To Go Or Not To Go, Relocating For The Summer Is It Worth It?

Abstract

Shortly after beginning my teaching career, I had the opportunity to spend a summer conducting research at a government lab. It meant packing and relocating for three months. It was an interesting summer followed by a second summer that was equally interesting. I also spent several summers at a government lab where I did not relocate. It is the question of relocation, and whether it is worth it that is being addressed here. This paper provides a light-hearted, personal look at several issues one might encounter while balancing one's personal and professional life during a summer-relocation. Each relocation brought with it different issues. The first summer I "went-off"…to do research. I was about to be granted tenure. Recently, when a leading computer manufacturer invited me to spend the summer at their facility, I again packed and relocated. This time the "summer foray" was for the purposes of answering questions such as, "Can I still do it, and do I still have what it takes?" What I learned and what I experienced is something that new ASEE educators may find helpful. I shall briefly cover issues from salary to taxes to the forwarding of mail. I shall cover professional issues as well as personal. There will also be a sprinkling of humor and listing of suggested resources. This is a paper written for the newcomer by someone who has "been there" and "done that." Types of Temporary Relocations During my academic career, I have experienced four separate relocations: one long-term and three short-term. The long-term was a one-year sabbatical followed by a one-year leave of absence. The combination sabbatical/leave of absence, extending over two years, was with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in Cleveland, Ohio. Geographically, the relocation was from Philadelphia to Cleveland.