Evaluating Your Academic Administration Career Path Strategy

At some point during their teaching and research careers, many academics will decide to seek their first administrative post. As tenure-track positions diminish and because salaries for administration in general are higher than those for academics, the choice has attractive incentives. It offers greater long-term financial benefits. It affords more opportunities for relocation to new positions. It is easier to create a two career path for married academics than when both are dedicated to teaching or research. And it creates an opportunity to fulfill one’s ambitions to have a larger impact on higher education and a specific academic institution than teaching or research.