|
|
Post by StillTrying on Apr 13, 2011 7:01:24 GMT -5
Hello Soc Rumor Mill
I have a few on campus VAP interviews, what sorts of questions do you ask? Basically they're looking for someone to do a ton of teaching, I'm not sure what they want to see in these interviews. Do they pay for moving costs? Conference travel?
Can I ask about things like that?
So confused...
|
|
|
|
Post by anonime on Apr 13, 2011 7:27:03 GMT -5
Congratulations on your interviews!
They'd probably want to know, mainly, how you teach, what courses you would teach, your teaching experience and such. But be prepared to explain your research.
Ask questions that would help you get a sense of the job and the place. How much off-classroom student contact/guidance is expected? Department 'norm' with regards to course requirements - a lot of writing assignments? Other service expectations, etc. You can also ask the questions you have in mind right now to the department chair or dean.
GOod luck and congratulations again!
|
|
|
|
Post by ps by anonime on Apr 13, 2011 7:29:35 GMT -5
Please give us updates on the Search Status... it would be great for us who are still waiting.
|
|
|
|
Post by laughthroughit on Apr 13, 2011 8:26:02 GMT -5
Moving expenses (especially) and conference travel funds tend to be things that are brought up during offer negotiations, not during the interview. However, you could get an idea about conference travel in general by asking people over a meal about what they've done at conferences and how often they go.
Most likely, they are going to want to know mostly about your teaching, your teaching philosophy, and your ability to mentor/advise students. They should give you an itinerary, which might include teaching a class. Most of your questions to them should be about teaching, the area, the institution, and the student population there. You want to show specific and relevant interest in what they are hiring you to do. While moving expenses and conference travel may be important to you, that's not what they are hiring you to do - save those conversations for when you get an offer.
|
|
|
|
Post by eazy breazy on Apr 13, 2011 9:59:50 GMT -5
I currently work at a public university, and to be quite honest, our interview process for adjuncts and VAP are very easy. I'm guessing it's not very typical but it's just a quick meeting with the chair, and the interview is a quick grill session to determine if you really do what you say you do (it's ideal that your research is related to the courses that need to be taught) and that you would be a good teacher at the institution (on very rare occassions, some people get hired with no teaching experience). There is usually no formal itinerary and there is usually no teaching demonstration. We seem to mostly depend on your references and the interview, which will give you an opportunity to talk about your teaching and research. Again, I suspect that this is not common.
|
|
|
|
Post by VAPToo on Apr 13, 2011 13:52:26 GMT -5
I also have a VAP on-campus interview lined up and they want me to conduct a teaching demonstration. Any words of wisdom for putting together something fun, innovative, etc.??
|
|
|
|
Post by newVAP on Apr 13, 2011 16:30:19 GMT -5
I interviewed for a TT position that went to a current VAP, then got offered a VAP position. I imagine that interviews for a VAP position would focus much less on your research and much more on how much you like teaching and what classes you could teach (I think one reason I got my offer, which isn't even really in my field, is that I said it would be easier to say what I COULDN'T teach). For my teaching demo, I posed a question that led to a provocative paradox, then led a discussion directed toward developing some specific conclusions. I was very confident in my ability to simply lead a lively, productive, and focused discussion, and I think that I was able to do this cold was more impressive to the faculty than if I had done something "innovative." Good luck!
|
|
