, and ability to see the “big picture” by the Faculty Recruiters has been disappointing and uninspiring. Their bureaucracy is best suited to those who work in insular environments and willing to subject to “cattle calls” which is incongruent from what I thought was part of UoP’s mission in desiring “real world” talent.
I am as “real world” as it gets having self-financed my entire formal education with my AA, Bachelor of Science, and MBA degrees. I started working from the bottom waiting on tables and getting grease burns on my arms, progressing forward rising through the ranks with job changes, saving money each and every semester for 7 years attending mostly night courses to get my Bachelor of Science degree. For my MBA, I worked full time, saved money each semester, attending night courses for 3 years to get my MBA degree.
I taught at 2 community colleges in Orlando and 1 technical college in Charleston. In every instance, I earned high instructor ratings, was repeatedly asked back. Ultimately, I left to pursue other professional opportunities.
Given what I was prepared to offer and commit to vs. the apparent lack of accountability, apology, care, urgency or flexibility of any kind, I see no reason to proceed forward. To do so, would be going through the motions. I no longer feel inspired to continue. The faculty recruiters have shown by their response (and lack thereof) that I am simply one in an ocean of candidates that have and will continue to come through. My presence and participation is secondary to “following the rules”. There will always be a “next assessment” and “another instructor”. I will do my part to substantiate that for them.
I regret having to email you this because I was genuinely interested and very enthusiastic about joining the local campus. But I wanted to at least do you the courtesy of a final update and response as I have done these last 4 weeks.
I did try to call you to have a final conversation but I was unable to reach you. Hence, I leave you with this email. I apologize for the inconvenience. My next communication will be to the folks in Phoenix.
Respectfully,
Matthew Chan
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In conclusion, I think it is very important that every University of Phoenix read my posts and commentary to get a better awareness before pursuing the faculty application process. It is a time-intensive, bureaucratic process staffed by relatively young and inexperienced clerical employees trying to evaluate professional with twice their professional experience and credentials.
Even with my preparations and diligence, their system still managed to trip me up. And anything that goes wrong will be the faculty candidates fault. I have seen no indication of any accountability whatsoever from the faculty recruiters except that they keep running large numbers of people through their system like herding cattle through a ranch. You run enough people through the system, you might occasionally catch a good one. Some of us simply decide to leave them to their own fates.
